Check Disk - chkdsk

Category
Register Today's Posts

Vista Forums
Tutorials

Tutorials
User Name User Name

Search...
Password Password Remember Me?

Windows 8 Forum

Welcome to Vista Forums . Our forum is dedicated to helping you find support and solutions for any problems regarding your Windows Vista PC be it Dell, HP, Acer, Asus or a custom build. We also provide an extensive Windows Vista tutorial section that covers a wide range of tips and tricks.

Check Disk - chkdsk Recommended Fix: Download Now

02 May 2007

#1

Check Disk - chkdsk

Published by Brink 02 May 2007

How to Run Check Disk at Startup in Vista or Windows 7

Check Disk - chkdsk

Published by

How to Run Check Disk at Startup in Vista or Windows 7

Information This will show you how to use and run Check Disk or chkdsk at startup from within Vista, the command prompt, and the registry to check for corruption and possibly repair errors and bad sectors on the hard drive. Note If you had changed your default boot screen , then you will need to temporarily uncheck the No GUI boot to be able to see what is happening when chkdsk is running at boot up. See: How to Enable the Hidden Aurora Boot Screen in Vista or How to Change the Default Boot Screen in Vista SP1 Warning This will take about 20 minutes or so to finish, depending on how big your hard drive is. Do not stop chkdsk once it has started, let it finish. It could cause errors on your hard drive. When you restart to chkdsk, you will only have 10 seconds to press a key to cancel chkdsk. Check for a sticky keyboard key stuck down. It will cancel the chkdsk at startup. Tip
Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Texas, USA Posts: 30,773 Array

Administrator

Brink

Tutorial Tools
Printable Version

CHECK DISK WILL NOT RUN AT STARTUP PROBLEM:

If chkdsk will not run at startup after trying the methods below, then see: How to Fix Chkdsk will Not Run at Startup in Vista

Applies to

All Vista Versions 64 Bit & 32 Bit

METHOD ONE Run Check Disk from within the Drive's Properties Page
NOTE: This method may not always run chkdsk when the computer restarts on some computers. I'm not sure why, but if this is your case, then you can do Method Two , Method Three, Method Four , or Method Five below.

1. Open the Start Menu.

http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/67612-check-disk-chkdsk.html[28/09/2013 10:15:09]

Check Disk - chkdsk

2. Click on the Computer button. 3. Right click on your hard drive and click on Properties. 4. Click on the Tools tab. 5. Click on Check Now under the Error checking section. (See circled in red below)

6. Click on Continue in the UAC prompt. 7. Make sure both options are checked. (See screenshot below) NOTE: The Automatically fix file system errors box will be checked by default . 8. Click on the Start button.

9. You will get a pop-up window saying, "Windows can't check this disk while it's use". (See screenshot below) 10. Click on the Schedule disk check button for chkdsk to run the next time you restart your computer.

METHOD TWO Using chkdsk in a Command Prompt

1. To Run chkdsk in Safe Mode
A) Restart the computer and boot into Safe Mode.

http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/67612-check-disk-chkdsk.html[28/09/2013 10:15:09]

Check Disk - chkdsk

B) Go to step 3.

2. To Run chkdsk in a Command Prompt at Boot

A) Place the Vista installation DVD into the DVD drive and restart the computer. B) Boot from the DVD into the System Recovery Options screen. C) Select Command prompt. D) Go to step 4 below.

3. To Run chkdsk in a Elevated Command Prompt

A) Open a elevated command prompt .

4. In the command prompt, type chkdsk or chkdsk C: followed by one or a combination of switches listed in steps 4A to 4D below and press Enter . See the screenshot below for all switch combinations. NOTE: If you want check disk to scan a drive other than the C: drive, then substitute the drive letter C: after chkdsk to the drive letter that you want. EX: chkdsk E:

Type One of these Commands to Run Chkdsk:

NOTE: The most common command is chkdsk /f or chkdsk C: /f A) /f = The /f switch is the most common of the chkdsk switches. It tells chkdsk to try and fix any errors it finds. EX Type: chkdsk /f or chkdsk C: /f NOTE: Answer Y when chkdsk asks you if you want to check the drive next time Vista boots (restarts).

