Everytime I restart my PC recently, the check disc utility runs but it
stops on a certain file and cannot complete the disc checking. All the
errors are about "Windows Software Distribution downloads. When I tried
to defragment my disc, it says that it's unable to defrag due to a
corrupted and unreadable file on
C:\WINDOWS\SoftwareDistribution\Download... So, I located the file and
tried deleting it but it couldn't be deleted also since the file is said
to be corrupted and unreadable.

Please help me fix this problem. I'm an amateur in troubleshooting, so
I would appreciate a step by step instructions on how to fix this.

Thank you very much.

1. Stop the Automatic Updates service:

Start > Run > (type in) services.msc > [OK]
Double-click Automatic Updates > Click on Stop
(Stopping the service will take a moment)

2. Delete the *contents* of the Download folder:

Start > Run > (type in) %windir%\SoftwareDistribution > [OK]
Open the Download folder and delete its contents
Close the window.

3. Start the Automatic Updates service:

Start > Run > (type in) services.msc > [OK]
Double-click Automatic Updates > Click on Start
(Starting the service will take a moment)

4. *Immediately* go to Windows Update website and install any critical
updates offered.

5. Make certain Automatic Updates is enabled:

How to configure and use Automatic Updates in WinXP:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/306525
--
~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-Windows (IE, OE, Security, Shell/User)
AumHa VSOP & Admin http://aumha.net
DTS-L http://dts-l.net/

chocoholic_mla wrote: