3 Best CHKDSK Alternatives: Free Download Disk Error Check [Beginner's Guide]

Chkdsk is a built-in command-line utility in Windows designed to check for disk errors, fix file system issues, and repair bad sectors on internal and external hard drives, USBs, SD cards, and other storage devices. However, using it to scan for hard drive errors might be too complicated for some Windows beginners.

In this article, you will learn in detail about the CHKDSK command line and the 3 best alternative tools that you can choose from to check and fix hard disk errors on your own in Windows 11/10/8/7. Let's get started.

【1】Overview of the CHKDSK Command Line

Typically, you would run chkdsk with the /f, /r, and /x parameters to check for or fix errors on the target volume.

What do these parameters mean? Let's take a look at a simple explanation:

The chkdsk command-line utility can fix certain types of errors on a hard disk volume. For more information, see Windows command CHKDSK.

Here's how to use the CHKDSK /F /R /X command on your computer to check and fix disk errors: 1. **打开命令提示符**： - 对于Windows 10/8/8.1, 按`Win + X`，然后选择“命令提示符（管理员）”或“Windows PowerShell（管理员）”。 - 对于Windows 7/Vista/XP，点击“开始”按钮，搜索“cmd”，右键单击“命令提示符”，然后选择“以管理员身份运行”。 2. **确定要检查的磁盘**： - 首先，你需要知道要检查的磁盘的驱动器字母。通常，C: 是主系统驱动器，但可能因计算机配置而异。 3. **输入命令**： 在命令提示符窗口中，键入以下命令，将`C:`替换为你想要检查的驱动器的字母： ``` chkdsk /F /R /X C: ``` 这里各参数的含义是： - `/F`：修复磁盘上的错误。 - `/R`：查找不一致的地方并尝试恢复可读取的信息。 - `/X`：如果需要，强制卸载卷。这会在检查前确保磁盘被解锁。 4. **确认操作**： - 系统会询问你是否希望在下次重新启动计算机时进行检查。输入`Y`并按`Enter`，因为 CHKDSK 通常需要在没有其他活动的情况下运行。 5. **重新启动计算机**： - 计算机将在下次启动时自动运行 CHKDSK。这个过程可能需要一些时间，尤其是对于大容量硬盘。 6. **查看结果**： - 完成后，CHKDSK 会显示一个报告，列出它找到的问题以及是否已成功修复。 请注意，如果磁盘是系统驱动器（例如 C:），你可能需要计划在启动时运行 CHKDSK，因为它无法在活动文件系统上运行。在非系统驱动器上，你可以直接运行而不重启。

Step 1. Press the Windows + S keys, and type in cmd.

Step 2. Right-click Command Prompt and select Run as administrator.

Step 3: Type the following command to start checking and repairing errors on the target disk:

This is the command used in the Windows operating system to check and repair disk errors: chkdsk e: /f /r /x Translated in Chinese, it would be: 检查磁盘E:，并修复错误 (/f)，扫描并尝试恢复坏扇区 (/r)，并在必要时强制卸载卷 (/x)

Note that you should replace e: with the letter of the drive that might contain the errors.

Run the CHKDSK command to fix disk errors

While experienced users may find this method simple, novices are likely to make mistakes with the command line and cause serious problems.

So, is there a simpler and safer way to fix errors on your computer hard drive or external storage device? Yes, in the next part, you'll find 3 CHKDSK alternatives with detailed disk error checking guides. Keep reading for more information.

[2] Top 3 Alternatives to CHKDSK for Disk Checking – What Else Can I Use Instead of CHKDSK?

Here, we have picked 3 perfect CHKDSK alternatives that you can use any of the tools to fix disk errors in Windows 11/10/8/7 by yourself.

Now, you can choose the software you need and follow the respective guide to check and fix disk errors immediately.

#1. Check the disk using Disk Error Checking in File Explorer

Title: Error Checking in Device Properties

Duration: 1-2 minutes.

Error checking is a feature in storage device properties that functions similarly to the chkdsk command, automatically fixing errors it detects.

How to use:

Step 1: Open File Explorer, right-click on the problematic storage device, and select “Properties.”

Step 2. Go to the Tools tab and click Check under Error Checking.

Step 3: Click "Scan Disk" to fix any errors it finds.

Close the “Device Properties” window when you're done. Your drive should now work and be usable as normal.

#2. Repair disk errors using a partitioning tool

Tool: Partition Master Software

Duration: 1-2 minutes.

Use a partition tool with a "Check File System" feature, like the Partition Master Pro, to automatically scan and fix errors on the target drive. It also offers advanced features to optimize disk partition performance.

How to use:

Step 1: Launch Partition Master on your computer. Then, right-click the partition that you want to check and choose “Advanced” > “Check File System”.

Step 2: In the Check File System window, select the Try to repair errors when found option, and then click Start.

Step 3. The program will begin to check the partition's file system on the disk. When it's done, click “Finish”.

Finish the partition check

#3. Use SFC Scannow to fix disk errors

Tool: SFC Scannow Command

Duration: 2-3 minutes, or longer.

The SFC scannow command is similar to the CHKDSK command run from the Command Prompt. Please note that the SFC command will scan the entire disk, so this process may take longer than CHKDSK.

How to use:

Step 1: Right-click the Windows icon and select “Command Prompt (Admin).”

Step 2: Type sfc /scannow and press Enter.

Wait for this process to complete, and then you should be able to use your disk as normal.

Fixing disk errors is straightforward, and you can do it now on Windows 11/10/8/7.

In this article, we'll walk you through the detailed steps of running the CHKDSK command. Plus, we've included three alternative CHKDSK options for Windows beginners to fix disk errors.

So how do you choose a tool? Here are the editor's picks:

• To fix simple volume errors, try checking for errors in Properties. • To scan the entire disk for errors, run the SFC command. • To fix disk errors and better manage hard disk performance, use the Partition Master tool.

Please provide the English content you want translated, and I'll do my best to translate it into Chinese.

Frequently Asked Questions About CHKDSK Alternatives

Here, we address three questions you may have had after reading the page, with brief answers to help clarify any confusion.

1. Is CHKDSK the best tool for the job?

Compared to the other four disk checking tools – CHDSK, Disk Properties, Partition Master, and SCF Scannow, CHKDSK is not the best.

• The simplest disk error checker: Check Disk stands out in Disk Properties. • An all-around disk error repair tool: Try Partition Master.

< strong > What is the difference between CHKDSK and SFC?

Similarities: CHDSK and SFC are both command-line utilities used to address similar issues, such as file system errors or bad sectors on storage devices.

Difference: The syntax parameters of the two commands are different; CHKDSK requires the disk to be locked, while SFC scans for errors across the entire disk.

For more information, see Differences between CHKDSK and SFC for assistance.

3. Should I use CHKDSK /R or /F?

As stated at the beginning of this page, CHKDSK R and CHKDSK F are two different command-line options that fix different types of errors.

• CHKDSK /F fixes errors on the disk. • CHKDSK /R locates bad sectors and recovers readable information.

Both commands require a disk lock, so there's no absolute answer to which is better. It's recommended to use both parameters with the CHKDSK command when you need to fix severe errors on your hard drive.