How to recover files from the Found.000 folder

User Scenario: Can I recover files from the Found.000 folder?

"After plugging in my USB to the computer, Windows prompted me to scan and repair the flash drive disk. Then, I ran the CHKDSK command in the Command Prompt. However, some of my files, including JPEG images and videos, turned into .chk files inside a newly created Found.000 folder. Is there any way to convert .chk files back to their original format or restore the files to their original locations?"

What are the ".found.000" Folder and CHK Files?

Usually, when running the built-in CHKDSK tool for scanning disk errors, Windows converts the data it believes to be damaged into .chk files and collects them in the Found.000 folder instead of deleting them.

This folder is hidden and you won't be able to see it by default. You need to uncheck “Hidden items” in the “View” tab at the top of File Explorer to display the folder. Also, if you attempt to open CHK files, you'll find them totally inaccessible. Thus, it could eventually lead to a massive data loss disaster.

"Why does the Found.000 folder appear?"

As mentioned above, the FOUND.000 folder with CHK files inside is created when the user runs the CHKDSK command to fix corrupted and fragmented data. The common reasons for the appearance of the FOUND.000 folder and CHK files are the following:

• Sudden power outage
• Windows operating system crashing abruptly
• Malware or virus attack
• Removing a USB flash drive or USB stick while data is being written

Recovered fragments of a file

Windows marks files with the .chk extension as “recovered fragments of files.” If you didn't lose any important data, you don't need to bother with the Found.000 folder. You can just delete it to free up space. Additionally, if you have backups, it's simpler to recover lost data from a backup.

If you don't have a backup and you find some important files inside the Found.000 folder, you can check out the tutorial below where we show you how to recover files from the Found.000 folder using three different methods.

How to Convert CHK Files Back to Their Original Format

By changing the CHK extension, you can recover files from the Found.000 folder. For instance, if the lost image was a JPEG file, copy the .CHK file and rename it to .jpg. Or, convert the .CHK file to .mp4 format if it's a video.

You can change the file extension in bulk by following these steps:

Recover CHK Files from Found.000 Folder Using UnCHK on Windows 10

UnCHK is a free and simple tool to recover CHK files from a Found.000 folder. This utility scans .CHK files and converts them to the appropriate extensions, such as .CHK to .JPG/JPEG. You can then open and view these files. If the original files are severely corrupted, UnCHK might not be able to restore them.

"Found.000 Folder Recovery and Data Recovery Software"

If you have already deleted the Found.000 folder but want to recover the files inside, what should you do? Here, the Data Recovery Wizard tool can help you easily recover the deleted Found.000 folder or .chk files. After recovery, you can continue to convert the chk files back to their original formats and then open and restore them.

If the recovered files are damaged, data-recovery tools can also fix various types of corrupted files, such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint, PDF, photos, and videos.

Step 1: Run the Tools Data Recovery Wizard. Under "Select Location," choose "Select Folder." Browse and locate the position where you lost your folder, then click "OK" to scan.

Select the folder to scan

Step 2: You can search for the folder, or use the filter feature to look for specific file types within the folder.

Step 3: Preview the recovered folder. Then, click “Recover” and choose a secure location on your computer to save the recovered data.

Conclusions

You can recover files from the Found.000 folder by converting CHK files to their original format or using utilities like UnCHK. If, for any reason, the Found.000 folder is lost, you can use file recovery tools to restore the Found.000 folder along with the CHK files.

How to Recover Files from the Found.000 Folder? – Frequently Asked Questions

Here are four more that you may find interesting. Enjoy!

1. How do I access the found .000 folder?

Windows creates a folder named Found.000 to store the .chk files. By default, this folder is hidden. To view and access it, enable "Show hidden files, folders, and drives" in the View tab at the top of File Explorer.

2. How to recover the found 000 files?

There are four ways to recover the discovered 000.CHK files.

• Use a reliable file recovery software.
• Employ UnCHK or a similar utility.
• Alter the CHK file extension via CMD.
• Manually change the CHK extension to restore the file.

3. Can I fix a broken hard drive without losing my data?

With the Data Recovery Wizard tool, you can successfully recover data from a damaged hard drive and fix a damaged hard drive issue. The hard drive can be reused for storing and saving data.