Microsoft KB Archive/260059

= Extending a Volume Set Requires Chkdsk to Be Run =

PSS ID Number: 260059

Article Last Modified on 10/16/2002

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The information in this article applies to:


 * Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0
 * Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 4.0

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This article was previously published under Q260059



SYMPTOMS
When you use the Disk Administrator tool to create a volume set from an existing NTFS partition or to extend an existing NTFS volume set, Windows NT 4.0 requires that the computer be rebooted so that Chkdsk (Autochk.exe) can be run.



CAUSE
This requirement is caused by the design of the volume-extension routine. Because Chkdsk contains code to correct NTFS volumes that are incorrectly sized, Disk Administrator does not perform all the work in adjusting the size of the NTFS volume. Instead, Disk Administrator modifies the partition table information and some key header information for the NTFS volume, and then starts Chkdsk so that Chkdsk can adjust internal NTFS tables that must be resized.

This method of resizing volumes works well but results in otherwise unnecessary downtime for the computer, particularly if the volume that you are extending contains many files.



RESOLUTION
A supported fix is now available from Microsoft, but it is only intended to correct the problem that is described in this article. Apply it only to computers that are experiencing this specific problem. This fix may receive additional testing. Therefore, if you are not severely affected by this problem, Microsoft recommends that you wait for the next Windows NT 4.0 service pack that contains this fix.

To resolve this problem immediately, contact Microsoft Product Support Services to obtain the fix. For a complete list of Microsoft Product Support Services phone numbers and information about support costs, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=fh;EN-US;CNTACTMS

NOTE: In special cases, charges that are ordinarily incurred for support calls may be canceled if a Microsoft Support Professional determines that a specific update will resolve your problem. The typical support costs will apply to additional support questions and issues that do not qualify for the specific update in question.

The English version of this fix should have the following file attributes or later:   Date        Time     Size    File name       Platform -  03/14/2000  06:36p   430,864   Autochk.exe   Intel 03/14/2000 07:00p   375,056   Kernel32.dll  Intel 03/14/2000 06:39p   368,464   Ntfs.sys      Intel 03/14/2000 06:36p   663,312   Autochk.exe   Alpha 03/14/2000 07:00p   589,584   Kernel32.dll  Alpha 03/14/2000 06:38p   561,808   Ntfs.sys      Alpha

NOTE: In order to avoid a full scan during autochk, it is also necessary to edit the system registry as follows:

Ensure that a value named &quot;NtfsEnableVolumeExtension&quot; exists under:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\FileSystem

The value should be a REG_DWORD and its data should be 0x1 to avoid the full scan.



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



MORE INFORMATION
Resizing an NTFS volume involves less work for Chkdsk than validating that an NTFS volume is completely correct (or &quot;clean&quot;). A reboot is still required for the resizing process after you install the updated files from the hotfix that is described in this article; however, if the volume is not marked &quot;dirty&quot; for any reason, the volume extension takes place without requiring the full three-pass scan of the volume that Autochk.exe typically performs. This typically takes no more than a few seconds.

Keywords: kbbug kbQFE KB260059

Technology: kbWinNT400search kbWinNTS400 kbWinNTS400search kbWinNTsearch kbWinNTSsearch kbWinNTW400 kbWinNTW400search kbWinNTWsearch

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