Disk drives are used to store files, folders, and data permanently even the system reboots. In some cases like a reboot, software error, sudden electricity interrupt or similar the disk may be set in an inconsistent state. In order to check and correct errors about these, we can scan the disk.

Scan Disk Check Disk Util

Check Disk Util is the first way to scan disk about errors. We will open the Computer from the start menu or with the Windows+E keyboard combination. We will right click to the disk we want to run Check Disk Util and check disk. We will click Properties from the given menu.

Then we will see the following Properties window. We will navigate to the Tools menu and click to the Check Now button which will open Check Disk Window.

Check Disk tool have a simple usage. There are two options for disk scan.

• `Automatically fix file system errors` will fix the error without asking the user.
• `Scan for and attempt recovery of bad sectors` will try to recover bad sectors but there is a little chance.

Schedule Disk Scan

If the disk is currently in active use like C:/ drive we will prompt a warning like Windows can't check the disk while it's in use. So we can schedule a disk scan for a system start or boot

Scan Disk From Command Line

Scanning disk needs Administrative privileges. So we have to open MSDOS command line with Administrator usage. We will write cmd to the Start and right click to the Run as administrator

Print Help Information

We can print information about the sfc command which will be used to scan and repair disk. We will use /?.

> sfc /?

Scan Disk and Repair File System

We can scan given disk drive with the /SCANNOW option by providing the partition or disk drive name. We will scan D: like below. This option will scan and repair the given file system or disk.

> sfc /SCANNOW D:

Only Scan Disk and Do Not File System

If we want to only scan given disk or partition. We will use VERIFYONLY option which will only scan and do not repair.

> sfc /VERIFYONLY D: