I know, that error 17 is driving me nuts too.
I am mysql when I try this, and yes mysqld has been stoppped
[mysql@localhost transactions]$ isamchk -e -a -i -o orders_history
isamchk: Can't create/write to file 'orders_history.ISM' (Errcode: 17)
isamchk: error: Got error 17 when trying to recreate indexfile
ISAM-table 'orders_history' is not fixed because of errors
User time 0.00, System time 0.01
Maximum resident set size 0, Integral resident set size 0
Non-physical pagefaults 142, Physical pagefaults 0, Swaps 0
Blocks in 0 out 0, Messages in 0 out 0, Signals 0
Voluntary context switches 0, Involuntary context switches 1