BUG: Rchelp.Sys Can Cause CHKDSK to Run Continuously (235771)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Systems Management Server 2.0
  • Microsoft Systems Management Server 2.0 SP2
  • Microsoft Systems Management Server 2.0 SP3
This article was previously published under Q235771
IMPORTANT: This article contains information about modifying the registry. Before you modify the registry, make sure to back it up and make sure that you understand how to restore the registry if a problem occurs. For information about how to back up, restore, and edit the registry, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

256986 Description of the Microsoft Windows Registry

SYMPTOMS

After installing Systems Management Server version 2.0 you may notice clients running CHKDSK every time your computer is started. This behavior goes away as soon as the the Systems Management Server client is removed from the computer.

You may also see the following error message.
"Cannot open volume for direct access"
WARNING: If you use Registry Editor incorrectly, you may cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that you can solve problems that result from using Registry Editor incorrectly. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.

To work around the problem, edit the following registry key:
  1. Start Registry Editor (Regedt32.exe).
  2. Locate the Start value under the following key in the registry:
       HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\rchelp
  3. Select the DWORD Value "Start"
  4. On the Edit menu, click DWORD, type 2, and then click OK.
  5. Quit Registry Editor.

NOTE: Another workaround is to convert the BOOT partition to NTFS.

This has the effect of changing the startup value from "System" to "Automatic", starting it later in the boot process, which solves the CHKDSK problem.

CHKDSK will still work normally when you start the computer and the Systems Management Server Remote Control functionality is retained.

CAUSE

This is caused by the startup configuration of the Rchelp.sys driver. This file is trying to load at boot time and does not allow chkdsk to have exclusive access to the volume.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed at the beginning of this article.

MORE INFORMATION

For additional information about SMS, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

180694 CHKDSK Runs Every Time the System Is Restarted Post-SP3



NOTE: The 30 day verify cycle may reset the registry value HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Rchelp\Start back to its default value of 1. If that happens, the clients may start running Chkdsk at startup again.

See Microsoft Knowledge Base article

246040 How to Configure the Client Verify Cycle

for information on configuring or turning off the 30-day client verify cycle.
Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:6/14/2005
Keywords:kbBug kbClient kbConfig kbfix kbRemoteProg kbsetup KB235771
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