ChkDsk

CHKDSK is used to check the status of a disk, fix some disk errors, and display a status report showing any errors found in the file allocation table (FAT) and directory structure. CHKDSK also displays a summary of disk usage. If errors are found on the disk, CHKDSK displays a warning message.

Syntax:

path	Specifies the drive and directory to check.
/F	Fixes errors on the disk.
/V	Displays the full path and name of every file on the disk.

Notes:

• SCANDISK can reliably detect and fix a much wider range of disk problems and is generally preferred to the somewhat dated CHKDSK.

• The /F switch (for fixing any errors found) should not be used while any program is running other than Dos and CHKDSK itself.

• CHKDSK cannot be used on drives created using SUBST, nor can it be used on network drives.

• In Win9x, CHKDSK does not check the disk, though still provides some basic data:

  C:\WINDOWS>chkdsk d:  CHKDSK has NOT checked this drive for errors. You must use SCANDISK to detect and fix errors on this drive.   Volume DATA created 21/01/2000 5:20 Volume Serial Number is 1A69-0CE4       6,132,824 kilobytes total disk space     4,140,316 kilobytes free           4,096 bytes in each allocation unit     1,533,206 total allocation units on disk     1,035,079 available allocation units on disk         655,360 total bytes memory       566,288 bytes free   Instead of using CHKDSK, try using SCANDISK.  SCANDISK can reliably detect and fix a much wider range of disk problems.     C:\WINDOWS>_

• A typical CHKDSK status report might be:
  

  Volume Serial Number is B1AF-AFBF   72,214,528 bytes total disk space 73,728 bytes in 3 hidden files 30,720 bytes in 12 directories 11,493,376 bytes in 386 user files 61,440 bytes in bad sectors 6,055,264 bytes available on disk   2,048 bytes in each allocation unit 35,261 total allocation units on disk 29,568 available allocation units on disk   655,360 total bytes memory 493,456 bytes free

Exit Codes:

File Details:

File Name	Default Location	Dos Version	Win Version.	Size	Date	Source
Chkdsk.exe	c:\windows\command	7.0	Win95	27,248	11/07/95	win95_02.cab
		7.1	Win95 (OSR2.x)	28,0961	24/08/96	win95_02.cab
			Win98	28,0961	11/05/98	win98_40.cab
			Win98 SE	28,0961	23/04/99	win98_44.cab

Superscripts denote which same size files, if any, are identical (using FC).