B) /r = The /r switch tells chkdsk to attempt to recover any bad sectors of the hard drive if any are found. A bad sector is a spot on the hard drive that cannot hold saved data anymore. (See screenshot below) EX Type: chkdsk /r or chkdsk C: /r NOTE: Answer Y when chkdsk asks you if you want to check the drive next time Windows Vista boots.

C) /i = The /i switch tells chkdsk to perform a less detailed but faster disk check. (See screenshot below) EX Type: chkdsk /i or chkdsk C: /i NOTE: This will run immediately.

http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/67612-check-disk-chkdsk.html[28/09/2013 10:15:09]

Check Disk - chkdsk

D) /c = The /c switch tells chkdsk to skip the checking of cycles within a folder structure which reduces the scan time. EX Type: chkdsk /c or chkdsk C: /c NOTE: This will run immediately.

5. Close the command prompt. 6. Restart the computer to run chkdsk at startup.

METHOD THREE Using chkntfs and fsutil in a Command Prompt

NOTE: This will reset all drives to be checked at startup and mark a drive as dirty so chkdsk will run at startup for it. Chkdsk will mark the drive clean again after it runs. If chkdsk does not run at startup, then do step 5 only to mark the drive clean again .

1. Open a elevated command prompt . 2. To Reset and Check All Drives and Run CHKDSK if a Drive is Dirty
A) In the command prompt, type chkntfs /d and press Enter . (See screenshot below) NOTE: Restores the computer to the default behavior; all drives are checked at boot time and chkdsk is run on those that are marked dirty . B) Go to step 4.

3. To Check a Specific Drive and Run CHKDSK if the Drive is Dirty

A) In the command prompt, type chkntfs /c C: and press Enter . (See screenshot below) NOTE: This will schedule the C: drive to be checked at boot time. If the drive is marked dirty, then chkdsk will run. If you want to schedule another drive letter to be checked, then substitute C: with the drive letter you want checked instead .

http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/67612-check-disk-chkdsk.html[28/09/2013 10:15:09]

Check Disk - chkdsk

4. To Mark a Drive Dirty

A) In the command prompt, type fsutil dirty set c: and press Enter . (See screenshot below) NOTE: This marks the c: drive as dirty so chkdsk will run at startup. If you want to run chkdsk on another drive letter, then substitute c: for the drive letter you want instead . B) You will now get a Volume - c: is now marked dirty message.

5. Close the elevated command prompt. 6. Restart the computer. NOTE: Chkdsk will now run at startup. If chkdsk does not run at startup, then run chkntfs /d in step 5A again and see : How to Fix Chkdsk will Not Run at Startup in Vista

METHOD FOUR Run Check Disk Using a REG File Download

1. Click on the download button below to download the Run_chkdsk.reg file. NOTE: If the hard drive you want to run chkdsk on has a different driver letter than C: , then do the Manual Way below to substitute C: with your drive letter instead .

2. Click on Save , and save the .reg file to the Desktop. 3. Right click the .reg (On Desktop) file and click Merge. 4. Click on the Run button in the Security Warning pop-up. 5. Click on Continue (UAC), Yes, and then OK when prompted. 6. When done, you can delete the .reg file (On Desktop).

METHOD FIVE Run Check Disk from the Registry Editor

1. Open the Start Menu. 2. In the white line (Start Search) area, type regedit and press Enter. 3. Click on the Continue button in the UAC prompt. 4. In regedit, go to: (See screenshot below step 5)
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager

5. In the right pane, right click on BootExecute and click on Modify.

http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/67612-check-disk-chkdsk.html[28/09/2013 10:15:09]

Check Disk - chkdsk

6. Highlight the code below, then right click on it and click on Copy.

NOTE: If the hard drive you want to run chkdsk on has a different driver letter than C: , then substitute C: with your drive letter instead . Code:
autocheck autochk /p \??\C: autocheck autochk *

