Scan Disk

You would have noticed by now that when you have shut your computer down the improper way, either by crashing out or just plain turning it off at the power, that when you reboot, your computer performs a Disk Scan.

Scandisk checks your Hard Drive for any errors. Your Hard Drive stores all your files and Programs. If errors are found on your Hard Drive, Scandisk will correct them. This will invariably free up lost disk space and help keep your Hard Drive running smoothly.

It is a good idea to run this Scan around once a month, although you will probably find the scan being done more than this from an improper shut down.

Windows 98, Windows 98 SE and Windows ME.

1. Click on Start - Programs - Accessories - System Tools - Scandisk.
2. Highlight Local Disk (C)
3. Click on Standard for Type of Test required.
4. Click on Automatically fix errors
5. Click on Start
6. Wait, This will only takes a few minutes.
7. When completed Scandisk will display the Results. These will either tell you that Scandisk was completed and that you have no errors, or it will tell you Scandisk found errors and Fixed them all.
8. Click on Close, to close off this window.
9. Click on Close, to close the Scandisk window.

That is Scandisk Completed.

Windows XP, Windows Vista and Windows 7.

1. Open up My Computer either from the Desktop or the Start Menu.
2. Right Click on Local Disk (C) and Left Click Properties at the bottom of the menu.
3. In the Properties Window select the Tab - Tools.
4. Left click on Check Now.
5. In this window tick both the boxes Automatically fix file System errors and Scan for and attempt recovery of bad sectors.
6. Left click Start.
7. Another windows will open stating the disk check can not be performed as the disk check utility needs total access to the disk. It will ask if you wish to schedule this disk check next time you start your computer. Left click Yes.
8. Close off all the windows you have open. Restart your computer in the normal way.
9. Half way through your computers start up process, windows will complete a full physical scan of your hard disk. Once completed your computer will continue the start up process and boot to your desktop. The disk scan can take some time so I suggest you head away and make a hot drink :)

If you have more than one hard drive in your computer, you will need to repeat this proceedure for each drive. If any other drives, usually called Local Disk D or Local Disk E, are not partitions but complete second drives, then a Restart of your Computer will not be necessary. The scan will be completed within Windows.

That is Scan Disk Completed