![]() ![]() X Forces the volume to dismount first if necessary.Īll opened handles to the volume would then be invalid If size is not specified, displays current ![]() L:size NTFS only: Changes the log file size to the specified number R Locates bad sectors and recovers readable information On NTFS: Displays cleanup messages if any. V On FAT/FAT32: Displays the full path and name of every file Volume Specifies the drive letter (followed by a colon),įilename FAT/FAT32 only: Specifies the files to check for fragmentation. We’ll also talk about running it from the Command Prompt, in cases where you can’t even boot into Windows.Ĭhecks a disk and displays a status report.ĬHKDSK filename]]] ] We’ll be working with Windows 10 in this article, so the screens may look slightly different if you’re using Windows 7 or 8, but chkdsk performs the same, and we’ll point out where any procedures differ. The chkdsk tool works pretty much the same in all versions of Windows. For that reason, you should always make sure you have a good backup routine in place and back up your PC before running chkdsk. If chkdsk does encounter problems-especially hard bad sectors-that it can’t repair, data can become unusable. RELATED: Bad Sectors Explained: Why Hard Drives Get Bad Sectors and What You Can Do About It Fortunately, chkdsk was able to recover the sectors in my case, and everything went back to normal afterward. After a lot of troubleshooting, a chkdsk scan revealed I had bad sectors where my Outlook data file was stored. That may all sound very technical, but don’t worry: you don’t need to understand the ins and outs of how it works to know when you should run it.įor example: I once had a problem where Outlook suddenly started crashing on me shortly after loading. Chkdsk attempts to fix these problems by repairing soft bad sectors, and marking hard bad sectors so they won’t be used again. Bad sectors come in two forms: soft bad sectors, that can occur when data is written badly, and hard bad sectors that can occur because of physical damage to the disk. Chkdsk can also optionally scan every sector on a disk volume looking for bad sectors.Such errors might include corrupt entries in a volume’s master file table (MFT), bad security descriptors associated with files, or even misaligned time stamp or file size information about individual files. Chkdsk’s basic function is to scan the integrity of the file system and file system metadata on a disk volume and fix any logical file system errors that it finds.Chkdsk performs a couple of functions, depending on how it’s run: It’s not a terribly exciting tool-and running it can take some time-but it can really help prevent bigger problems and loss of data in the long run. Rechecks all bad clusters on the volume (implies /R)īypasses online repair (must be used with /scan) errors found are queued for offline repair (i.e.The Check Disk utility, also known as chkdsk (since that’s the command you use to run it) scans through your entire hard drive to find and fix problems. Runs a check of index entries (less vigorous)Ĭycles within the folder structure are not checked All open process on the volume are then invalidated. If you do not specify the size, the current size is displayedįorces the volume to dismount. Specifies the name of the files you want to checkĭisplays the full path and name of every file on the driveįinds damaged sectors and recovers readable information (implies /F if /scan is not specified)Ĭhanges the log file size to the number of KBs you specify. Specifies the drive letter or volume (followed by a colon) or the mount point Use the following basic syntax when you enter the chkdsk commands: You can use additional chkdsk parameters to enable special check phases or repair options. Enter chkdsk and the letter of the drive you want to check.Ĭhkdsk will then run in read-only mode without any further parameters, meaning it won’t change anything on the hard drive.If you’re logged on as a user with restricted permissions, you have to enter the administrator password at this point.Depending on your Windows version, only one of these options will appear in the menu. Next, choose Command Prompt (Admin) or Windows PowerShell (Admin). Right-click the Windows logo in the taskbar to open the Start menu.First, close all windows displaying the drive you want to check, and exit any programs that might be accessing the drive. ![]() The following step-by-step guide shows you exactly how to control the tool via the command line. You do not have the PowerShell option in older versions of the operating system such as Windows 7 or Windows 8. In Windows 10, you can type in the chkdsk commands using either Command Prompt or the new PowerShell. If you run chkdsk from the command line, you have many more scanning options than if you use the File Explorer. ![]()
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