Chkdsk command

Updated: 11/12/2023 by Computer Hope
chkdsk command

The chkdsk command opens a utility that checks the computer's hard drive status for any cross-linked files or other errors.

Availability

Chkdsk is an external command and is available for the following Microsoft operating systems. MS-DOS versions 2.x - 4.x used chkdsk.com as the external file. MS-DOS versions 5.x and later used chkdsk.exe as the external file.

Chkdsk syntax

Windows 8 and Windows 10 syntax

Checks a disk and displays a status report.

CHKDSK [volume[[path]file name]]] [/F] [/V] [/R] [/X] [/I] [/C] [/L[:size]] [/B] [/scan] [/spotfix]
volume Specifies the drive letter (followed by a colon), mount point, or volume name.
file name FAT/FAT32 only: Specifies the files to check for fragmentation.
/F Fixes errors on the disk.
/V On FAT/FAT32: Displays the full path and name of every file on the disk.
On NTFS: Displays cleanup messages if any.
/R Locates bad sectors and recovers readable information (implies /F).
/L:size NTFS only: Changes the log file size to the specified number of kilobytes. If size is not specified, displays current size.
/X Forces the volume to dismount first if necessary. All opened handles to the volume would then be invalid (implies /F).
/I NTFS only: Performs a less vigorous check of index entries.
/C NTFS only: Skips checking of cycles in the folder structure.
/B NTFS only: Re-evaluates bad clusters on the volume (implies /R).
/scan NTFS only: Runs an online scan on the volume.
/forceofflinefix NTFS only: (Must be used with "/scan") bypass all online repair; all defects found are queued for offline repair (i.e., "chkdsk /spotfix").
/perf NTFS only: (Must be used with "/scan") uses more system resources to complete a scan as fast as possible. This option may have a negative performance impact on other tasks running on the system.
/spotfix NTFS only: (Must be used with "/scan") uses more system resources to complete a scan as fast as possible. This option may have a negative performance impact on other tasks running on the system.
/sdcleanup NTFS only: Garbage collect unneeded security descriptor data (implies /F).
/offlinescanandfix Runs an offline scan and fix on the volume.

The /I or /C switch reduces the time required to run chkdsk by skipping certain checks of the volume.

Windows Vista and Windows 7 syntax

Checks a disk and displays a status report.

CHKDSK [volume[[path]file name]]] [/F] [/V] [/R] [/X] [/I] [/C] [/L[:size]] [/B]
volume Specifies the drive letter (followed by a colon), mount point, or volume name.
file name FAT/FAT32 only: Specifies the files to check for fragmentation.
/F Fixes errors on the disk.
/V On FAT/FAT32: Displays the full path and name of every file on the disk.
On NTFS: Displays cleanup messages if any.
/R Locates bad sectors and recovers readable information (implies /F).
/L:size NTFS only: Changes the log file size to the specified number of kilobytes. If size is not specified, displays current size.
/X Forces the volume to dismount first if necessary. All opened handles to the volume would then be invalid (implies /F).
/I NTFS only: Performs a less vigorous check of index entries.
/C NTFS only: Skips checking of cycles in the folder structure.
/B NTFS only: Re-evaluates bad clusters on the volume (implies /R).

The /I or /C switch reduces the time required to run chkdsk by skipping certain checks of the volume.

Windows 2000 and Windows XP syntax

Checks a disk and displays a status report.

CHKDSK [volume[[path]file name]]] [/F] [/V] [/R] [/X] [/I] [/C] [/L[:size]]
volume Specifies the drive letter (followed by a colon), mount point, or volume name.
file name FAT only: Specifies the files to check for fragmentation.
/F Fixes errors on the disk.
/V On FAT/FAT32: Displays the full path and name of every file on the disk.
/R Locates bad sectors and recovers readable information (implies /F).
/L:size NTFS only: Changes the log file size to the specified number of kilobytes. If size is not specified, displays current size.
/X Forces the volume to dismount first if necessary. All opened handles to the volume would then be invalid (implies /F).
/I NTFS only: Performs a less vigorous check of index entries.
/C NTFS only: Skips checking of cycles in the folder structure.

The /I or /C switch reduces the time required to run chkdsk by skipping certain checks of the volume.

Microsoft Windows 2000 and Windows XP users who have NTFS should also consider using the chkntfs command.

Windows 2000 and Windows XP Recovery Console syntax

Note

The following options are only available in the Recovery Console.

Checks a disk and displays a status report.

CHKDSK [drive:] [/p] | [/r]
[drive:] Specifies the drive to check.
/p Check even if the drive is not flagged dirty, bad.
/r Locates bad sectors and recovers readable information (implies /p).

Chkdsk may be used without any parameters, where the current drive is checked with no switches.

Chkdsk requires the Autochk.exe file. Chkdsk automatically locates Autochk.exe in the startup (boot) directory. If it's not found in the startup directory, chkdsk attempts to locate the Windows 2000 setup CD. If the installation CD cannot be found, chkdsk prompts for the location of Autochk.exe.

Windows 98 and earlier syntax

Checks a disk and displays a status report.

CHKDSK [drive:][[path]file name] [/F] [/V]
[drive:][path]  Specifies the drive and directory to check.
file name Specifies the file(s) to check for fragmentation.
/F Fixes errors on the disk.
/V Displays the full path and name of every file on the disk.

Type chkdsk without parameters to check the current disk.

Chkdsk examples

chkdsk

Displays all information described above and also report any crossed linked files.

chkdsk /f

Fixes any crossed linked files; however, do not run this command while you are in Windows 95 or Windows 3.x.