Chkdsk problem: Cannot open volume for direct access

Hi All!

I am running Vista in my computer & was trying to check disk utility, but is not running & gives a message saying "cannot open volume for direct access".

Can anyone help with it...?

Just read this in a post, might be worth a try:

"To cancel CHKDSK on start-up,open cmd type:CHKntfs /X C: "

OR

The following may remedy "chkdsk won't run at startup" problem, but because it involves a registry modification do backup first!
1. Run the Registry Editor (regedt32.exe).
2. Under the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE subtree, go to the following subkey:
\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager
3. Change the BootExecute entry from:

autocheck autochk * /r\DosDevice\C: (or whatever)

to:

autocheck autochk *

Reboot and see if that does the trick.

It seems you can correct the problem by installing SP2.

Here's the info from Microsoft : Link

OR Try this:

Start> Run> type: chkdsk.exe /f /r and press OK.

The dialog will tell you that it can't run right now - and will ask if you want to schedule a check during the next boot. Answer Yes (Y) and reboot.

When you run Check Disk (CHKDSK) or AutoChk on a partition on which NT is installed you may receive one of the following messages

• Cannot lock volume for direct access
  
  
• Cannot open volume for direct access

This can be caused by a 3rd party application locking the partition such as a virus checker or disk monitor tool. To correct disable any 3rd party services or devices that may be locking the partition.

1. Start the Services control panel applet (Start - Settings - Control Panel - Services)
   
   
2. Select the service and click Startup
   
   
3. Set the startup type to Manual and click OK
   
   
4. Repeat for any other services
   
   
5. Start the Devices control panel applet (Start - Settings - Control Panel - Devices)
   
   
6. Set the startup type to disabled for any 3rd-party devices who you think might be causing the lock problem but BE CAREFUL. If you are unsure the device you are disabling may stop system startup create a second hardware profile and test (see 'Q. How can I safely disable a device?').
   
   
7. Restart the machine, the drive should no longer be locked

Following received from PCTools, however i have not followed their advice as yet so i dont know what the outcome is:-----

"In the meantime, you could perform the following steps which will allow chkdsk, defrag and error-checking to run on startup.

1. Exit from Spyware Doctor (to exit from Spyware Doctor please right click on the Spyware Doctor icon in the notification area (next to the clock on the Windows taskbar) and select Exit from the menu that appears)

2. Delete the file 'ikhlayer.sys' from c:\windows\system32\drivers\

3. Restart Spyware Doctor

Chkdsk, defrag and error-checking should now work."

u see when my computer turns on .. it loads the stuff and then this thing comes and says the profile is corrupt and cannot load so it puts me in a temporary profile and says that any change i do there will not be saved.
next i tried the chkdsk l: command in cmd and it writes cannot open volume for direct access so what do i do????
please help somebody