7. Clear the box, then right click on a empty area in the box and click on Paste to copy the code above into
it. (See screenshot below)

8. Click on OK.

9. The registry will now look like this. (See screenshot below)

10. Close regedit. 11. Restart the computer to run chkdsk at startup.
That's it, Shawn

Related Tutorials

How How How How How How How How How How How How How How How How

to Repair and Verify the Integrity of Vista System Files with System File Checker to Extract Files from the Vista Installation DVD To Perform a Repair Installation For Vista to Do a Clean Install of Vista From a Upgrade Version to Use the Memory Diagnostics Tool in Vista to Generate a System Health Report in Vista to Troubleshoot the Computer with Reliability Monitor in Vista to Do a Startup Repair in Vista to Do a System Restore in Vista to Use the DirectX Diagnostic Tool in Vista to Use the Resource Monitor in Vista to Fix a Crashing Internet Explorer in Vista to Start Vista in Safe Mode to Fix Chkdsk will Not Run at Startup in Vista to Change Vista Disk Check Press Any Key Timeout Value at Startup to Read the Event Viewer Log for Check Disk (chkdsk) in Windows

http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/67612-check-disk-chkdsk.html[28/09/2013 10:15:09]

Check Disk - chkdsk

How to Fix Windows 7

www.helpcomp.com

Just Follow these 3 steps (Recommended)

Reply With Quote

24 Jan 2008

#1

Re: Checkdisk Updated 1-24-2008 to include Method Three.

No Comprou?
Administrator

Brink

www.travessa.com.br/livraria

Compre na Livraria da Travessa e ganhe desconto 20% na 1 compra!

Shawn

Join Date : Apr 2007 Texas, USA Posts : 30,773 64-bit Windows 8.1 Enterprise (RTM) Local Time: 07:38 AM

My System Specs
Reply With Quote

06 Feb 2008

#2

Re: Checkdisk

aftermath
Member

I tried Method 3, and that didn't work. I also tried chkdsk C: /f and chkntfs /c C: with no avail. When I tried sfc /scannow, the scan began and got to the point: Verification 66% complete. Windows Resorces Protection could not perform the requested operation. I also tried chkdsk /i. The scan began the verification. During the verification 117,504 file records were processed, 6 segments were indicated to be corrupt. 93 large files were processed. It then stated: Errors found. CHKDSK cannot continue in read-only mode.

Join Date : Feb 2008 Posts : 40 Vista Home Premium 32bit Local Time: 08:38 AM

My System Specs
Reply With Quote

06 Feb 2008

#3

Re: Checkdisk aftermath, It sounds like you got some bad corruption problems there. If you do not only have a recovery Vista DVD or partition, then I would recommend doing a Repair install. This will allow you to repair your Vista installation and keep your user account files, settings, and programs. How To Perform a Repair Installation For Vista Shawn

Administrator

Brink

Join Date : Apr 2007

http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/67612-check-disk-chkdsk.html[28/09/2013 10:15:09]

Check Disk - chkdsk

Texas, USA Posts : 30,773 64-bit Windows 8.1 Enterprise (RTM) Local Time: 07:38 AM

My System Specs
Reply With Quote

13 Feb 2008

#4

Re: Check Disk - chkdsk Updated 2-13-2008 to include METHOD FOUR to run chkdsk from registry. Shawn

Administrator

Brink

Join Date : Apr 2007 Texas, USA Posts : 30,773 64-bit Windows 8.1 Enterprise (RTM) Local Time: 07:38 AM

My System Specs
Reply With Quote

13 Feb 2008

#5

Re: Check Disk - chkdsk

aftermath
Member

Thanks for all your suggestions. My computer locked up in Safe Mode and I was not able to get back to Normal Mode. The only recourse I had was to reimage the hard drive. Everything is now back to normal. Fortunately I had a back-up of all my files. Thanks to all that offered suggestions.

Join Date : Feb 2008 Posts : 40 Vista Home Premium 32bit Local Time: 08:38 AM

My System Specs
Reply With Quote

13 Feb 2008

#6

Re: Check Disk - chkdsk aftermath, I'm glad to hear everything is back to normal again.

