Check Disk

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Disk Errors


Before you run Check Disk, we strongly recommend backing up any important files you keep on your PC. If there's indeed a bad sector or other corruption on your hard disk, Check Disk might not be able to recover certain files as it attempts to fix the problem.

You can run Check Disk directly from the Start menu:

1. Click Start, click My Computer, and then right-click the local disk you want to check (usually, this is drive C).

2. Click Properties, and then click Tools.

3. Under Error-checking, click Check Now.... Make sure both check boxes are selected, then click Start.

4. Because Check Disk needs exclusive access to some Windows files, it will display a dialog box asking you whether you'd like to run Check Disk the next time you restart your PC. Click Yes.

5. Click Start, then Shut Down.

6. From the dropdown menu, select Restart, then click OK. Once your PC restarts, Check Disk will begin running.


Run Check Disk

If you use your PC daily, we recommend running Check Disk weekly. You can do this automatically with Windows Scheduler:

1. On the Start menu, click Control Panel.

2. In Control Panel in Classic View, double-click Scheduled Tasks.

3. Double-click Add Scheduled Task. The Scheduled Task Wizard appears. Click Next.

4. Check Disk isn't available within the scroll-down list. You'll need to select it manually. Click Browse. Then navigate to windows\system32\chkdsk.exe. Select chkdsk.exe and click Open.

5. The Scheduled Task Wizard prompts you to define the frequency for chkdsk.exe to run. Select Weekly and click Next.

6. You're then asked to select the time and day you want this task to start. Select a time you won't likely be using your computer. Make sure this start time differs from any other tasks you've scheduled.

7. Enter your user name and password (the one you use when you need to log on to your computer). Click Next.

8. A wizard page appears, telling you you've successfully scheduled Check Disk to run and confirming the start time. Click Finish to have Windows automate this task.