ITfall

CHKDSK is a utility that checks the Hard Disk volumes for errors and tries to fix them. Error-checking is just a Graphical User Interface that invokes the same verification routines that CHKDSK invokes. When you run CHKDSK to fix errors (not read-only mode), the utility may ask you to schedule the volume to be checked the next time your system restarts. This is certain when you run CHKDSK for the drive that has Windows running on (usually drive C).

The following was done on Windows XP. For Windows Vista you will see at the bottom of the article direct instructions to view the report log.

An example on how to run CHKDSK that requires scheduling a check on reboot:

-  Using Command Prompt:

1. Click Start, then click Run
2. Type cmd, then click OK, or hit Enter
3. Type chkdsk c: /f
4. Hit the Enter key
5. CHKDSK asks you if you’d like to schedule a check on system restart, type y, then hit the Enter key.
   

   On Reboot Scheduled CHKDSK

6. Restart your computer.

- Using the Graphical User Interface (Error-checking):

1. Double click My Computer.
2. Right click drive C.
3. Click Properties, then click the Tools tab.
4. Under Error-checking section, click the Check Now… button.
5. Check the Automatically fix file system errors checkbox.
6. Click the Start button.
   

   Error-checking (Graphical User Interface)

7. Click Yes for the message that pops up to schedule a check on reboot.
   

   Scheduling disk checking (Error-checking)

8. Restart your computer.

When the system is restarted, the error checking process will begin and you may not want to sit and watch it especially if it takes hours to finish. When it finishes you may miss the report summary because the system won’t pause and wait for you to see it. Fortunately, the process logs an event in the Application Event log that contains the report for the drive checked.

Here is how to view the report log (Windows XP):

1. To open the Event Viewer: click Start, then click Run, then type eventvwr.msc and hit the Enter key. (or Start, Control Panel, Administrative Tools, Event Viewer).
2. On the left pane and under Event Viewer (local), select Application.
3. On the right pane, search for the first entry in the list that matches Winlogon under the Source Column. (Search top to bottom).
   

   CHKDSK Report Log entry

4. Double click that entry, and there is the log of the disk checking.

And here is how to view the report log on Windows Vista:

1. Click the Vista Start button, and then start typing “Event Viewer” until you see Event Viewer under Programs. Click on it to open the Event Viewer.
2. On the left pane, expand Windows Logs, then select Application.
3. In the middle pane you will see the log entries.  Search for the first entry in the list that matches Wininit under the Source Column. (Search top to bottom).
4. Double click that entry, and there is the log of the disk checking.