Chkdsk error be gone!

June 21, 2010 2:41 PM

Persistent CHKDSK error only appears when downloading with Chrome.

Try as I might, I can't seem to "repair" this one folder that keeps giving me chkdsk errors.

I'm a new Windows 7 user. I use Chrome, and whenever I download something (from gmail, a zip file, whatever) using that browser, I get a notification:

"Chrome.exe corrupt file: the file or directory users/prior/downloads is corrupt and unreadable. Please run the chkdsk utility."

I've run chkdsk once; It doesn't seem to have fixed the problem. I've also tried: a Registry cleaner, deleting and reinstalling Chrome, removing the folder completely. When I use Firefox or other browsers, I don't get this error message...

Are there any utilities out there for computing beginners that might help me check/repair this issue? Ideas?

posted by prior to Technology (8 answers total)

Have you run chkdsk before windows boots up? Sometimes locked files are unable to be repaired and it has to run during the boot. If you open the run box and put in "chkdsk C: /f /v /r /c" it will prompt you to run chkdsk when you restart next.
posted by msbutah at 2:58 PM on June 21, 2010

You can also try changing the directory that Chrome downloads to under Wrench -> Options -> Under the Hood -> Download...
posted by jeffamaphone at 3:14 PM on June 21, 2010

And while you're at it - make sure you have a good backup of your essential data and then run some disk diagnostics - you may be looking at early signs of failing hardware.
posted by TravellingDen at 3:16 PM on June 21, 2010

Thanks all. This is a newish computer--bummed to hear it might be a sign of things to come, but at least I caught it now!
posted by prior at 3:48 PM on June 21, 2010

You don't get that message with other browsers, saving to that same directory? Then Chrome is fucked up, there is nothing wrong with your computer. I'd bet it is just a bug inside chrome.
posted by gjc at 5:04 PM on June 21, 2010

I assume you're using a released version of chrome, not the developer channel betas.
posted by jeffamaphone at 5:27 PM on June 21, 2010

Well, Chrome does have the default of things auto-downloading to a Downloads folder, whereas IE usually prompts to download. You can change that in Chrome, BTW, by going to Under the Hood -> Downloads and selecting "Ask before downloading each file" (I have that checked on all my Chrome installs, I hate having a "Downloads" folder that I then have to move stuff from). You can also change the default/downloads folder there. Definitely try that, and if it works then the problem is your filesystem.

If, instead, Chrome just complains about the new location, you may have a Chrome issue.
posted by wildcrdj at 5:59 PM on June 21, 2010

Go to the drive's properties, check it for errors, & ask it to scan for & attempt recovery of bad sectors. Depending on how it's setup, it may postpone it until the next restart. I'd try that & check back in here.
posted by Pronoiac at 6:38 PM on June 21, 2010