CHKDSK is short for Check Disk, which is a Windows built-in utility that can fix lots of file system errors by scanning a certain disk and repair or recover data on the drive. CHKDSK was introduced over thirty years ago but it works well to fix various disk errors with improper or unexpected shutdowns, blue screen of death, directory errors and such. It is still active on top tips to fix Windows computer problems anytime.

Here’s a full guide to using CHKDSK that come with Windows 7/8/10.

In fact, the steps to run CHKDSK are basically the same in Windows 7/8/10. Thus, we show a variety of different methods to run Check Disk using Windows 10.

Method 1 From Command Prompt

If you can boot into Windows, run the utility from Command Prompt directly and easily:

1. Click Start button and click search bar. Type cmd in the bar and when option cmd program shows up, right click on it and choose Run as Administrator.

2. Type in your Administrator password if it asks.

3. When cmd program opens, type the command: chkdsk

This will scan the drive for errors and will automatically try to fix any found errors.

You can run this utility with more parameters, like this: chkdsk c: /r

C: means c: drive (if you want to check) and /r stands for the option that locates for bad sectors and recovery any readable information

The parameters for this command are:

/f option will attempt to fix any found errors

/r option will locate for bad sectors and recovery any readable information

/x option will force the volume you try to check to be dismounted before the utility begins a scan

If the C: drive is in use by other processs or you install the Windows here, type Y to run a scan on your PC’s next restart. If so, exit Command Prompt and restart the computer. When the computer restarts, CHKDSK will automatically run a scan.

Method 2 From My Computer/This PC

1. Start Windows, double-click Computer/This PC, select the drive you want to run a check on, for example, C:\

2. Right-click on the drive, choose Properties and go to Tools tab. Click Check.

3. Pay attention to the message or results shown in this black screen. Follow the instruction.

Method 3 From the Windows installation DVD

If your computer is having trouble booting and you want/need to run a Check Disk on the system drive, you have to boot into Windows using installation DVD and then run CHKDSK.

1. Restart the computer with the disk or USB drive inserted and boot to Windows. Press any key when prompted to boot to the Windows DVD.

2. Choose your keyboard layout and your language, time and a keyboard method. Click Next.

3. Click Repair your computer.

Note:  At the Choose an option screen, click Troubleshoot

Method 4 Neptune SystemCare Checkup tool

If you want to run Check Disk and fix errors in a more efficient way, then run Neptune SystemCare PC Checkup. Within seconds it will scan disk and other issues like registry problems and online cookies, you could fix all the problem after you see the reports and scores and click Fix.