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5.688 bytes |
Service Hints & Tips |
Document ID: DETR-3UFPFJ |
Crossbrand - Cross-linked Files
Applicable to: United States
On occasion, you may encounter a message about cross-linked files when running CHKDSK or other DOS or Windows applications or utilities. Cross-linked files are normally created when DOS or Windows is unable to complete the work of storing data and closing the file so that it might be used in other applications or for viewing. This can be the result of a power loss, a system hang, or a hardware problem with the drive itself.
An unfortunate, and perhaps ironic, time for this error message to appear is when you want to create a backup. The first few routines used by the backup program will often use DOS facilities to determine if the hard drive files can be safely read, copied, and stored on the backup media. Saving bad files is a waste of time and space except under very exceptional situations, so the backup program pre-checks the file system to warn you of the system limitations due to these bad files.
To correct the problem, you can use the following procedure:
1. Exit Windows completely and go to the DOS prompt from the menu. Enter the command:
CHKDSK /F
This should clear up most, if not all, of the cross-linked files and other file system problems.
2. Run CHKDSK again to see if still more cross-linked files have been found. If so, copy down the names of the files and continue with the steps below. Otherwise, there is no need to proceed.
3. Create a temporary directory (example: MKDIR \TEMP1).
4. Copy one pair of cross-linked files from where they currently are to the \TEMP1 directory, then delete the files from the original directory. After you've deleted them, copy the files back from the \TEMP1 directory to where they were before (the directory where they originally existed).
5. Continue with the next pair of cross-linked files as in step 4. Don't try to do them all at once, or you might get confused and put them in the wrong place or forget where they were supposed to go.
6. Run CHKDSK /F again to see if more files are found. Repeat step 4 for each pair of cross-linked files that are found.
7. Run CHKDSK /F one more time after you've run a completely error-free pass, just to make sure.
8. Now run your backup program. Everything should now be OK for it to run.
Note: Cross-linked files indicate that one file is somehow chained into another file in the file system tables. This might mean that the copy you make of one of the cross-linked files into the temporary directory may have incorrect data in it when you wish to use it again or look at it. There's no easy way to tell beforehand whether this will be the case or how severe it will be.
Sometimes, you will get an error message during the copy step if DOS thinks the file links are bad. Thus, it might require additional work to recreate some of these files, depending on how many crossed-links are found and whether the file involved is a program file or a data file.
For program files, you can use the Recovery disks to get back the original copy of the preloaded software programs, or you can re-install the application if it is your own software. For data files, a new copy will have to be created if it does not exist on the Recovery disks or on backup disks.
*****If the Harddrive is using compression software (i.e. Stacker), the above instructions may not help. A complete low level format and reloading of all software will be required.
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Hint Category |
DOS/Windows 3.x, Hard Drives | |
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Date Created |
23-04-96 | |
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Last Updated |
25-01-99 | |
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Revision Date |
07-12-99 | |
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Brand |
IBM Aptiva | |
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Product Family |
Aptiva, Laptop L40, Notebook N33, Notebook N45, Notebook N51, PC 300, PC 700, PS/1, PS/2, PS/Note, ThinkPad 300, ThinkPad 340, ThinkPad 500, ThinkPad 700, ThinkPad 701, ValuePoint | |
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Machine Type |
2168, 2144 | |
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Model |
5R5; M91; 2R5; 2R7; 2R8; M30; M35; M50; 2R6; 4R7; 4R8; M40; M54; M58; 3R0; 3R8; M60; M70; 1R2; 66P; 67P; 86P; OR8; 1R1; 1R3; 1R5; 22P; 24P; 25P; 27P; 29P; 63P; 82P; 83P; OR6; OR7; OR9; 1R0; 26P; 62P; 2R0; P30; 2R3; S15 | |
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TypeModel |
21685R5; 2168M91; 21442R5; 21442R7; 21442R8; 2144M30; 2144M35; 2144M50; 21682R6; 21684R7; 21684R8; 2168M40; 2168M54; 2168M58; 21683R0; 21683R8; 2168M60; 2168M70; 21681R2; 216866P; 216867P; 216886P; 2168OR8; 21441R1; 21441R3; 21441R5; 214422P; 214424P; 214425P; 214427P; 214429P; 214463P; 214467P; 214482P; 214483P; 2144OR6; 2144OR7; 2144OR9; 21681R0; 21681R1; 216826P; 216862P; 21442R0; 2144P30; 21442R3; 2144S15 | |
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