Hi Folks,

A simple question.......;-) Where is the FIRST root directory entry located on 
an HPFS volume? I know that HPFS uses a directory recording methodology
similar to a B-Tree, and it writes files in BANDS across the partition,
however the very FIRST directory entry MUST be located somewhere that can be
calculated as a FIXED location for that particular partition. Alternatively
there must be a data structure within an HPFS partition that contains details
of the partition "layout". Now how can I find out where that location is?

My need is thus. I have a 2GB partition located in the middle of a drive
(other paritions before and after it) that is _SOMETIMES_ corrupting its Root
directory entry or a pointer to the Root directory entry, if there is a power
failure and the system is not shut down cleanly. If it IS shutdown cleanly,
the next boot up is fine and all is well. If a startup invokes CHKDSK, it
compains that it "cannot find the Directory \", and it then tries a recovery
which locks the machine SOLID after 173 files have been found! I have to boot
from Floppy and run CHKDSK from the commandline. In this case CHKDSK E: /F:2
detects the exact same problem, but it succeeds in fixing it and recovers ALL
the files EVERY TIME! These files are perfect with no errors. I can then place 
them back where they belong, and everything works perfect, until the power
fails again.......;-( Also interesting is that only FILES are lost, never
Sub-directories (there are about 15,000 files on the volume).

My thinking is that if the HD has a faulty track right at the begining of the
partition I can shrink the partition and leave that Cylinder free. With FAT
this could work, but with HPFS I am not so sure. Ultimately I need a new
drive, but I was just wondering if I can work around this.

Any useful bits of info appreciated.

Thanks........pk.


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