chkdsk

Checks the file system and file system metadata of a volume for logical and physical errors. If used without parameters, chkdsk displays only the status of the volume and does not fix any errors. If used with the /f, /r, /x, or /b parameters, it fixes errors on the volume.

Membership in the local Administrators group, or equivalent, is the minimum required to run chkdsk. To open a command prompt window as an administrator, right-click Command prompt in the Start menu, and then click Run as administrator.

Interrupting chkdsk is not recommended. However, canceling or interrupting chkdsk should not leave the volume any more corrupt than it was before chkdsk was run. Running chkdsk again checks and should repair any remaining corruption on the volume.

Chkdsk can be used only for local disks. The command cannot be used with a local drive letter that has been redirected over the network.

Syntax

Parameters

Parameter	Description
Specifies the drive letter (followed by a colon), mount point, or volume name.
[ [

] Use with file allocation table (FAT) and FAT32 only. Specifies the location and name of a file or set of files that you want chkdsk to check for fragmentation. You can use the ? and * wildcard characters to specify multiple files. /f Fixes errors on the disk. The disk must be locked. If chkdsk cannot lock the drive, a message appears that asks you if you want to check the drive the next time you restart the computer. /v Displays the name of each file in every directory as the disk is checked. /r Locates bad sectors and recovers readable information. The disk must be locked. /r includes the functionality of /f, with the additional analysis of physical disk errors. /x Forces the volume to dismount first, if necessary. All open handles to the drive are invalidated. /x also includes the functionality of /f. /i Use with NTFS only. Performs a less vigorous check of index entries, which reduces the amount of time required to run chkdsk. /c Use with NTFS only. Does not check cycles within the folder structure, which reduces the amount of time required to run chkdsk. /l[: ] Use with NTFS only. Changes the log file size to the size you type. If you omit the size parameter, /l displays the current size. /b Use with NTFS only. Clears the list of bad clusters on the volume and rescans all allocated and free clusters for errors. /b includes the functionality of /r. Use this parameter after imaging a volume to a new hard disk drive. /scan Use with NTFS only. Runs an online scan on the volume. /forceofflinefix Use with NTFS only (must be used with /scan). Bypass all online repair; all defects found are queued for offline repair (for example, chkdsk /spotfix ). /perf Use with NTFS only (must be used with /scan). Uses more system resources to complete a scan as fast as possible. This may have a negative performance impact on other tasks running on the system. /spotfix Use with NTFS only. Runs spot fixing on the volume. /sdcleanup Use with NTFS only. Garbage collect unneeded security descriptor data (implies /f). /offlinescanandfix Runs an offline scan and fix on the volume. /freeorphanedchains Use with FAT/FAT32/exFAT only. Frees any orphaned cluster chains instead of recovering their contents. /markclean Use with FAT/FAT32/exFAT only. Marks the volume clean if no corruption was detected, even if /f was not specified. /? Displays help at the command prompt.

Remarks

The /i or /c switch reduces the amount of time required to run chkdsk by skipping certain volume checks.

If you want chkdsk to correct disk errors, you can’t have open files on the drive. If files are open, the following error message appears:

If you choose to check the drive the next time you restart the computer, chkdsk checks the drive and corrects errors automatically when you restart the computer. If the drive partition is a boot partition, chkdsk automatically restarts the computer after it checks the drive.

You can also use the chkntfs /c command to schedule the volume to be checked the next time the computer is restarted. Use the fsutil dirty set command to set the volume’s dirty bit (indicating corruption), so that Windows runs chkdsk when the computer is restarted.

You should use chkdsk occasionally on FAT and NTFS file systems to check for disk errors. Chkdsk examines disk space and disk use and provides a status report specific to each file system. The status report shows errors found in the file system. If you run chkdsk without the /f parameter on an active partition, it might report spurious errors because it cannot lock the drive.

Chkdsk corrects logical disk errors only if you specify the /f parameter. Chkdsk must be able to lock the drive to correct errors.

Because repairs on FAT file systems usually change a disk’s file allocation table and sometimes cause a loss of data, chkdsk might display a confirmation message similar to the following:

If you press Y, Windows saves each lost chain in the root directory as a file with a name in the format File .chk. When chkdsk finishes, you can check these files to see if they contain any data you need.

If you press N, Windows fixes the disk, but it does not save the contents of the lost allocation units.

If you don’t use the /f parameter, chkdsk displays a message that the file needs to be fixed, but it does not fix any errors.

If you use chkdsk /f* on a very large disk or a disk with a very large number of files (for example, millions of files), chkdsk /f might take a long time to complete.

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. If you do not specify the /f parameter and open files exist, chkdsk might report lost allocation units on the disk. This could happen if open files have not yet been recorded in the file allocation table. If chkdsk reports the loss of a large number of allocation units, consider repairing the disk.

Because the Shadow Copies for Shared Folders source volume cannot be locked while Shadow Copies for Shared Folders is enabled, running chkdsk against the source volume might report false errors or cause chkdsk to unexpectedly quit. You can, however, check shadow copies for errors by running chkdsk in Read-only mode (without parameters) to check the Shadow Copies for Shared Folders storage volume.

