How to Use Check Disk Utility from XP Boot Disk

If you suspect there is a problem with your hard disk drive, you can use the Check Disk Utility (aka. chkdsk - an acronym for the utility) which is an integral part of the Microsoft Windows XP operating system. There are several ways to open that utility.

The most easy method is using it from the Windows XP boot disk itself and employing the recovery partition of the hard disk. To run check disk utility (chkdsk) from the Windows XP disk:

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• PC Windows XP OS, any edition
• Mouse
• Keyboard
• Some PC troubleshooting experience helpful

1. 
   Wait desktop load

   Start your computer and wait for your desktop to show up.

2. 
   Locate optical drive

   Insert the XP boot disk into your optical drive. The XP disk will auto run by default. If that is not happening, click the start menu on the task bar, select Run. Type in the assigned drive if you know it, or click the Browse button then locate your CD drive on there. Click OK.

3. 
   XP welcome window

   You will see the Windows XP screen like one in this tutorial image. Click on the first item: Install Windows XP, it will take you to the XP setup screen.

4. On the setup screen, choose the second option which indicates you should use the recovery command to repair the Windows installation.

5. 
   Disk drive that has the XP OS intalled on it

   You will need to select the disk drive that has Windows XP installed on it on the next showing page, so you need to know which drive you used to install XP. If you have only one internal drive, there should be no problem knowing. In that case, you will see the DOS screen automatically; otherwise you will have more than one drive option on the list to choose from.

6. Once you have located the disk, you should see a command prompt. Type "chkdsk" (less the quotes) then click Enter to have the Check Disk Utility investigate your disk drive. Keep in mind, this will check only the drive that you selected; it will check only the drive that has Windows regardless how many internal drives you have in your PC.
   
   To check all or select drives that have no Windows on, please click the link in the "Resource" section to my other related article. By the way, avoid using a check disk utility other than the default one that came with your Windows. Using a different disk utility will further damage or even fail to report precisely back on errors.

Tips & Warnings

• Avoid using a check disk utility other than the default one that came with your Windows. Using a different disk utility will further damage or even fail to report precisely back on errors.

Resources

• How to Check Windows XP Hard Disk Condition

[goodselfme]

on 7/8/2009 TX for the help on checking disk utility on XP

[sonni57]

on 7/8/2009 Good article on how to check a disk utility this is sure to help somebody.