Can't access disk management in win7!

[Mark Wayne]

Here's what I get..



I've googled this and have tried everything I could think of. I want to delete a partition but can't access the disk manager. My OS is Windows 7, 64-bit.

- I went into 'services' and did the suggested manual selections.

- disabled windows firewalls and antivirus software.

- ran disk check and defrag

- created a new user

[Mark Wayne]

Anybody?

[Wiz Feinberg]

When I go to manage my computer, opening Disk Management succeeds. I noticed that it does load the Virtual Disk Service first. I took a screenshot of the VDS Service status box. Note everything circled in red, in the photo below.

[Pete Nicholls]

Open a command window and type in SET and enter it. Look down the list for SYSTEMDIR and see if it = c:\windows\system (or what ever your Windows directory is)

Let us know the result

[Wiz Feinberg]

It might be a good idea to run a file checker scan. Launch an elevated command prompt and type this in:

sfc /scannow

Have your Windows 7 DVD ready if needed to restore changed or missing, or corrupted system filz.

[Ken Lang]

I have a Dell windows 7 computer in both places of residence, in New York and in Simi Valley, Ca. In neither place do I have a win 7 disk. Should I buy one?

[Wiz Feinberg]

I have a Dell windows 7 computer in both places of residence, in New York and in Simi Valley, Ca. In neither place do I have a win 7 disk. Should I buy one?

Contact Dell and see if you can get the disks for a deal price.

[Mark Wayne]

Wiz, I've selected "manual", but when it's in the "stopped" mode. When I click start, it gives me "Error 78"

[Mark Wayne]

Pete: I don't see "SYSTEMDIR" in that list.

[Wiz Feinberg]

Wiz, I've selected "manual", but when it's in the "stopped" mode. When I click start, it gives me "Error 78"

Wayne;
The photo says error 87: The parameter is incorrect. I looked for answers and they all seem to involve corruption of either the hard disk sectors, or the system dll files they need to launch.

Your troubleshooting should follow two paths. First, schedule a disk check, including checking for bad sectors.

Go to (My) Computer and double click on the icon. It might be on your Windows desktop, or in the Start Menu. After it opens, locate the C drive icon and RIGHT click on it.

From the flyout list, left-select PROPERTIES. Local Drive C's properties box opens.

Click on the tab labeled "TOOLS"

Under ERROR CHECKING, press CHECK NOW

Type in your Administrator password when the UAC box appears. This will launch a popup with two options. Select both options, then click OK. This launches another popup asking if you wish to schedule the disk check for the next boot up. Select yes and close the box. Close all programs and reboot.

Do not touch any keys as the computer reboots.

Once the disk check finishes and the PC reboots, try to launch the Disk Management utility again.

If it still fails, run a System File Checker scan and repair. To do this, use Search to find CMD.EXE, right click on it and choose Run As Administrator. When the Command window opens, type this command:

SFC /SCANNOW

Press Enter. Let the scan run until the Command windows says it completed. It is possible that the repair files are located on your hard drive. If not, you may be prompted to insert your Windows DVD, which must have the same Service Pack as is on the computer.

After SFC has completed, try launching Disk Management again. If it still won't launch, the OS may need to be reinstalled over itself. This is a topic for another day.

[Pete Nicholls]

Pete: I don't see "SYSTEMDIR" in that list.

How about SYSTEMROOT, is it there?

[Pete Nicholls]

What I am trying to get at is that the registry likely doesn't have the direct path to that service executable, it is usually an interpreted path, set by the system variable that I'm asking you to look at. If that system variable is not working properly, we can modify the registry entry to a direct path and get it going to do what you need to do.

[Mark Wayne]

Wiz: I will try that.

Pete: It shows Systemroot=C:/windows

[Pete Nicholls]

OK, well that's not the problem then. See what happens after you run the System File Checker.