CHKDSK Taking FOREVER

Question

CHKDSK Taking FOREVER

Anonymous

My computer gave me an error saying something couldn't be written to the hard drive and to reboot. If the error continues do a CHKDSK, which I did, and it was taking forever! I may have clicked both check boxes though, which I am gathering can take a while. I had to stop it because somehow this process and my home wifi are working against each other. Meaning somewhere in the process my wifi shuts down, But if I stop the computer, the WIFI comes back. Looking for guidance.

Problem 1) Length of CHKDSK process, how long should I expect?

Problem 2) Why is the WIFI at home getting knocked out during the process

Problem 3) After a while the monitor goes dead, and I cannot see the progress? Is that normal, Thanks!

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8 answers

Answer 1

ChkDks takes time depending on how big your hard drive is. On very big drives (such as Terabyte drives) the check can take several days or more depending on how many issues it finds and needs to correct.
Your WiFi issue is unrelated, the system is not connected to your WiFi network while it is running a chkdsk during a reboot. As far as your wifi router is concerned, your computer is turned off and unplugged.
That may be power saving of your monitor.

Answer 2

I'm running chkdsk on a computer I'm repairing after 10+ years on UNIX/Linux and macOS platforms and was appalled with how long this takes! I'm waiting two hours to check a 650 GB partition on a solid state drive and decided to do the equivalent on my Mac—one minute, four seconds for a 256 GB partition. This is absurd...! And this is after doing it while Windows was booted, only to have it lock up after leaving the room for ten minutes and telling me to swipe from the edge of the screen to make something happen (not sure what that was about). Thankfully it wasn't able to repair issues while Windows was running, because I had to hold down the power button, boot into Windows to get to Recovery Mode (why?).

Needless to say, I won't be helping any other Windows users with their problems. I've spent more than 12 hours trying to fix this PC, avoiding wiping it and restoring data due to the necessity of all apps and app settings to remain in place (can't just backup the home folder like other systems).

Answer 3

@CmdrKeene 90,616 Volunteer Moderator

You can stop an ongoing ChkDsk safely by pressing Ctrl-C together. Note that if you just simply turn off the computer instead of this safe cancel option, it can cause hard drive damage.

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Answer 4

Hi,

The time checkdisk (chkdsk) takes is directly related to the speed of your computer and

hard drive as well as the condition of the hard drive. If there are a lot of disk issues then

checkdisk will take a long time.

Disk issues can get serious very quickly so I would thoroughly check the drive now and be

sure to keep redundant backups of your important data (use several methods).

Inside Windows - Regular or Safe Mode (repeatedly tap F8 as you boot).

Run checkdisk - schedule it to run at next start and then Apply OK your way out then restart.

How to Run Disk Check in Windows 7

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/433-disk-check.html

OR :

Start - type in Search box - COMMAND find at top of list - RIGHT CLICK - RUN AS ADMIN

sfc /scannow

How to Repair Windows 7 System Files with System File Checker

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/1538-sfc-scannow-command-system-file-checker.html

Then run checkdisk (chkdsk).

How to Run Disk Check in Windows 7

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/433-disk-check.html

For even better and more efficient checking : <- Advanced Methods.

From the Command Prompt of the Recovery Console (if you have one) or from a Vista/Windows

7 disk - if you do not have a Vista/Windows 7 disk you can borrow a friend's (it needs to be same

32 or 64 bit and they are not copy protected) or make one. Also your System maker will sell the

physical disks cheap since you already own Windows.

chkdsk /f /r

REBOOT

Space after k and before / and after f and before /

sfc /scannow

REBOOT

Space after c and before /

How to Boot to the System Recovery Options in Windows 7

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/668-system-recovery-options.html

What are the system recovery options in Windows 7?

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows7/What-are-the-system-recovery-options-in-Windows-7

Go into Setup/Settings (BIOS/CMOS) often F2 as you boot so watch screen as you startup. Set the

boot order to CD/DVD to use Windows disks (Vista or Windows 7 whichever you have installed.)

Remember to set back when done.

**If you need to make repair disks - these help repair Windows not re-install.**Often a these disks will help when the OEM Recovery Disk does not.

Download Windows 7 System Recovery Discs - now charging $9.75 for the ISO

images to make the disks. (These can be made on any computer running XP,

Vista, or Window 7 that has a CD/DVD burner.)

http://neosmart.net/blog/2009/windows-7-system-repair-discs/

How to Create a Windows 7 System Repair Disc - Free (Must be made on a

Windows 7 computer running the same 32 or 64 bit.)

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/2083-system-repair-disc-create.html

**A Installation Disk can also be made to use for Repair. Of course you would use your ownCOA (Product Key).**Windows 7 (English) with Service Pack 1

• Windows 7 Home Premium (x86) - X17-58996

• Windows 7 Home Premium (x64) - X17-58997

• Windows 7 Professional (x86) - X17-59183

• Windows 7 Professional (x64) - X17-59186

• Windows 7 Ultimate (x86)* - X17-59463

• Windows 7 Ultimate (x64)* - X17-59465

See MVP Andre Da Costa's message in this thread.

http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows\_7-windows\_install/how-can-i-download-gatewaywindows7recovery-disc/3c0ecd74-cfc1-4188-89c7-a6bbe8113ee1

=====================================

If CheckDisk fails to complete as above : <-- Manufacturer's Diagnostic Utilities.

(The old 302602 links is not valid now for the diagnostic links.)

Diagnostic Utilities By Manufacturer - run the one for your hard drive

http://www.techsupportforum.com/hardware-support/hard-drive-support/462298-no-ide-device-found.html

Corrected list as of 6-09-2010

Fujitsu Hard Drives: Diagnostic Utilities Here

http://www.fujitsu.com/emea/products/hdd/

Hitachi Hard Drives: Diagnostic Utilities Here

http://www.hitachigst.com/support/downloads/

IBM Hard Drives: Use Hitachi Utilities*

Toshiba Hard Drives: Use Hitachi or Maxtor Utilities

Maxtor Hard Drives: Diagnostic Utilities Here (now SeaGate)

http://www.seagate.com/www/en-us/support/

Quantum Hard Drives: Use Maxtor Utilities

Seagate Hard Drives: Diagnostic Utilities Here

http://www.seagate.com/www/en-us/support/downloads

Conner Hard Drives: Use Seagate Utilities

Samsung Hard Drives: Diagnostic Utilities Here

http://www.samsung.com/global/business/hdd/

Western Digital Hard Drives: Diagnostic Utilities Here

http://support.wdc.com/product/download.asp?lang=enhttp://www.techsupportforum.com/hardware-support/hard-drive-support/302602-hard-drive-diagnostic-utilities.html

The trial versions of one of these "might" help.

SpeedFan

http://www.almico.com/sfdownload.php

HD Tune

http://www.hdtune.com/

Hope this helps.

Rob Brown - Microsoft MVP <- profile - Windows Expert - Consumer : Bicycle - Mark Twain said it right.