How to Scan and Repair Hard Drives on Windows 10

Check your disk for errors and fix them with these methods

There are multiple ways to scan your files in Windows 10 and 11. The best way is to use the CHKDSK command in Command Prompt, but you can also scan a disk from Windows Explorer. You can also use the commands DISM and SFC to scan your files for corruption, but these commands won't specifically scan just one disk; they will scan your entire system. To learn how to use these commands and processes, keep reading.

Ways to Scan a Disk in Windows

  • Open Command Prompt and use the CHKDSK command (chkdsk [drive] [parameters]) to scan a disk.
  • Open the disk in Windows Explorer, right-click it to open Properties, then go to Tools > Check (under the "Error checker" header) to scan the disk.
  • Open an elevated Command Prompt and run DISM and SFC to scan your system files for corruption.
Method 1
Method 1 of 3:

Running CHKDSK

  1. Step 1 Open Command Prompt.
    The easiest way to do this is to type "command prompt" in the taskbar search bar, then click on Command Prompt in the Start menu.
    • CHKDSK is the successor to the old scandisk command.
  2. Step 2 Type chkdsk [drive] [parameters].
    Replace [drive] with the drive letter, such as C:. Replace [parameters] with the parameters you want to run. Most commonly, you'd use /f to fix errors on the disc and/or /scan to run an online scan of the disk (NTFS only).[1]
    • For example, if you wanted to scan and fix errors on the C drive, you'd enter the command chkdsk C: /f /scan.
    Advertisement
  3. Step 3 Allow CHKDSK to finish.
    Microsoft doesn't recommend interrupting CHKDSK while it's running, so let it finish before exiting the Command Prompt window.
    • If CHKDSK needs your confirmation to complete a task, follow the on-screen instructions in Command Prompt to allow it.
    4. Advertisement
Method 2
Method 2 of 3:

Error Checking in Windows Explorer

  1. Step 1 Open File Explorer icon.
    You can press the keyboard shortcut Win + E, or you can click the folder icon in your taskbar.
  2. Step 2 Click This PC.
    It's in the panel on the left side of the window and shows the drives on "This PC" on the right side.
  3. Step 3 Right-click the drive that you want to run ScanDisk on.
    A menu will pop up next to your cursor.
    • You can't run ScanDisk on a folder, so you have to choose a drive that's listed under "Devices and drives."
  4. Step 4 Click Properties.
    Another window will open.
  5. Step 5 Click the Tools tab.
    It's near the top of the window.
  6. Step 6 Click Check.
    You'll see this in the "Error Checking" section next to an icon of a drive.
    • Follow any on-screen instructions to continue, like allowing your computer to restart.
    7. Advertisement
Method 3
Method 3 of 3:

Running DISM & SFC

  1. Step 1 Open Command Prompt as an administrator.
    To do this, type "command prompt" into the taskbar search bar, then right-click "Command Prompt" in the Start menu and choose Run as administrator.
    • DISM (which stands for Deployment Image Servicing and Management Tool) and SFC (System File Checker) are additional Command Prompt commands that can be used to scan the files on your computer for problems.
    • When opening Command Prompt as an admin, you may be required to give confirmation or type your password. Do so if prompted.
  2. Step 2 Run DISM.
    To do so, type DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth into Command Prompt and press ↵ Enter.
    • It will take a few moments for DISM to run. Allow it to finish running before moving on to the next step.
  3. Step 3 Run SFC.
    To do so, type sfc /scannow into Command Prompt and press ↵ Enter.
    • It will take a few moments for SFC to run. Allow it to finish fully before closing the Command Prompt window.
  4. Step 4 Check the SFC results.
    Depending on the result you get, you'll need to do a specific action:[2]
    • Windows Resource Protection did not find any integrity violations: SFC did not find any missing or corrupted files.
    • Windows Resource Protection found corrupt files and successfully repaired them: SFC found missing or corrupted files, and it was able to fix them.
    • Windows Resource Protection could not perform the requested operation: SFC must be run again in safe mode.
    • Windows Resource Protection found corrupt files but was unable to fix some of them. You'll have to manually view the SFC process details and replace the files with ones you know are good (or reinstall the program).
      • To do this, type findstr /c:"[SR]" %windir%\Logs\CBS\CBS.log >"%userprofile%\Desktop\sfcdetails.txt" into your Command Prompt window and press ↵ Enter. You can then open the sfcdetails.txt file on your Desktop.[3]
    5. Advertisement

Expert Q&A

Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
Advertisement

Video

Tips

Submit a Tip
All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
Name
Please provide your name and last initial
Submit
Thanks for submitting a tip for review!

You Might Also Like

Run a Chkdsk Function
How to
Run Chkdsk: 4 Simple Methods for Scanning a Drive
Run a Chkdsk Function on Windows XP
How to
Run a Chkdsk Function on Windows XP
Scan Windows 10 for Errors6 Simple Steps to Scan for Errors in Windows 10
Repair Bad Sectors
How to
Repair Bad Sectors
Fix a Corrupted Flash Drive Without FormattingCorrupted Flash Drive? How to Fix It Without Formatting (On Windows and Mac)
Get Help with File Explorer in WindowsGet Help with File Explorer in Windows: 6 Common Fixes
Fix a Windows Computer that Hangs or Freezes
How to
Stop Windows from Freezing: Easy Troubleshooting Guide
Navigate the Windows Directory
How to
Navigate the Windows Directory
Defrag a Computer
How to
Defrag a Computer
Open Windows Explorer3 Simple Ways to Open Windows Explorer (File Explorer)
File Explorer Not Responding11 Ways to Fix File Explorer if It's Not Responding
Open File Explorer
How to
Open File Explorer
Defrag Windows 10
How to
Defrag a Windows 10 Hard Drive
Check Your SSD Health
How to
Check Your SSD Health
Advertisement

References

  1. ↑ https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/administration/windows-commands/chkdsk?tabs=hdd,event-viewer
  2. ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/topic/use-the-system-file-checker-tool-to-repair-missing-or-corrupted-system-files-79aa86cb-ca52-166a-92a3-966e85d4094e
  3. ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/topic/use-the-system-file-checker-tool-to-repair-missing-or-corrupted-system-files-79aa86cb-ca52-166a-92a3-966e85d4094e#bkmk_cbs_log

About This Article

Hannah Dillon
Written by:
Hannah Dillon
wikiHow Technology Writer
This article was co-authored by wikiHow staff writer, Hannah Dillon. Hannah Dillon is a Technology Writer and Editor at wikiHow. She graduated with a B.A. in Journalism from North Dakota State University in 2013 and has since worked in the video game industry as well as a few newspapers. From a young age Hannah has cultivated a love for writing and technology, and hopes to use these passions in tandem to help others in the articles she writes for wikiHow. This article has been viewed 70,424 times.
How helpful is this?
Co-authors: 4
Updated: January 21, 2026
Views: 70,424
Categories: Computers
Article SummaryX

1. Open File Explorer.
2. Click This PC.
3. Right-click the drive that you want to run ScanDisk on.
4. Click Properties.
5. Click the Tools tab and click Check.

Did this summary help you?

In other languages
Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 70,424 times.

Is this article up to date?

Advertisement