The Check Disk command (chkdsk in the command line) is used to find and automatically fix errors in the Windows file system. Check Disk can sometimes fix strange Windows problems, as well as boot problems. Check disk can be used in the all versions of Windows; the command is the same in all versions. To run check disk you must be an administrator on the computer initiating the command.
There are several ways to run a Check Disk:
1. From the computer as an administrator.
To run Check Disk from the computer with the problem you will need to open the command prompt as an administrator. Next you will need to make sure that the drive needing repair as selected, for example if you want to scan and repair the C drive you will need to type c: if you are already on the C drive then type a space followed by cd to go back to the drive root. After you are at the drive root type “chkdsk /r” and hit enter. Check disk will not run on a active drive so the command prompt will ask you if you want to run the Check Disk next time the computer starts, select yes. The computer should restart, and run the check disk utility immediately upon boot.
2. Run Check Disk from another computer.
To run a Check Disk the from another computer the commands and process are almost the same. You will need to remove the drive from the computer that is having problems and connect it a good working windows computer. Then, instead of running a scan on the C drive you will likely need to run the scan on the D or E drive. (look in the Computer Manager on the working windows computer to determine the letter assigned to the drive connected for the scan). To select another drive in the Command prompt type that drive’s letter followed by a “:”. Because you are running Check Disk on a different drive you will not need to restart the computer in order to run the Check Disk.
3. Run Check Disk from a Windows disk.
To run a Check Disk from a Windows disk first boot to the windows CD for the version of windows that is on the computer that you are trying to repair and then select the “Repair option.
Windows may try to repair its self, but after that you will be able to access the Command Prompt.
After you have opened the Command Prompt run Check Disk using the same steps listed above in option number 2.