Windows XP chkdsk
Article By Marc Liron -
Microsoft MVP
Performing error checking by using Chkdsk .exe
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In Windows XP you can perform
error checking on hard drives by using the chkdsk.exe command line
utility.
Chkdsk will verify and repair
(optional) the integrity of the file system on any chosen volume.
I encourage ALL users to run this
utility on a regular basis (at least once a month.)
This utility should also be one of
the first steps in troubleshooting a failing hard drive... |
Windows XP Chkdsk - How To Using The Command
Line...
When Windows XP encounters a problem and has to
shut down, perhaps there is a power cut, a motherboard problem etc..
The operating system will "flag" the volume as
"dirty" and attempt to check it on reboot.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NB
- You can manually check the state of the dirty flag for your C:
drive. To do this at the Command Prompt type : fsutil dirty query
c:
The response should be Volume - c: is NOT Dirty
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
However, you the computer user can manually run
the chkdsk command to check for problems.
To do this:
Step One: Click Start, select
Run
Step Two: In the box, type cmd
Step Three: Click Ok
Step Four: Run the chkdsk utility by
typing in the following command:
chkdsk c:
..or
chkdsk c: /f /r
NOTE: The /f command automatically
fixes any errors encountered, the /r command locates bad
sectors and recovers readable information.
NOTE: I am also assuming the drive you
wish to check is the C: drive.
Step Five: A reboot is normally required
for the chkdsk program to lock the disk and run correctly (this is
typical on machines that have only one volume), so simply restart
the computer and chkdsk will run automatically. When it's finished,
(This process can take quite a while depending on the size of your
disk, etc.), it will boot back to normal Windows.
On Rebooting the PC you will see the disk being
checked as in the screenshot below:

[+] Click to Enlarge
This process can take up to an hour!
Windows XP Chkdsk - How To Using The Graphical Version...
In addition to the command line
utility detailed above. It is possible to access a graphical
version of the Windows XP chkdsk.
To do this:
Step One:
Open "My Computer", RIGHT click on
the C drive icon, choose "Properties".
Step Two:
When that loads, click on the
"Tools" tab, then click on the "Check Now" button in the "Error
Checking" section.
Step Three:
When that little window loads,
place a CHECK in BOTH boxes, then click on "Start Now".
Step Four:
A message will pop up saying that
Error Checking will run after you restart the computer,
so......Restart the computer. Error Checking will run
automatically after the restart and it locks you out from doing
anything until it's finished. It takes a little time to perform
the task but after it's finished, it will restart into Windows
automatically.
The screenshot below shows the
error checking window that should appear.

[+] Click to Enlarge
More Options...
This article is only a basic introduction to
using the Windows XP Chkdsk utility. In real life it is actually far
more in depth than this. For instance when Windows XP reboots after
initiating Chkdsk it is actually Autochk.exe that runs on
reboot!
Because Autochk.exe can be controlled by setting
or resetting registry settings, it is possible to programmatically
schedule volumes for repair using Regini scripts.
These topics are beyond the scope of the average user so I do not
discuss them here.
More information on windows xp chkdsk can be found at:
http://www.microsoft.com/resources/documentation/windows/xp/all/proddocs/en-us/chkdsk.mspx
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;187941
Was this article on windows xp chkdsk useful?
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Marc Liron -
Bio
Microsoft MVP
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