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Scan And Repair

Tim Rogers 225 Reputation points
2025-09-22T18:40:19.3+00:00

Hello;

Okay so I have a minor problem here and need some clarification on this matter.

I just sat through 1 hour of wasted time, or at least I think it was wasted time.

I started my PC and was immediately thrown into Scan and Repair mode which from past experience and updates usually took about 30 minutes, however I seem to remember that Microsoft eliminated this feature since it installed 'Reset This PC'.

Am I right about this or wrong please clarify.

After installing version 26H2 the problem disappeared.

Windows for home | Windows 11 | Recovery and backup
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Kimberly Olaño 23,560 Reputation points
2025-09-22T22:42:42.82+00:00

Hello! Tim. The details will help narrow your issue down, thanks for that.

Microsoft has changed the terminology and tools over the years, but Scan and Repair hasn’t actually been eliminated.

What you saw: “Scanning and repairing drive (C:)”

This is CHKDSK (Check Disk) running automatically because Windows detected something inconsistent on your drive.

It’s not the same as Reset this PC or a system repair install.

It still exists in Windows 10 and 11. If Windows thinks your disk wasn’t shut down properly, or if the file system got corrupted, it will schedule this scan at boot.

Where Reset This PC fits in

Reset This PC is a recovery option Microsoft introduced in Windows 8 and kept in 10/11.

It’s meant for refreshing Windows (either keeping your files or removing everything).

It doesn’t replace CHKDSK or “Scan and Repair”, it’s just another recovery tool.

Why it took so long

If the drive was flagged as “dirty” or had errors, CHKDSK runs a full pass.

On large disks, especially with lots of small files, this can easily take an hour or more.

If no errors are found, sometimes it finishes quickly.

So to clarify,

Scan and Repair (CHKDSK) is still there in Windows 10/11.

Reset This PC is a separate recovery option, not a replacement.

That hour wasn’t wasted, it likely checked and fixed filesystem inconsistencies that could prevent data corruption.

See if this helps. If you need further assistance, just let me know.

Best regards,

Kimberly

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  1. Kimberly Olaño 23,560 Reputation points
    2025-09-23T02:58:03.77+00:00

    You're welcome Tim! If you need further assistance, just let me know.

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