Need to boot into chkdsk from USB on Windows netbook

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While attempting to install Ubuntu on a 32-bit Windows XP netbook, the partition resize operation failed due to inconsistencies in the NTFS filesystem (lesson learned: run chkdsk /f in Windows before trying to resize a partition in Linux). Now the installer only gives the option to replace Windows with Ubuntu, the partition can’t be resized in gparted, which displays a red exclamation mark and an error log when you click it.

To make matters worse, we’re also unable to reboot into Windows to get at chkdsk. We get a BSoD when choosing any of the options (including the DOS recovery console thing).

The netbook has no CD-ROM drive, contains no recovery image and our only connection to the Internet is via the hotspot on my mobile device. We don’t have Windows recovery CDs, but we do have a USB flash drive. We have a 64-bit laptop running Ubuntu 12.04 and Windows 7 (both 64-bit).

So, on to the question:

Is anyone aware of a way to get into a DOS recovery console and run chkdsk from a USB disk drive, without having to pirate Windows XP or download hundreds and hundreds of megabytes of crap?

If it was my device I’d just flatten it, but it isn’t. Please help!

Answer

First, chkdsk doesn’t run in “DOS”, it runs in a Win32 Command Prompt (while it looks similar, it’s not even remotely related). Next, you’ll have to create a WinPE image, write it to the UDF, and boot that. MS has detail instructions, but you have to build the image; and you’ll need to download the giant WinAIK to built it.

There may be 3rd party tools available; but nothing official sanctioned, and nothing guaranteed not to make the problem worse.

Attribution
Source : Link , Question Author : Gareth Davidson , Answer Author : Chris S

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