MS-DOS CHKDSK Does Not Show Disk Label As a Hidden File (74204)



The information in this article applies to:
    Microsoft MS-DOS operating system 5.0
    Microsoft MS-DOS operating system 5.0a
    Microsoft MS-DOS operating system 6.0

This article was previously published under Q74204

SUMMARY

The CHKDSK command in MS-DOS version 5.0 or later no longer shows the disk label as a hidden file, as was the case with previous versions.

MORE INFORMATION

When comparing the MS-DOS 5 or later Upgrade disks with an earlier version of CHKDSK, a hidden file should appear in the earlier version's output. This does not indicate a problem with the disk.

In versions of MS-DOS prior to 5.0, the disk label was shown as a hidden file under CHKDSK. When using CHKDSK from DOS 4.01 or earlier to view the first DOS 5 Upgrade disk, you will get the following output:
Volume DISK      1 created 04-09-1991 5:00a
Volume Serial Number is 1966-0205

    362496 bytes total disk space
         0 bytes in 1 hidden file
    353280 bytes in 11 user files
      9216 bytes available on disk

      1024 bytes in each allocation unit
       354 total allocation units on disk
         9 available allocation units on disk

    651264 total bytes memory
    443248 bytes free
Using CHKDSK from MS-DOS 5.0 on the same Upgrade disk will produce the following output:
Volume DISK      1 created 04-09-1991 5:00a
Volume Serial Number is 1966-0205

    362496 bytes total disk space
    353280 bytes in 11 user files
      9216 bytes available on disk

      1024 bytes in each allocation unit
       354 total allocation units on disk
         9 available allocation units on disk

    651264 total bytes memory
    443248 bytes free
If the label on a disk is removed, the hidden file will disappear. (This is not recommended for Upgrade disks.)

For more information on CHKDSK, hidden files, and volume labels, query on the following words:

CHKDSK and HIDDEN and FILE and VOLUME and LABEL


Modification Type: Major Last Reviewed: 10/14/2003
Keywords: KB74204