
- Type cmd (Command Prompt) in the Start menu search bar, then click Run as administrator.
- Type chkdsk and hit Enter. CHKDSK will scan for drive errors and let you know if it found any you should repair, but it won't try to fix them without a command.
How to unlock disk for CHKDSK?
What to do when CHKDSK is stuck or frozen?
- Restart your computer.
- Press Esc or Enter to stop chkdsk from running.
- Run the Disk Cleanup utility to clear out junk files.
- Open an elevated CMD, type sfc /scannow, and press Enter to run the System File Checker.
- Restart and exit chkdsk again during the startup by pressing Esc or Enter.
How long does CHKDSK take to complete the process?
The chkdsk process is usually completed in 5 hours for 1TB drives, and if you’re scanning a 3TB drive, the required time triples. As we already mentioned, chkdsk scan can take a while depending on the size of the selected partition. Sometimes this process can take a few hours, so be patient.
Can interrupting CHKDSK damage a disk?
Stages 1 to 3 are the ones where you risk damage because they may be re-writing the ntfs file structure when you stop chkdsk. You are on Stage 4 which is just reading from the disk, it will only write to the disk if it finds a bad block.
How to run chkdsk in Windows 10 [3 easy ways]?
Way 3: Run CHKDSK from Cortana
- On your keyboard, press the Windows logo key and type chkdsk C: /f /r /x. (You can replace C with any drives you want a disk check on).
- Right-click on the command and click Run as administrator .
- Wait until the whole disk check process finishes and restart your computer.

Will CHKDSK repair corrupt files?
Will CHKDSK recover data? It is not a data recovery tool and will not recover lost or damaged files. CHKDSK will simply ensure the information currently on the disk is in a consistent and safe state.
Does CHKDSK auto repair?
In the command prompt window, type “chkdsk /r c:” and hit Enter. This command will check your drive for errors using the CHKDSK utility and automatically repair them if possible.
How do I run a repair disk on Windows 10?
To run the Check Disk Utility.Press Windows key + X and click on Command Prompt (Admin) to open the Elevated Command Prompt. ( If prompted for a password, type the password and click allow)Type the following command: chkdsk /r and click Enter. ... If you see this message: ... Restart your system and let the check disk run.
How do I run CHKDSK on one drive?
To run CHKDSK on a different drive, type chkdsk [drive letter]: /f, replacing [drive letter] with the letter of the drive you want to scan. For example, to repair the D drive, enter chkdsk D: /f. The drive with Windows on it (usually C) will ask you to restart before CHKDSK can run.
Should I use chkdsk F or R?
Use the /r parameter to find physical disk errors in the file system and attempt to recover data from any affected disk sectors. If you specify the /f parameter, chkdsk displays an error message if there are open files on the disk.
Which is better chkdsk R or F?
In disk terms, CHKDSK /R scans the entire disk surface, sector by sector, to make sure every sector can be read properly. As a result, a CHKDSK /R takes significantly longer than /F, since it's concerned with the entire surface of the disk, not just the parts involved in the Table of Contents.
How do I fix a corrupted hard drive?
You can fix the 'Disk Structure Corrupted and Unreadable' error by:Unplugging and re-plugging the external HDD or USB drive.Uninstalling and reinstalling disk drive.Running hardware and device troubleshooter.Running disk scan for hard drive errors.Running CHKDSK command.More items...•
How long does CHKDSK f'r take?
chkdsk -f should take under an hour on that hard drive. chkdsk -r , on the other hand, could take over an hour, maybe two or three, depending on your partitioning.
How do I fix corrupted files on Windows 10?
How can I fix corrupted files in Windows 10 & 11?Use the SFC tool. 1.1 Run System File Checker. ... Use the DISM tool. ... Run a SFC scan from Safe Mode. ... Perform a SFC scan before Windows 10 starts. ... Replace the files manually. ... Use the System Restore feature. ... Reset corrupted Windows 10.
What are the CHKDSK commands?
The most important chkdsk commands and parameters at a glancechkdsk command/parameterMeaningNTFS/IRuns a check of index entries (less vigorous)x/CCycles within the folder structure are not checkedx/BRechecks all bad clusters on the volume (implies /R)x/scanRuns an online checkx15 more rows•Sep 15, 2020
How can I fix my corrupted hard drive using Command Prompt?
Open Start, type cmd, and hit Enter to launch a Command Prompt Window. Type chkdsk g:/f (if the external hard drive is drive g) and press Enter. Type sfc /scannow and hit Enter.
How do I scan my hard drive for errors?
Press "Windows-E" on your keyboard to launch the Computer window.Right-click the hard disk you want to scan and choose "Properties" from the menu that appears.Click the "Tools" tab.Click the "Check" button located beneath the Error Checking heading to have Windows perform a scan of your drive.More items...
Does SFC Scannow fix anything?
The sfc /scannow command will scan all protected system files, and replace corrupted files with a cached copy that is located in a compressed folder at %WinDir%\System32\dllcache. The %WinDir% placeholder represents the Windows operating system folder.
Is chkdsk safe for SSD?
The short answer is yes. Running CHKDSK will not harm an SSD in the same way that running DEFRAG might.
How long is chkdsk supposed to take?
How long does chkdsk repair take? Chkdsk check can take a couple of hours depending on the size of your drive and the number of corrupted files. The chkdsk process usually takes 5 hours for 1TB drive. If there are bad sectors on the hard drive, it may need more time.
How many stages does chkdsk have?
The Chkdsk process When chkdsk is run, there are 3 major stages along with 2 optional stages.