chkdsk – Check Disk

Short for Check Disk, chkdsk is a command run utility that is used on DOS and Microsoft Windows-based systems to check the file system and status of the system’s hard drives. The chkdsk command lists and corrects errors on the disk. Used without parameters, chkdsk will display the status of the disk in the current drive. The parameters are as follows:

  • drive : (specifies the drive that you want to chkdsk). For example, chkdsk C:
  • /p (Performs an exhaustive check)
  • /r (locates bad sectors and recovers readable information. Implies /p)
  • /f Finds and repairs errors. For example, chkdsk /f C:

The complete syntax for Check Disk is as follows:
CHKDSK [volume[[path]filename]] [/F] [/V] [/R] [/X] [/I] [/C] [/L[:size]]

On a Unix-based system, the equivalent utility is called fsck.

Webopedia Staff
Webopedia Staff
Since 1995, more than 100 tech experts and researchers have kept Webopedia’s definitions, articles, and study guides up to date. For more information on current editorial staff, please visit our About page.

Related Articles

@ Sign

Pronounced at sign or simply as at, this symbol is used in e-mail addressing to separate the user' name from the user's domain name,...

Munging

(MUHN-jing) Munging (address munging), is the act of altering an email address posted on a Web page to make it unreadable to bots and...

How to Create an RSS Feed

In the second installment of RSS how-to, we look at some of the nonrequired (optional) channel and item tags, discuss RSS specifications in-depth and...

Dictionary Attack

(n.) (1) A method used to break security systems, specifically password-based security systems, in which the attacker systematically tests all possible passwords beginning with...

ScalaHosting

ScalaHosting is a leading managed hosting provider that offers secure, scalable, and affordable...

HRIS

Human resources information system (HRIS) solutions help businesses manage multiple facets of their...

Best Managed Service Providers...

In today's business world, managed services are more critical than ever. They can...