Error Message When You Try to Install Windows Me: Scandisk Encountered a Data Error While Reading the FAT Entry for Cluster <Number> (309534)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Windows Millennium Edition
  • Microsoft Windows 98 Second Edition
  • Microsoft Windows 98
This article was previously published under Q309534

SYMPTOMS

When you attempt to install Microsoft Windows Millennium Edition (Me) to a newly formatted hard disk on your computer, you may receive the following error message:
Error: Scandisk encountered a data error while reading the FAT entry for cluster number. This error prevents scandisk from fixing this drive.

CAUSE

This behavior can occur if a file allocation table (FAT) entry is located on a bad cluster on the hard disk.

RESOLUTION

To resolve this issue, use either of the following methods.

Method 1: Use Scandisk

  1. Start the computer by using a bootable disk that also contains the program Scandisk.exe.
  2. At the MS-DOS prompt, type the following command

    scandisk /surface

    and then press ENTER.

    This corrects the cluster error on the hard disk.
  3. When Scandisk is complete, proceed with the installation of Windows Me.

Method 2: Reformat the Hard Disk

  1. Start the computer by using a bootable disk that also contains the program Format.com.
  2. At the MS-DOS prompt, type the following command

    format drive: /c

    where drive is the letter assigned to the hard disk, and then press ENTER.

    This re-creates the file allocation table (FAT) while skipping the bad clusters on the hard disk.
Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:12/20/2004
Keywords:kberrmsg kbprb kbsetup KB309534
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