What Does “Check Disk” Actually Do? And How to Run It in Windows (CHKDSK) [Beginner’s Guide]

Do you know what disk check is? In addition to checking the disk health by fixing hard drive partition errors, what else can a disk check do? You can also check disk usage and test disk speed, etc. On this page, we'll provide you with a complete beginner's guide. It will help you successfully run a disk check or CHKDSK command to check the disk health, test the hard drive speed, and even check HDD/SSD disk usage on a Windows computer. You can even apply troubleshooting solutions yourself to fix disk check errors like a pro. Let's get started.

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"Check Disk," also known as "Chkdsk," is a disk utility tool primarily used for detecting and repairing disk errors. It is available in operating systems like Windows and scans hard disk drives to identify file system issues, bad sectors, and other problems, attempting to fix them. Chkdsk can also help recover lost file connections and ensure the integrity of the file system. Users typically run this tool when encountering disk issues or experiencing system instability.

Tags: chkdsk, disk checking utility, disk utilities

Disk Check, also referred to as Windows Disk Check, and colloquially known as "CHKDSK" (as defined by Wikipedia here), is actually a system utility or feature provided by Microsoft. Its purpose is to detect and repair file system integrity and logical file system errors on volumes in operating systems such as Windows, OS/2, and DOS.

Are there any free disk checking tools available? Could you recommend one?

Windows users can run two disk-checking utilities for free on their hard drives, SSDs, external drives, and even SD cards:

CHKDSK stands for "Check Disk," a computer command used to check and fix disk errors. In Chinese, it's commonly translated as "磁盘检查" (check disk in Mandarin).

When you search for “disk checking tool” online using browsers such as Google, Bing, or Firefox, search engines will provide you with several types of disk checking utilities. At the top of the list, you'll see CHKDSK or the CHKDSK utility.

CHKDSK is a command utility that uses DiskPart to pass command syntax instructions to the operating system, which then processes these instructions and performs a disk check operation on the target disk volume.

Scandisk is a computer program used to check and repair disk errors. In Chinese, people commonly refer to it as "磁盘扫描仪" (Magnetic Disk Scanner) or "磁盘检查工具" (Disk Checking Tool). It detects logical issues and physical damage on hard drives, then attempts to fix these issues to maintain data safety and system stability. In more recent versions of Windows, it's known as "Error Checking" or you'd run it with the command "chkdsk."

In addition to CHKDSK, there is another tool known as Microsoft ScanDisk, which some users also refer to as Check Disk. It is defined as a diagnostic utility that supports checking and repairing file system errors on disk drives (source: Wikipedia).

Differences Between CHKDSK and ScanDisk

So, what's the difference between these two disk checking utilities? Here's a comparison table that outlines some general information about CHKDSK and Check Disk Utility – ScanDisk.

Here are the details:

It's worth noting that SanDisk was introduced in 1993 as an alternative to CHKDSK, continuing to provide disk checking and partition repair services to Windows users with a simpler operation process.

"What does a disk check actually do, and when should you use it?"

What else do these disk-checking utilities do besides fix file-system errors? When should you use them on your computer?

What can Disk Utility do for you? Benefits of checking your disk

The main purpose of CHKDSK and ScanDisk is to check the health of your disk. When you run the Check Disk tool on a disk, you can benefit from:

When to Use Disk Checking Tools - CHKDSK or ScanDisk

Here are some of the issues that the CHKDSK command or ScanDisk can fix:

• The file system of the hard drive or external USB turns RAW.
• The hard drive or partition becomes inaccessible.
• External storage disk shows in Disk Management but not in File Explorer.
• The selected volume or partition gets corrupted for some unknown reasons.
• The disk contains bad sectors, making it slow or stuck.

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How to Run CHKDSK and Check Disks in Windows 10

So how do you run CHKDSK or ScanDisk to check and fix hard drive errors? In this section, you'll learn how to run the disk checking utility on Windows 10/11 or even older computers to efficiently repair existing disk issues.

CHKDSK vs. ScanDisk: Which Is Right for You?

You may be unsure which tool – CHKDSK or ScanDisk – is right for you. The following chart compares some unique factors to help you decide which utility meets your needs:

Guide 1: Run CHKDSK in Windows 11/10 to Check and Fix Disk Errors

Applies to: Windows 11/10/8/7/XP and Windows Server.

Step 1: Type “cmd” in the search box, right-click “Command Prompt,” and select “Run as administrator” to launch CHKDSK.

Step 2: Note the drive letter of the problematic disk.

Open File Explorer or Disk Management to find the drive letter of the disk that you want to check and fix errors on.

Step 3: Type the CHKDSK syntax and press Enter:

This command checks the file system on drive E: for errors and repairs them. The parameters are as follows: - `/f`: Fixes errors on the disk. - `/r`: Locates bad sectors and recovers readable information. - `/x`: Forces the volume to dismount if necessary. When checking the boot volume, this option prompts the user to restart the computer to complete the check process.

Run CHDSK to check and fix disk errors

Step 4: Wait for the process to complete, then type exit to close the terminal window.

Note that the syntax of the CHKDSK command has different meanings. Here's an explanation for each of these commands:

• /f - Fixes errors on the disk.
• /r - Locates bad sectors and recovers readable information.
• /x - Forces the volume to dismount first if necessary. /x is included with /f.

