XP Error Message: $MFT is corrupt and unreadable

[June516]

OS XP Home Edition, SP1

I started getting the following message" $MFT is corrupt and unreadable.

I have run chkdsk with f and r switches several times. I alway get a clean disk report when chkdsk completes.

When I searched this message, I saw references to a failing hard drive, however chkdsk utility did not find any bad sectors.

Any suggestions?

Thanks in advance.
June

[Mike0001]

It isn't necessarily bad sectors. The NTFS system is like a database; your message means that the database is messed up. Back up all important data you can still access as soon as possible!

Try the following:

http://www.cgsecurity.org/wiki/TestDisk

[June516]

Mike,
thanks for the reply. I downloaded Test Disk and as soon as I can, will look through documentation found on their website. I was only able to look at a couple of sections because I am pulling a double at work tonight, but from what I read, it looks like this is used for a bad disk. If in fact it is the NTFS that is messed up, will this be able to fix the problem?

Again, thanks for your help.

June

[Mike0001]

It tries to fix the NTFS system, and the MFT is part of that. Back up anything you can still access first though.