# Win Xp - Disk Check

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/win-xp-disk-check/195707>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [August 17, 2003, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/win-xp-disk-check/195707 "2003-08-17T03:12:50Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 9\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![SkyBum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@SkyBum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SkyBum)\
**Post date:** [August 17, 2003, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/win-xp-disk-check/195707/1 "2003-08-17T03:12:50Z")

</div>

With windows 98, I used to occasionally run a utility called disk check (or something like that) which would scan the disk and repair any problems.

Since upgrading to Windows XP, I have not been able to find any such utility. Has this procedure been automated, or am I just unable to find it?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Reeder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Reeder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reeder)\
**Post date:** [August 17, 2003, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/win-xp-disk-check/195707/2 "2003-08-17T03:21:54Z")

</div>

Try chkdsk. From the run menu.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![SkyBum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@SkyBum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SkyBum)\
**Post date:** [August 17, 2003, 4:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/win-xp-disk-check/195707/3 "2003-08-17T04:35:11Z")

</div>

Thanks! Why is this not listed in the program menu under System Tools as it used to be?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![ParentalAdvisory](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/53a042/32.png) [@ParentalAdvisory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParentalAdvisory)\
**Post date:** [August 17, 2003, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/win-xp-disk-check/195707/4 "2003-08-17T04:37:03Z")

</div>

It is, but it’ll prompt you to run it while booting in XP instead of running it right away.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![shijinn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cc9497/32.png) [@shijinn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shijinn)\
**Post date:** [August 17, 2003, 4:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/win-xp-disk-check/195707/5 "2003-08-17T04:52:57Z")

</div>

or you can use the non-command line version under your drive properties/tools/error checking.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![SkyBum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@SkyBum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SkyBum)\
**Post date:** [August 17, 2003, 7:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/win-xp-disk-check/195707/6 "2003-08-17T07:26:49Z")

</div>

> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by ParentalAdvisory \*  
> \*\*It is, but it’ll prompt you to run it while booting in XP instead of running it right away. \*\*

Hmmm…not in my version.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\
**Post date:** [August 17, 2003, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/win-xp-disk-check/195707/7 "2003-08-17T14:17:07Z")

</div>

Try: Chkdsk/p

This checks everything.

If you’re really into adventure, try START: h

Input in the instruction manual search box: chkdsk

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![rsa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/839c29/32.png) [@rsa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rsa)\
**Post date:** [August 17, 2003, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/win-xp-disk-check/195707/8 "2003-08-17T14:55:10Z")

</div>

> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by shijinn \*  
> or you can use the non-command line version under your drive properties/tools/error checking.

Just to expand on this is you’re still not sure where to find it.

This is done from “My Computer” either from the desktop icon or Start/My Computer.

Right click the drive that you want to error check.

Then as **shijinn** said.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![SkyBum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@SkyBum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SkyBum)\
**Post date:** [August 17, 2003, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/win-xp-disk-check/195707/9 "2003-08-17T22:42:23Z")

</div>

> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by rsa \*  
> \*\*Just to expand on this is you’re still not sure where to find it.
> 
> This is done from “My Computer” either from the desktop icon or Start/My Computer.
> 
> Right click the drive that you want to error check.
> 
> Then as **shijinn** said. \*\*

That worked fine for me. I just couldn’t figure why this option is not listed in my system tools menu…