How to Use ScanDisk
Hard drives tend to be well built, but they won't last forever. With the proper care, however, a hard drive can last several years without failing. Although there are many ways to extend the life of your hard drive, the easiest is to regularly run the built-in Windows ScanDisk program. The program, which analyzes the hard disk and repairs any problems that are found, is simple to use and effective.
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Instructions
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Click "Start," then "Computer."
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Right-click the drive you would like to scan. ("C:" is typically the primary hard drive.)
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Select "Properties."
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Click the "Tools" tab. Click the "Check Now" button under "Error-checking" to open the "Check Local Disk" window for ScanDisk.
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Check the box next to "Scan for and attempt recovery of bad sectors."
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Click "Start" to begin the disk scan. The scan may take anywhere from a few minutes to a couple of hours. You'll need to leave the computer alone and allow it to complete the scan without interruption.
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Tips & Warnings
Run ScanDisk at least monthly. Doing so will keep your hard drive in good shape and will make it less likely to crash.
References
- Photo Credit hard drive interior image by Curtis Sorrentino from Fotolia.com
