Err Msg: This Drive Cannot Be Checked with this Version of UNTFS.DLL (239838)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Windows 2000 Server
  • Microsoft Windows 2000 Advanced Server
  • Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional
  • Microsoft Windows NT Server 3.51
  • Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0
  • Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 3.51
  • Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 4.0
This article was previously published under Q239838

SYMPTOMS

If you try to perform a manual NTFS file system check by using the Chkdsk.exe tool or when you restart your computer, when Autochk.exe starts to check NTFS volumes, you may receive the following error message:
This drive cannot be checked with this version of UNTFS.DLL

CAUSE

This behavior occurs because the code that actually performs the verification when running Chkdsk.exe or Autochk.exe resides in utility .dll files such as Untfs.dll and Ufat.dll. When you invoke an NTFS file system check, the computer reads the NTFS $Volume metafile to extract the version number of the file system. You receive the error message if the version of the NTFS file system being checked is greater than what can be repaired by the current version of Untfs.dll. Another probable cause of this message is that the NTFS $Volume metafile may have been damaged in such a way that the version field contains invalid version information. If this is so, then even the latest utility .dll files may incorrectly interpret the file system version as one that is currently not supported. Note that in this case, it is very likely that the entire file system is damaged, and you may have to reinstall Windows.

MORE INFORMATION

If you have ever attempted to install Windows 2000 or if you have configured your computer to dual start between Windows NT and Windows 2000, the computer may generate this message every time Windows NT tries to repair an NTFS volume. This is because Windows NT does not support many of the new NTFS Features introduced by Windows 2000 and so it cannot perform the repairs.

In order to successfully repair the volume, you must permit the Windows 2000 Chkdsk.exe or Autochk.exe utilities to repair the volume, or start to the Windows 2000 "Recovery Console" and use the chkdsk command with the /p parameter to repair the volume.

For more information, please click the article numbers below to view the articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

184299 Dual-Booting Windows NT 4.0 and Windows 2000 on NTFS Partitions

198904 Windows 2000 Setup Upgrades Existing NTFS File System Volumes

229716 Description of the Windows 2000 Recovery Console

Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:5/14/2003
Keywords:kberrmsg kbprb KB239838
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