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How to perform disk error checking in Windows XP

How to perform disk error checking in Windows

XP
Article ID: 315265 - View products that this article applies to.

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This article was previously published under Q315265
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info r ma tio n, r efer to this M icr o s o ft web s ite: Sup p o r t is end ing fo r s o me ver s io ns o f Wind o ws (http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/help/end-supportwindows-xp-sp2-windows-vista-without-service-packs)

For a Microsoft Windows 2000 version of this article, see 156571 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/156571/ ) .

Summary
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.

How to run Chkdsk

Notes
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.

How to run Chkdsk at the command prompt

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How to perform disk error checking in Windows XP

1. Click Start, and then click Run.

2. In the Open box, type cmd, and then press Enter.
3. Use one of the following procedures:
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.
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. 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.

How to run Chkdsk from My Computer or from Windows Explorer

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Properties
Article ID: 315265 - Last Review: September 30, 2013 - Revision: 10.0
Ap p lies to
Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition
Microsoft Windows XP Professional
Microsoft Windows XP Professional x64 Edition

K eywo r d s : kbhowto kbacwsurvey kbenv kbinfo kbsetup KB315265

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