How to Recover the Chkdsk

Recover file system errors with Chkdsk.

Chkdsk is a software utility bundled with Windows operating systems. Chkdsk is designed to detect and repair file system errors on hard disk drives. Errors in the file system could occur if a program crashes or if the computer is not correctly shut down, resulting in lost data clusters or file system corruption. If Chkdsk automatically runs when Windows starts, this indicates that there may be problems with the file system or with the hard disk. Chkdsk will allow you to recover the computer from file system errors or determine if there is a problem with the hard drive.

Things You'll Need

• Windows installation disc

Instructions

1. Place the Windows installation CD or DVD into the computer's CD or DVD drive.

2. Restart the computer. As the computer restarts, you will be prompted to choose a boot method. Select the "Boot from CD" option. Windows will display a list of options. Choose "Windows Recovery Console." The System Recovery Options window will display.

3. Select "Command Prompt" from the System Recovery Options window. The Command Prompt window will appear.

4. Access the disk drive partition that the operating system is installed on. Operating systems are usually installed on drive C, but can be installed on other partitions. At the Command Prompt, type "C:" and press "Enter." The Command Prompt will change to "C:\Windows\system32>." (If the operating system is installed on a drive other than the C drive, substitute the operating system's drive letter in the previous command in place of "C.")

5. Type "chkdsk /f" and press "Enter" at the "C:\Windows\system32>" prompt to run Chkdsk to repair file system errors. The "/f" switch will cause Chkdsk to fix any file system errors it discovers. Chkdsk will sequentially verify files, indexes and list errors found and will repair the file system in a series of steps. A summary will be presented when the check is complete. The next prompt will be "C:\Windows\system32>."

6. Type "chkdsk /r" and press "Enter" at the "C:\Windows\system32>" prompt to run Chkdsk to recover bad hard drive sectors. The "/r" switch directs Chkdsk to attempt to recover any bad sectors found on the hard drive, if possible. A summary will be presented when the check is complete advising if recovery of bad sectors was successful. The next prompt will be "C:\Windows\system32>."

7. Type "chkdsk" and press "Enter" at the "C:\Windows\system32>" prompt to run Chkdsk again to identify a possible hard drive problem. Chkdsk will perform another disk check. When the check is complete, no file system errors should be presented. If file system errors are found again at this point, it indicates that the problem is not with the file system, but with the hard drive itself. If any bad sectors were found in Step 6 and repaired, no bad sectors should be found in this check. If bad sectors are found again, the hard drive is showing signs that it is beginning to fail. Back up data on that hard drive as soon as possible, as the hard drive may be near the end of its life.

References

• Microsoft: How to perform disk error checking in Windows XP
• Microsoft: Microsoft Windows XP - Chkdsk