Chkdsk
(also Check Disk)
Chkdsk definition
Chkdsk is a command in Microsoft Windows operating systems. It looks through your hard drive to find any problems with your files. This helps your computer run smoothly and your files safe.
See also: disk cache
Where is Chkdsk used?
Checking for errors. Chkdsk scans the drive to check for file system errors. This also includes checking the structure of the disk itself.
Repairing file system errors. If Chkdsk finds problems like bad sectors, lost files, or directory errors, it tries to fix these issues. If that doesn’t work, it marks them so that the system doesn’t try to use them in the future.
Recovering data. In some cases, when the damage isn’t too severe, Chkdsk can recover data from bad sectors or corrupted files.
Maintaining system integrity. Regularly running Chkdsk helps maintain the health and performance of your system’s drives. Chkdsk catches and resolves issues before they become serious.
How to use Chkdsk
- Back up your data and close programs before you start.
- Right-click the Start button and choose Command Prompt (Admin) or Windows PowerShell (Admin).
- At the command prompt, type chkdsk followed by a space, then the letter of the drive you wish to check, followed by a colon, and then /f or /r. For example, chkdsk C: /f /f tells Chkdsk to fix any errors it finds. /r locates bad sectors and recovers readable information (implies /f).
- Press Enter to run the command. If it’s the system drive (usually C:), you might need to restart your computer to let Chkdsk run.