How to run a system scan for errors?

Okay,

I have a computer that I am not very knowledgable about however am having some pretty ugly issues with. I have experienced , just moments ago, the system shuting down and restarting itself many times in a row after doing several numerous easy functions like going into my email or clicking on the internet connect button. Not too long ago.. like maybe 3 months ago, I bought some memory after being told that the same thing (shuting down and restarting) was a memory issue. Well now that doesnt seem to make any sense to me. Then my cd-rom, shortly after putting the memory in, stopped wanting to burn any cd's or read any cds. So I essentially am frusturated and would like to know how I can troubleshoot the issues that I am having .. how to run a system scan for errors, find out if I have a virus or something. I would appreciated anything at this point.

Thank you

Ms. Griffin

This question was answered on February 2, 2005. Much of the information contained herein may have changed since posting.

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How To Run Scandisk

Running Scandisk can take a long time depending on the size and speed of your Hard drive so its best to start this process and leave the PC scanning itself for a while

To run Scandisk:

Windows 95/98/ME

Restart Windows in Safe Mode Click here for a guide on how to do this

Open My Computer by double-clicking on the My Computer icon on your desktop

Right click on the disk drive you want to check

On the drop down menu, left click Properties

Select the Tools tab

In the Error-Checking section, click the Check Now button.

This will open the Scandisk window

Select Thorough and make sure there is a tick in Automatically Fix Errors Then click on the Start button.

Scandisk will then run through the selected Hard Drive checking for fixable disk errors

Windows 2000/XP

You can use the Error-checking tool to check for file system errors and bad sectors on your hard disk.

Restart Windows in Safe Mode Click here for a guide on how to do this

Open My Computer by double-clicking on the My Computer icon on your desktop

Right click on the disk drive you want to check

On the drop down menu, left click Properties

Select the Tools tab

In the Error-Checking section, click the Check Now button

In the Check Disk Options section, tick the Automatically Fix File System Errors and the Scan for and Attempt Recovery of Bad Sectors check box

Click the Start button in the Check Disk window.

Scandisk will then run through the selected Hard Drive checking for fixable disk errors

About the author

Posted by Eramilde of Katharine Gibbs School - New York on February 2, 2005

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