Administrator

Brink

Shawn

http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/67612-check-disk-chkdsk.html[28/09/2013 10:15:09]

Check Disk - chkdsk

Join Date : Apr 2007 Texas, USA Posts : 30,773 64-bit Windows 8.1 Enterprise (RTM) Local Time: 07:38 AM

My System Specs
Reply With Quote

04 Jun 2008

#7

Re: Check Disk - chkdsk

lothia
Newbie

Join Date : Jun 2008 Posts : 5 Vista Home Premium 32bit Local Time: 07:38 AM

I have tried all of these methods, and none of them have worked. The one that I thought would be best was the last one, it found a lot of errors but then I couldn't use the program. I found however it I attempt to uninstall it the company offers me a trial 30 day activation key. It might be nice to add that, however right now I still have not fixed my corrupt file which happens to be my C: Users / my_name I have tried doing all methods, and when I tried to do it with my Vista DVD it gave me an error saying the files were unwritable or something and would not allow me to run the chkdsk. Any suggestions? EDIT: The final method actually worked thanks =). I would suggest adding how to get the activation code, because some of us are kinda stupid and don't notice the obvious.

Last edited by lothia; 04 Jun 2008 at 09:38 PM.

My System Specs
Reply With Quote

04 Jun 2008

#8

Re: Check Disk - chkdsk Hi Lothia, Welcome to Vista Forums.

Administrator

Brink

I'm glad to hear that you resolved your problem. What program are your referring to when you mention uninstall and a 30 day activation key? Shawn

Join Date : Apr 2007 Texas, USA Posts : 30,773 64-bit Windows 8.1 Enterprise (RTM) Local Time: 07:38 AM

My System Specs
Reply With Quote

18 Jun 2008

#9

Re: Checkdisk

amphibia
Newbie

Originally Posted by aftermath

Join Date : Jun 2008 Posts : 4 Vista Business Local Time: 05:38 AM

I tried Method 3, and that didn't work. I also tried chkdsk C: /f and chkntfs /c C: with no avail. When I tried sfc /scannow, the scan began and got to the point: Verification 66% complete. Windows Resorces Protection could not perform the requested operation. I also tried chkdsk /i. The scan began the verification. During the verification 117,504 file records were processed, 6 segments were indicated to be corrupt. 93 large files were processed. It then stated: Errors found. CHKDSK cannot continue in read-only mode.

http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/67612-check-disk-chkdsk.html[28/09/2013 10:15:09]

Check Disk - chkdsk

the same story is about me... i can't run chkdsk anyway, and can't create backup because of that, and... what

did you tell about restore? I've done that (after Vista was crashed all my user folders, and then when it was almost killed my laptop by automated update), no result... what can i do? sometimes vista says on startup, that one more folder is corrupt and unreadable, the only way to repair is to copy that folder from previously saved backup copy, but yesterday i've lost email database - with all passwords etc.... how can i repair the disk?

My System Specs
Reply With Quote

Page 1 of 10 1 2 3 ...

Last

Check Disk - chkdsk Recommended Fix: Download

Index - Enable or Disable | Drive - Hide or Unhide

Similar Threads
Tutorial Category

Check Disk -chkdsk - problems Windows Vista Check Disk & Disk Defragmenter chkdsk does not check drive on re-boot Protokollproblem with Check Disk (chkdsk) The output to Monitor of Check Disk (chkdsk) is disordered?
-Style --SF SF Style

General Discussion Vista performance & maintenance Vista performance & maintenance Vista account administration Vista account administration

All times are GMT -5. The time now is 07:38 AM. Contact Us Windows Vista Forums Archive Privacy and cookies Top

Vista Forums is an independent web site and has not been authorized, sponsored, or otherwise approved by Microsoft Corporation. "Windows Vista", the Start Orb, and related materials are trademarks of Microsoft Corp. Designer Media Ltd Tutorial powered by GARS 4.1.0 2005-2011

http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/67612-check-disk-chkdsk.html[28/09/2013 10:15:09]