ScanDisk command
Updated: 11/12/2023 by Computer Hope
Microsoft ScanDisk was introduced with MS-DOS 6.2. It is a software utility capable of checking the hard drive and floppy diskette for any disk errors.
Tip
For newer versions of Windows, use the chkdsk command to check your hard drive from the command line.
Warning
You cannot run ScanDisk from a command line while Windows is running. Boot the computer to a safe mode command prompt, see: How to open Safe Mode.
Availability
ScanDisk is an external command that is available for the following Microsoft operating systems.
- MS-DOS 6.2 and above
ScanDisk syntax
Windows XP and later syntax
The ScanDisk command line command is deprecated and was replaced with the chkdsk command.
Windows 98 and Me syntax
scandisk [ drive: | volume_name | /all] [/checkonly | /autofix [/nosave] | /custom] [/fragment] [/surface] [/mono] [/nosave] [/nosummary]
| drive: | The drive letter you want to scan. |
| volume_name | The name of the unmounted compressed volume. |
| /all | Checks and repairs all the local drives at once. |
| /checkonly | Checks drive for errors but will not make repairs. |
| /autofix | Fixes errors without asking you first. Saves lost clusters by default as files in the drive's root directory. Cannot be used with /checkonly or /custom. |
| /custom | Runs ScanDisk using the settings in the [custom] section of the scandisk.ini file. Cannot be used with /autofix or /checkonly. |
| /surface | Automatically checks surface after other areas are tested without prompting you first. When used with /custom, overrides any /surface setting in the [Custom] section of scandisk.ini. |
| /fragment | Checks individual files for fragmentation. Must specify a drive, path, and file name; cannot use any other switches. |
| /mono | Uses a monochrome display instead of color. |
| /nosave | Deletes all lost clusters found by ScanDisk. Can be used with /autofix. |
| /nosummary | Prevents display of full-screen summary after each drive. Use with /autofix to prevent prompts for undo diskette. |
MS-DOS 6.0 and earlier syntax
scandisk [ drive: | drive:\path\file name | volume_name | /all] [/checkonly | /autofix [/nosave] | /custom] [/fragment] [/surface] [/mono] [/nosave] [/nosummary]
| drive: | The drive letter you want to scan. |
| drive:\path\file name | The drive and path or file name you want to scan. |
| volume_name | The name of the unmounted compressed volume. |
| /all | Checks and repairs all local drives at once. |
| /checkonly | Checks drive for errors but will not make repairs. |
| /autofix | Fixes errors without asking you first. Saves lost clusters by default as files in the drive's root directory. Cannot be used with /checkonly or /custom. |
| /custom | Runs ScanDisk using the settings in the [custom] section of the scandisk.ini file. Cannot be used with /autofix or /checkonly. |
| /surface | Automatically checks surface after other areas are tested without prompting you first. When used with /custom, overrides any /surface setting in the [Custom] section of scandisk.ini. |
| /fragment | Checks individual files for fragmentation. Must specify a drive, path, and file name; cannot use any other switches. |
| /mono | Uses a monochrome display instead of color. |
| /nosave | Deletes all lost clusters found by ScanDisk. Can be used with /autofix. |
| /nosummary | Prevents display of full-screen summary after each drive. Use with /autofix to prevent prompts for undo diskette. |
ScanDisk examples
scandisk c: /autofix
Runs ScanDisk on the primary hard drive for any errors and if found automatically fix those errors.