Chkdsk.exe or Autochk.exe starts when you try to shut down or restart your computer

When you try to shut down, restart, or start your computer, the Chkdsk.exe or the Autochk.exe program may start automatically and start to scan your hard disks. This issue occurs without any user interaction.

This issue occurs if any one of the following conditions are true:

• You have scheduled the Chkdsk.exe program or the Autochk.exe program to run in Scheduled Tasks.
• A Windows registry setting has been set to run the Autochk.exe program at startup.
• Your hard disk is damaged and must be repaired.

To resolve this issue, use one of the following methods.

Method 1: Remove the Chkdsk.exe or the Autochk.exe program from Scheduled Tasks

Follow these steps to remove the Chkdsk.exe or the Autochk.exe program from the list of scheduled tasks in the Scheduled Tasks feature.

1. Click Start, point to All Programs, point to Accessories, point to System Tools, and then click Scheduled Tasks.
2. Click either Chkdsk or Autochk in the list of scheduled tasks.
3. Under Folder Tasks, click Delete this item.

Method 2: Check the Session Manager registry entry

Important This section, method, or task contains steps that tell you how to modify the registry. However, serious problems might occur if you modify the registry incorrectly. Therefore, make sure that you follow these steps carefully. For added protection, back up the registry before you modify it. Then, you can restore the registry if a problem occurs. For more information about how to back up and restore the registry, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: Follow these steps, and then quit Registry Editor:

1. Click Start, click Run, type regedit, and then click OK.
2. Locate and then click the following key in the registry:
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager\BootExecute
3. On the Edit menu, click Modify.
4. Type autocheck autochk *, and then press ENTER.

Method 3: Confirm that your hard disk or your file system is not damaged

To confirm that your hard disk or your file system is not damaged, start your computer from the Windows XP CD-ROM, load Microsoft Recovery Console, and then use the chkdsk command-line command.

Note To start your computer from the Microsoft Windows XP CD-ROM, your CD-ROM or your DVD-ROM drive must be configured to do so. For information about how to configure your computer to start from the CD-ROM or the DVD-ROM drive, see the documentation that is included with your computer, or contact the computer manufacturer.

Important Microsoft recommends that only advanced users or administrators use the Recovery Console. You must know the Administrator password to use the Recovery Console. For additional information about how to use the Chkdsk command-line command to check and to repair a damaged hard disk, click the following article numbers to view the articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: Note If the Chkdsk.exe program reports that it cannot access your hard disk, you may be experiencing a hardware failure. Examine all the cable connections and jumper settings on your hard disk. Contact a computer repair professional or the manufacturer of your computer for more assistance.

If the Chkdsk.exe program reports that it cannot fix all the hard-disk problems, your file system or your Master Boot Record (MBR) may be damaged, or it may no longer be accessible. Try appropriate Recovery Console commands such as fixmbr and fixboot, contact a data recovery service, or repartition and reformat your hard disk.

Important For more assistance, contact your computer manufacturer or a Microsoft Product Support Services professional.