Admin Tips
- Windows Server 2008/2003/2000/XP/NT Administrator Knowledge Base
  - Windows NT
    - User Tips
      - Miscellaneous
        You should run CHKDSK

Section(s): Miscellaneous
Published on Apr 20, 2004.
Last Modified on Apr 20, 2004.
Last Modified by Wayne Maples.
Rated 3.6 out of 5 based on 13 votes.

Run CHKDSK to keep your workstation running smoothly.Waynes NT Resources is Windows NT support site with an extensive Windows NT Registry Index, Tips for Windows NT Administrators, Tips for Windows NT workstation users, book recommendations for nt admins and nt users on topics such as administration, nt domain, remote access, security, integration, backup and restore, basics, dns, event logging, logon administration, iis, mcse, routers, intrusion detection, hacking, windows2000, nt2000, performance tuning and monitor, windows scripting, perl, windows resource kits, troubleshooting problems, server and tcp/ip. There is also an extensive set of links to Windows NT resource sites found elsewhere on web with a focus on Windows NT Security Guidelines, security scanners, newletters, windows nt faqs, windows nt tutorials, windows nt whitepapers, windows nt security sites, windows nt software - freeware and shareware sites.

You should make this a hard-and-fast rule: On a workstation, run the CHKDSK utility at least once a month. [Assuming you are not running something like Norton's Utilites which does equivalent checking]. CHKDSK checks for and fixes inconsistencies in the file systems. To run the Windows NT Check Utility, right click on the drive letter (partition to be checked) in Windows NT Explorer, and choose Properties\Tools\Check Now button. There will be two option boxes that appear. Check both, and CHKDSK will run or it will display a message telling you that you can schedule it to run as part of the next reboot sequence. These two options test for and repair directory errors, NTFS errors, compressed-drive errors, FAT errors, long filename errors and file system errors.