Run ChkDsk Utility
This page is dedicated to learn you how to run Chkdsk. With the ChkDsk utility (called Scandisk in older versions of Windows) you can check your hard disk on errors. Using ChkDsk can repair errors and speed up your PC. Look below how to run the ChkDsk utility.
How to Run the ChkDsk utility in Windows 7, Vista and XP
- Click on the Start button in the bottom left corner of your screen
- Click on Computer
- Right-click on the disk you want to check for errors and click on Properties
- Click on the Tools tab in the window that opens, then click on the Check Now button(this is the ChkDsk utility)
- In the window that pops up select Automatically fix file system errors
- You can select Scan for and attempt recovery of bad sectors if you want to perform a deep error check. This scanning takes longer but it is a good way to really check your disk for any error.
- If you can get an error saying "can't check the disk because it's in use" you can click on Schedule disk check to schedule the ChkDsk utility to perform an error check when Windows boots
Running ChkDsk utility via the command line
- Click on the Start button in the bottom left corner of your screen
- Type cmd in the command line (click on Run if you don't see the command line)
- In the window that opens type chkdsk
- Type chkdsk c:/ r (replace c:/ for other disks you want to check) to repair errors and recover bad sectors
- Type chkdsk c:/ f (replace c:/ for other disks you want to check) to only repair errors
- If you get a "Chkdsk cannot run" error, type Y, ChkDsk will run on your next Windows boot
The ChkDsk utility can take a while to check your disk(s) on errors. Do not turn your PC off when ChkDsk is running.