Hard drive error checking

[htid]

When i built my new pc in September i put in the sata 160gb spinpoint and am using it now. It's been fine up until a few days ago when i noticed that when im in certain folders, the comp goes really slow just for that folder, like takes ages to load it. So i thought i'll run the error checking thing on the "tools" part of the properties, but when i tried, i get this message:

"The disk check utility could not be performed because the disk check utility needs exclusive access to some windows files on the disk. These files can be accessed by restarting windows. Do you want to schedule this disk check to occur the next time you restart the computer?"

I put yes but when i restarted nothing happened. I tried again and got the same message. Restarted and tried it before i even ran or did anything, and i STILL get the message. I don't know what's wrong or if the certain folders being slow to respond is to do with the hdd but i thought i'd try. What do you think is wrong with it?

Thanks
Chris.

[Max Tractor]

Go to Run, Type CMD, In the Command Prompt Window type "CHKDSK c: /f /r" and press enter

dl samsungs hutil also

[DeludedGuy]

I had the same problem last week on one of my 200GB SATA drives.

Everytime I would open something it would take about a minute to open, if i was lucky. My drive is less than a yeat old and had 30GB left.

The initial problem began when switched my computer off after my system froze while playing CS: Source. Anyway, I deleted some old stuff to free up some memory, ran disk defrag. and my system was still slow.

I downloaded some programs to test my hard drive, and the read speed was really low.

I then used Norton WinDoctor, it found many errors, I checked fix all, and restarted twice.

The problem has gone, I still dont know what the hell it was.

[kalniel]

Go to Run, Type CMD, In the Command Prompt Window type "CHKDSK c: /f /r" and press enter

This is a really good thing to remember when you have a slow hard drive

[htid]

Hmm well it actually ran, when i restarted, and said it was clean. The problem is still here though, especially in my "Downloads" folder (any file that free dl manager gets goes there). It opens fast, but then as soon as i do something such as right click a file the window freezes and the egg timer comes. I can hear the hdd scratching away continuously but nothing happens until about 3 mins later when the right click menu appears.

What else do you reccommend i try?

[kalniel]

Make sure you've not disabled the Windows Indexing service. Also check that you have DMA mode enabled.

I'm sure it's software, but incase it's hardware:

Remove the sata(?) cable from both the hard drive and motherboard. Blow on the connectors. Reset.

Reinstall motherboard IDE and SATA drivers.

[d3fiant]

tbh it sounds like Windoze has got its self in a tiz, there are various tools that could check for errors, someone mentioned Norton Windoctor which is a good start, also check for virus/spyware which may be locking files, and defrag using a decent tool rather than the MS version, plenty out there

[htid]

So can anyone recommend any good disk checkers and defragers? I can't even find windoctor listed on symantecs site :S