As simple as Windows 10 is, it comes with a bunch of tools to give users control on a deeper level as well as diagnostic abilities. Almost all of these tools are accessible from the Command Prompt or are available with a GUI to make them accessible to as many people as possible.
Storage devices are a commonly affected area in a PC and for a number of reasons. If you have a mechanical drive in your PC or laptop, even a small knock can cause trouble. Thankfully, Windows has had a tool to diagnose and detect any such problems before they cause any headaches.
The Check Disk tool has been in Windows since forever and has helped numerous users with their disk problems. In this article, we’re going to tale a look at how you can run the check disk utility, otherwise known as CHKDSK in Windows 10.
Also read: How to unhide a folder in Windows 10?
Running CHKDSK in Windows 10
There are two ways we can go about this:
- Running CHKDSK through the Command Prompt.
- Running CHKDSK through Windows Explorer.
Running CHKDSK through the Command Prompt
Step 1: Search for cmd in the search box in your toolbar.
Step 2: Right-click on Command Prompt and click Run as Administrator.
Step 3: When the Command Prompt opens, type in
chkdsk Y: /f /r /x
Here, the parameters are:
- Y: your drive letter.
- /f: will attempt to fix any errors.
- /r look for bad sectors and attempt to recover any information possible.
- /x force the volume you’re about to check to dismount before the process starts.
Note that if you’re checking the C:/ drive, it’s best to add the Y parameter. This will make the command scan the drive on the next reboot.
Running CHKDSK through Windows Explorer
Step 1: Head over to My Computer.
Step 2: Right-click the drive you want to scan and click Properties.
Step 3: Go to the Tools tab.
Step 4: Under the Error Checking section, click Check.
Step 5: Windows might show you a prompt saying you don’t need to check for errors. Simply click on Scan Drive to begin the scan,
You can continue using the drive as it gets scanned. If any errors are found, your file system will be fixed the next time you restart your computer.
