This article was previously published under Q315265
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Chkdsk (Chkdsk.exe) is a command-line tool that checks volumes on your hard disk drive for problems. The tool then tries to repair any problems that it finds. For example, Chkdsk can repair problems related to bad sectors, lost clusters, cross-linked files, and directory errors. To use Chkdsk, you must log on as an administrator or as a member of the Administrators group.
You can
also run Chkdsk from My Computer or from Windows Explorer.
Chkdsk requires exclusive access to a volume when it runs. Therefore, if one or more of the files are open on the disk that you want to check, Chkdsk prompts you to schedule the disk check for the next time that you restart your computer.
Chkdsk might take a long time to run, depending on the
number of files and folders, the size of the volume, disk performance, and
available system resources, such as processor and memory.
Chkdsk might not accurately report information in read-only
mode.
To run Chkdsk in read-only mode, at the command prompt,
type chkdsk, and then press ENTER.
To repair errors without scanning the volume for bad
sectors, at the command prompt, type chkdsk
volume:/f, and then press
ENTER.
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Note If one or more of the files on the hard disk are open, you
will receive the following message:
Chkdsk cannot run
because the volume is in use by another process. Would you like to schedule
this volume to be checked the next time the system restarts? (Y/N)
Type Y, and then press ENTER to schedule the disk check,
and then restart your computer to start the disk check.
To repair errors, locate bad sectors, and recover
readable information, at the command prompt, type chkdsk
volume:/r, and then press ENTER.
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Note If one or more of the files on the hard disk are open, you
will receive the following message:
Chkdsk cannot run
because the volume is in use by another process. Would you like to schedule
this volume to be checked the next time the system restarts? (Y/N)
Type Y, and then press ENTER to schedule the disk check, and then restart your computer to start the disk check.
How to run Chkdsk from My Computer or from Windows Explorer
Double-click My Computer, and then right-click the hard disk that you want to
check.
Click Properties, and then click Tools.
Under Error-checking, click Check Now. The Check disk options dialog box appears.
Use one of the following procedures:
To run Chkdsk in read-only mode, click
Start.
To repair errors without scanning the volume for bad
sectors, select the Automatically fix file system errors
check box, and then click Start.
To repair errors, locate bad sectors, and recover
readable information, select the Scan for and attempt recovery of bad
sectors check box, and then click Start.
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Note If one or more of the files on the hard disk are open, you
will receive the following message:
The disk check
could not be performed because the disk check utility needs exclusive access to
some Windows files on the disk. These files can be accessed by restarting
Windows. Do you want to schedule the disk check to occur the next time you
restart the computer?
Click Yes to schedule the disk
check, and then restart your computer to start the disk
check.
The following table lists the exit codes that Chkdsk reports
after it has finished:
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Exit code
Description
0
No errors were found.
1
Errors were found and fixed.
2
Disk cleanup, such as garbage collection, was
performed, or cleanup was not performed because /f was not specified.
3
Could not check the disk, errors could not be
fixed, or errors were not fixed because /f was not specified.
For more information about Chkdsk, go to the following Microsoft websites:
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