What Is the ScanDisk Utility?

ScanDisk finds and fixes hard drive errors.

ScanDisk is a common maintenance tool included in older Windows and MS-DOS operating systems. The application checks the computer's hard drive for errors and bad sectors, and then tries to fix the problems.

Need

The errors in a hard drive are often caused by critical systems applications that closed improperly, system crashes or harmful programs and viruses. Errors can result in corrupted data and poor computer performance.

Function

When ScanDisk runs, it investigates the platters for defects. Data is stored on the platters, which are steel plates in the hard drive. ScanDisk also checks file systems, and handles the bad and lost clusters created when particular programs abort.

Report

ScanDisk provides a report after it runs, detailing the amount of disk space scanned and any errors found.

Windows Programs With ScanDisk

ScanDisk was included in Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows 98 Second Edition and Windows Millennium Edition (Me). It has been replaced by other similar utilities. You can scan your disk for errors in Windows 7 by clicking "File," "Properties" and "Tools."

References

• Tech FAQ: How To Scan Disk
• Microsoft: Description of ScanDisk for Windows