The chkdsk command, with different parameters, is available from the Recovery Console.

On servers that are infrequently restarted, you may want to use the chkntfs or the fsutil dirty query commands to determine whether the volume’s dirty bit is already set before running chkdsk.

Understanding exit codes

The following table lists the exit codes that chkdsk reports after it has finished.

Exit code	Description
0	No errors were found.
1	Errors were found and fixed.
2	Performed disk cleanup (such as garbage collection) or did not perform cleanup because /f was not specified.
3	Could not check the disk, errors could not be fixed, or errors were not fixed because /f was not specified.

Examples

To check the disk in drive D and have Windows fix errors, type:

If it encounters errors, chkdsk pauses and displays messages. Chkdsk finishes by displaying a report that lists the status of the disk. You cannot open any files on the specified drive until chkdsk finishes.

To check all files on a FAT disk in the current directory for noncontiguous blocks, type:

Chkdsk displays a status report, and then lists the files that match the file specifications that have noncontiguous blocks.

How to Run CHKDSK /F /R/X to Fix Hard Drive Errors in Windows 10/8/7

What does CHKDSK /F /R do? How to use CHKDSK to repair the hard drive errors on Windows 10/8/7? Here is the full guide.В

Workable Solutions	Step-by-step Troubleshooting
What is CHKDSK commandВ	CHKDSK (Check Disk Utility) can be used to check and fix any errors on the targeted disk. You can run it from the Command Prompt/PowerShell. Full steps
What does CHKDSK /F /R /X meanВ	CHKDSK /F can fix disk errors.В CHKDSK /R does the same thing as CHKDSK /F only it also checks for bad sectors on the disk and recovers any readable information. Full steps
Run a partition tool to fix disk error	Download EaseUS partition tool for free and use it to check and repair the corrupted file systems with clicks. No need to type commands manually. Full steps
Use CHKDSK manually	Run CHKDSK /F /R /X from the Command Prompt/Power shell or via the Properties window. Full steps

What Is CHKDSK Command В

CHKDSK, also known as Microsoft Check Disk, is a utility that can be used in almost all Windows versions. The CHKDSK command is used to scan through your entire hard drive to find and fix any errors. For example, when your computer freezes, you cannot access a certain disk due to a corrupted file system, then you can use the CHKDSK commands to check and fix the drive errors.

What Does CHKDSK /F /R /X Mean В

What is CHKDSK /F /R /X? The primary function of CHKDSK /F /R /X is to scan the integrity of the file system and file system metadata on a disk volume and fix any logical file system errors that it finds. Besides, CHKDSK also can be used for detecting bad sectors on the target disk that occur because of physical damage. Then, it automatically fixes these errors as well.

Differences Among CHKDSK /F, CHKDSK /R, and CHKDSK /X

CHKDSK can fix two types of disk errors: logical errors and physical errors. Based on the disk error types, you can use the different CHKDSK commands and switches to fix hard drive errors. CHKDSK /F, CHKDSK /R, and CHKDSK /X are the most commonly used CHKDSK commands. What is the difference between CHKDSK /F /R X?

• CHKDSK /F: Check for disk errors, not bad sectors.В
• CHKDSK /R: Locate the bad sectors on the target hard disk and try to recover the readable information from the bad sectors (implies /F).
• CHKDSK /X: Forces the volume to dismount first, if necessary. It also includes the functionality of /f.

CHKDSK Parameters and Meanings

The syntax of the CHKDSK command is:В

chkdsk volumeВ /fВ /vВ /r /x /i /c

If used without parameters, CHKDSK displays only the volume’s status and does not fix any errors. If used with the /f, /r, /x, or /b parameters, it fixes errors on the volume. What do the parameters ( /f /r /x. ) mean? Here are some common CHKDSK parameters and their meanings:

Parameters	Details of the Parameters
/f	Fixes errors on the disk. The disk must be locked. If CHKDSK cannot lock the drive, a message appears that asks you if you want to check the drive the next time you restart the computer.
/r	Locates bad sectors and recovers readable information. The disk must be locked. It includes the functionality of /f, with the additional analysis of physical disk errors.
/x	Forces the volume to dismount first, if necessary. All open handles to the drive are invalidated. It also includes the functionality of /f.
/b	NTFS only. It clears the list of bad clusters on the volume and rescans all allocated and free clusters for errors. It includes the functionality of /r. Use this parameter after imaging a volume to a new hard disk drive.
/v	Displays the name of each file in every directory as the disk is checked.
/scan	NTFS only. It runs an online scan on the volume.
/i	NTFS only. It performs a less vigorous check of index entries, which reduces the amount of time required to run CHKDSK.
/c	NTFS only. It does not check cycles within the folder structure, which reduces the amount of time required to run CHKDSK.

Run EaseUS Partition Tool to Fix and Repair Disk Errors in 1-Click

If you are not so tech-savvy and know little about computer, we highly recommend you try a professional disk management tool to fix hard drive errors instead of using CMD and type the commands manually.

