How to Scan Your Computer for Problems

When a computer stops working or starts experiencing errors, there are many factors that could be causing these problems. Anything from a misplaced file to internal corruption of the disk itself can start causing the system to malfunction. When simple solutions such as restarting your computer don't work, it may be beneficial to check the disk itself for errors and see if they can be corrected. Windows comes with a built-in utility to check the disk for a variety of problems and correct them automatically.

Instructions

1. Click on "Start," then click "My Computer," or open it by double clicking the icon on your desktop.

2. Right click on the drive you want to check for errors, then click "Properties." This will usually be your C drive. Click the "Tools" tab, then under the first category called "Error-checking," click "Check Now."

3. Check the box next to "Scan for and attempt recovery of bad sectors," then click "Start." Your computer will scan itself for errors, then list any problems which you will then have the ability to fix. (The computer will correct them, you need only select the option to do so.) The scanning process may take some time, and it is recommended that you do not use any other applications while using this tool.

References

• Microsoft: 5 Ways to Speed Up Your PC
• Microsoft: How to Perform Disk Error Checking