In addition to these three parameters, CHKDSK has several other options that help in checking and fixing disk errors. If you need more detailed information about CHKDSK, refer to the following links for assistance:

Guideline 2: Running Disk Check - ScanDisk in Windows

Applies to: Windows 11/10/8/7 and Windows Server.

Step 1: Press Windows + E to open File Explorer.

Step 2: Right-click on the problematic hard drive and select "Properties."

Step 3: Go to the Tools tab and click Check under Error Checking.

Click “Scan Disk,” and wait for the program to scan and fix any errors it finds on the hard drive.

Bonus Tip: CHKDSK/ScanDisk Alternatives

In addition to running CHKDSK or ScanDisk to check for hard drive errors and fix file system corruption, you might also want to try using a third-party disk checking utility for assistance. It's easier and quicker.

AOMEI Partition Assistant is a software that allows all levels of Windows users to easily scan and fix disk file system errors in just a few steps:

Step 1: Run Partition Master on your computer. Then, right-click the target disk and choose “Advanced” > “Check File System”.

Select "Check Partition":

(2) In the Check Disk Utility dialog box, select the Check for and attempt recovery of bad sectors check box, and then click Start.

Check the resulting message

Step 3. The software will now check the partition's file system on the disk. When it's done, click “Finish.”

What's the Difference Between CHKDSK, SFC, and DISM?

In addition to CHKDSK, there are two other common commands, SFC and DISM, that some users might get confused about. Actually, these three commands are designed for different scenarios.

Here are the main differences between CHKDSK, SFC, and DISM:

When to Use CHKDSK, SFC, and DISM

• CHKDSK (Check Disk) - Run CHKDSK when your computer is freezing or running slowly, or when a drive becomes suddenly inaccessible.
• SFC (System File Checker) - Use SFC when your hard disk's file system contains unknown errors, is corrupted, or has been tampered with.
• DISM (Deployment Image Servicing and Management) - Employ DISM when your computer is experiencing frequent crashes, freezes, and errors, especially if you've already run SFC without success.

What issues can the CHKDSK, SFC, and DISM tools resolve?

• CHKDSK - This will scan your entire drive for and fix errors in files and the file system itself. It also checks for bad sectors and automatically repairs them so you can use your drive again.
• SFC - This can help resolve issues with a misbehaving hard drive, restore missing DLL files, and even eliminate blue screen errors on your computer.
• DISM - This will scan for and repair corrupt files in the Windows System Image Component Store, as well as fix system files that SFC can't.

How to Run CHKDSK, SFC, and DISM Commands to Check Disks in Windows

Step 1. Right-click the Start button and select Run.

Step 2. Type cmd in the Run dialog box, right-click on Command Prompt, and select Run as administrator.

Step 3. Type each of the CHKDSK, SFC, or DISM commands to fix different disk errors, and press Enter after each one:

• chkdsk E: /f /r /x - Check the disk for file system errors and bad sectors.
• sfc /scannow - Scan all system files, repairing or replacing any damaged or missing ones.
• Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /CheckHealth - Check for corrupted files in the Windows system image components store.
• If no corruption is detected, try running this command: Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth.
• If DISM reports finding issues, run this command: Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth to automatically fix the discovered errors and replace damaged files.

What's the difference between CHKDSK, SFC, and DISM?

In summary, the main differences between CHKDSK, SFC, and DISM lie in the different errors they are designed to fix on different objects.

• CHKDSK - Fixes file system errors on the hard drive.
• SFC - Fixes system file errors in the Windows operating system.
• DISM - Scans and fixes system file errors in Windows that SFC cannot repair.

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Troubleshooting: How to fix two common disk check errors yourself

According to various Windows experts and forums, we found that many Windows users might encounter some common issues while running the disk checking utility.

Here are two potential issues you might encounter:

Error 1: Windows cannot run disk check on this volume because it is write-protected.

The reason for this error is that:

• The hard drive is write-protected.
• The hard drive's file system is corrupted.

Solution to this error:

1. Remove write protection using CMD, DiskPart, or a third-party write protection removal tool. 2. Clear the read-only attribute in the Registry. 3. Recover files from the hard drive and format it.

Step-by-step Guide:

For a step-by-step guide, you can refer to this link on how to resolve the error 'Windows cannot run disk check on this volume': How to Fix 'Windows Cannot Run Disk Check on This Volume'.

Error 2: CHKDSK runs on startup, causing slow boot times to get into Windows

Possible causes for this error include:

• Incorrect shutdown of the Windows system
• Suspicious malware or virus infection
• Disconnecting an external device from your computer without safely ejecting it

Solution to this error:

1. Using the Command Prompt 2. Using the Windows Registry Editor 3. Utilizing alternative disk checking tools, such as Partition Master

Step-by-step Guide:

For a detailed guide on how to stop the Disk Check tool from running on Windows startup, you can refer to this page on how to prevent CHKDSK from running on startup in Windows 10.

Conclusions

On this page, we mainly explain what you can do with a disk checking tool, such as checking disk health, checking disk usage, and testing disk speed. Among these three types of tools, the main focus is on checking disk health and fixing partition errors.

For this, you can run the Check Disk utility, or ScanDisk, to help. These might be a little complicated for new Windows users, so you can use another tool, Partition Master, instead.

If you're encountering strange errors while running a disk check on your computer, such as Windows being unable to run the disk check or the disk check causing Windows not to start when booting up, don't panic. By following the specific troubleshooting solutions above, you should be able to resolve the issue and get your PC back up and running normally.