Error Message:

CHKNTFS: Incorrect command-line format.

Explanation:

Chkntfs.exe is a utility developed by Microsoft and is available on Service Pack 2 and later for Windows 2000 . It is designed to disable the automatic running of chkdsk on specific volumes, when Windows 2000 reboots from an improper shutdown. Chkntfs can also be used to unschedule a chkdsk if chkdsk /f was used to schedule a chkdsk on an active volume on the next system reboot. Every time Windows 2000 boots, Autochk.exe is called by the Kernel to scan all volumes to check if the volume dirty bit is set. If the dirty bit is set, autochk performs an immediate chkdsk /f on that volume. Chkdsk /f verifies file system integrity and attempts to fix any problems with the volume. It is always advisable to run chkdsk on volumes that have been improperly shutdown, however, there may be some situations in which running chkdsk after every improper shutdown is not possible or practical. In some cases, chkdsk may take several hours or even days to completely check the volume or may hang while checking the volume. In these situations, it is more practical to postpone the chkdsk until a more convenient time. Chkntfs is a utility that allows a system administrator to exclude volumes from being checked by the autochk program. The utility is run from a command prompt and has the following command line options: chkntfs drive: [...] chkntfs /d chkntfs /x drive: [...] chkntfs /c drive: [...] /D Restores the machine to the default behavior; all drives are checked at boot time and chkdsk is run on those that are dirty. This undoes the effect of the /X option. /X Excludes a drive from the default boot-time check. Excluded drives are not accumulated between command invocations. /C Schedules chkdsk to be run at the next reboot. If no switches are specified, chkntfs will display the status of the dirty bit for each drive. Examples: chkntfs /x c: This will disable chkdsk from running on drive C: chkntfs /x d: e: This will disable chkdsk from running on drives D: and E:. The chkntfs /x commands are not cumulative, the command will overwrite any previous drive exclusions that have been established. In the above example, chkntfs will only disable the chkdsk checking on drives D and E, drive C will not be checked for the presence of a dirty bit. The chkntfs utility works by modifying the BootExcecute value in the system registry. The BootExecute value is located in the following registry key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CURRENTCONTROLSET\CONTROL\SessionManager The default value is: BootExecute:REG_MULTI_SZ:autocheck autochk * Chkntfs /x adds a /k parameter prior to the asterisk. The /k parameter excludes volumes from being checked for the presence of a dirty bit. For example, the command chkntfs /x D: would modify this registry entry to autocheck autochk /k:d * Chkdsk /f schedules itself to run at the next reboot by setting the dirty bit on the drive. Chkdsk /x disables the checking for this bit. Chkdsk /f will never run on volumes that are excluded from dirty bit checking by chkntfs. In order to run a chkdsk /f on a drive that has been excluded by the chkntfs utility, you must run the chkntfs /d option to return the system to its normal state or edit the BootExecute value in the registry and remove the applicable drive letter from the /k parameter. WARNING: Using Registry Editor incorrectly can cause serious, system-wide problems that may require you to reinstall Windows 2000 to correct them. Microsoft cannot guarantee that any problems resulting from the use of Registry Editor can be solved. Use this tool at your own risk. Chkdsk /f /r allows chkdsk to check volumes for file system errors and bad sectors on the physical disk. Chkdsk /f /r schedules itself to be run on the next system reboot, by adding an entry into the BootExecute value. For example, chkdsk c: /f /r will add the following entry to the BootExecute value: autocheck autochk /r \??\C: Because this entry is actually placed in the registry, the chkdsk /f /r will be unaffected by any chkntfs commands. The only way to disable a chkdsk /f /r is to remove the line from the BootExecute value that references this command.