EaseUS Partition Master is a full-featured disk partitioning utility that enables you to manage primary and advanced partitions and maximize disk capacity usage.

EaseUS partition tool makes it effortless to repair disk errors. Follow the steps to check and repair your file system error:

Step 1.В Open EaseUS Partition Master on your computer. Then, locate the disk, right-click the partition you want to check, and choose «Advaned» > «Check File System».

Step 2.В In the Check File System window, keep the «Try to fix errors if found» option selected and click «Start».

Step 3.В The software will begin checking your partition file system on your disk. When it complets, click «Finish».

How to Use CHKDSKВ /FВ /RВ /X Commands Manually on Windows 10/8/7

If you don’t like to use theВ simple third-party CHKDSK tool, you can run CHKDSK in a harder way via 3 methods: using Command prompt, Windows PowerShell, and disk check tool.

1. Run CHKDSK in Command Prompt

Whenever you find your hard drive performs poorly or Windows asks you to repair drive errors, you can try to run CHKDSK to do the job. Here’s how to run CHKDSK /f in Windows 10, 8.1, 8, 7.

Use CHKDSKВ /FВ /R in Windows 10В

Note: If you can’t boot into Windows 10 to run CHKDSK, fix the UEFI boot issue in Windows 10 with 5+ solutions.

Step 1. Press the Windows key and type cmd.

Step 2. Right-click «Command Prompt» and choose «Run as administrator».

Step 3. Enter the following command and press Enter: chkdsk E: /f /r /x.В «E» means the drive letter of the partition you want to repair.

Do not interrupt CHKDSK and wait patiently for the process to end.В

Run CHKDSK in Windows 8.1/8В

To run the utility from Command Prompt for Windows 8.1/8 users, here are the instructions:

Step 1. Press the Windows and C key to open the Charm bar.

Step 2. Select «Search» and type cmd.

Step 3. Right-click on «Command Prompt» and click «Run as administrator.»

Step 4. When Command Prompt launches, type the command below and press «Enter»:В chkdsk E: /f /r /x.

Run CHKDSK in Windows 7 CMD

If you are a Windows 7 user, you can run the CHKDSK command by the following steps:

Step 1. Click «Start». Type cmd at the search box.

Step 2. Right-click on cmd.exe and click «Run as Administrator».В Enter your Administrator password if necessary.

Step 3. When cmd.exe opens, type the command below and press «Enter»:В chkdsk c /f /r.В В

If you receive the «Chkdsk cannot run because the volume is in use by another process.» message, type Y to restart the computer and let the utility to run a scan at the next boot of your PC.

2. Use CHKDSK/F/R in Windows PowerShell

If the Command Prompt not working in Windows 10, you can also run the CHKDSK /F or /R command in Windows PowerShell to fix hard drive errors.

Step 1. Click the Search button and type PowerShell.

Step 2. Right-click the PowerShell and choose Run as administrator.

Step 3. TypeВ chkdsk c /f /r toВ start fixing disk error. Replace C with the drive letter of the target disk.

3.В Run CHKDSK in Properties Window

Running the Check Disk tool from the Windows desktop is easy. Follow the steps below to run CHKDSK in Windows 10.В It works the same way on Windows 8 and Windows 7.

Step 1. Open This PC in File Explorer > right-click the HDD/SSD you want to scan > choose «Properties».

Step 2. Under the Tools tab > click the «Check»В button under the Error-checking section.

Step 3. Next, you can choose to Scan drive if wanted or Repair drive if errors were found.

Step 4. When the scanning finishes, click on the Show Details link to see the CHKDSK log in Event Viewer.

Conclusion

Any time you have hard drive errors or corrupted files, the CHKDSK can be a lifesaver. You can use the disk error checker that comes with every Windows version with the full guide above.

Or you can use the ultimate disk management tool — EaseUS Partition Master to repair organize your hard driveВ to enhance system performance easily.

CHKDSK /F /R Error TroubleShooting

You may encounter CHKDSK related problems; what to do then? Here are the common issues of CHKDSK errors; read on to figure out the solutions.

Is CHKDSK R safe?

It’s safe to run the CHKDSK /R command under normal circumstances as long as you’re using the syntax properly. There are different parameters with CHKDSK; you can check the CHKDSK parameters and choose the one that suits your problem to fix disk errors.

How long does chkdsk /f /r take?

• chkdsk -f should take under an hour on that hard drive.
• chkdsk -r will take some time. It could take over an hour, maybe two, three, or more, depending on your partitioning.

You can interrupt the scan, but not recommended. Canceling or interrupting CHKDSK should not leave the volume any more corrupt than it was before CHKDSK was run. You can start it again, and it will check and repair any remaining corruption on the volume.

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 pressВ Enter to run the System File Checker.В
• Restart and exit chkdsk again during the startup by pressing Esc or Enter.
• Open CMD as admin, type Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth, and press Enter to repair the Windows image.
• Run CHKDSK again.

The scan should be able to run to completion this time.