Windows 10 fixing disk errors​

Disk errors can be a common issue for many Windows 10 users, whether caused by hardware problems, software glitches, or improper system shutdowns. These errors, ranging from minor to severe, can lead to slow performance, system crashes, or data loss. Fortunately, Windows 10 offers several built-in tools and methods for detecting and fixing disk errors. 

1. Disk Errors in Windows 10

Disk errors can manifest in various ways, including:

Slow system performance: Your computer may take longer than usual to open files or applications.

Corrupted files: Files may become corrupted and unusable.

Frequent crashes: Windows 10 may crash or freeze unexpectedly.

Warning messages: You may see error messages such as “Disk is corrupt” or “Drive is not accessible.”

These issues can be caused by various factors, including:

Bad sectors: Physical areas of the disk that are damaged and cannot hold data correctly.

File system corruption: Problems in the system structure that organizes data on the disk.

Fragmentation: Over time, files can become fragmented, leading to slower access times.

Hardware failure: Malfunctions in the disk hardware itself, including the drive motor or interface.

To resolve these issues, Windows 10 provides several troubleshooting methods, including the built-in Check Disk utility, chkdsk command, and System File Checker (SFC) tool.

2. Running Check Disk (chkdsk) from File Explorer

One of the simplest ways to fix disk errors in Windows 10 is to use the Check Disk utility. Here’s how:

Open File Explorer:

Press Windows + E to open File Explorer.

Right-click the drive:

Locate the disk you want to check (e.g., C: drive).

Right-click on the drive and select Properties.

Go to the Tools tab:

In the Properties window, click on the Tools tab.

Check for errors:

Under the “Error checking” section, click on Check. If there are any issues, the system will prompt you to check and fix them.

Windows may ask you to restart your computer to allow it to fix the disk errors during startup.

3. Using the Command Prompt to Run chkdsk

For a more thorough disk check, you can use the Command Prompt to run the chkdsk (Check Disk) utility. Follow these steps:

Open Command Prompt as Administrator:

Press Windows + X and select Command Prompt (Admin) or Windows PowerShell (Admin) from the menu.

Run chkdsk:

In the Command Prompt window, type the following command and press Enter:

bash

chkdsk C: /f /r

C: refers to the drive you want to check (replace it with the appropriate drive letter if necessary).

/f tells chkdsk to fix any errors found.

/r tells chkdsk to locate bad sectors and recover readable information.

Schedule the check:

If the drive is in use (such as the system drive), chkdsk will ask if you want to schedule the check for the next restart. Type Y to confirm.

Restart your computer:

Restart your PC, and the system will automatically check the disk for errors and attempt to fix them.

4. Using the System File Checker (SFC)

Sometimes, disk errors are caused by corrupted system files rather than the disk itself. The System File Checker (SFC) is a built-in tool that scans and repairs corrupted system files.

Open Command Prompt as Administrator:

Press Windows + X and select Command Prompt (Admin) or Windows PowerShell (Admin).

Run the SFC scan:

In the Command Prompt window, type the following command and press Enter:

bash

sfc /scannow

This process can take some time, so be patient. SFC will scan the system files and automatically repair any issues it finds.

Restart your computer:

Once the scan is complete, restart your PC. This will apply the changes made by SFC.

5. Running the DISM Tool

If running SFC doesn’t fix the issue, you can try using the Deployment Imaging Service and Management Tool (DISM). DISM can repair system images and fix corruption that SFC might not handle.

Open Command Prompt as Administrator:

Press Windows + X and choose Command Prompt (Admin) or Windows PowerShell (Admin).

Run DISM:

In the Command Prompt window, type the following command and press Enter:

swift

DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

This process may take some time, so allow it to complete. DISM will attempt to repair any issues with your system image.

Run SFC again:

After DISM completes, run the sfc /scannow command again to fix any remaining issues with system files.

6. Check for Hardware Issues with Windows Memory Diagnostic

If you’re experiencing disk errors alongside memory issues (such as crashes or blue screens), it’s essential to rule out RAM problems. Windows 10 includes a tool called Windows Memory Diagnostic to help identify memory issues.

Open Windows Memory Diagnostic:

Press Windows + R to open the Run dialog.

Type mdsched and press Enter.

Choose to restart and check for problems:

You will be given the option to restart your PC and check for memory problems.

Choose Restart now and check for problems.

Wait for the scan to complete:

The system will restart and begin the memory diagnostic. Once finished, Windows will notify you if any issues were found.

7. Update Your Disk Drivers

Outdated or corrupt disk drivers can also cause errors. Keeping your drivers up-to-date can resolve various issues. Here’s how to update them:

Open Device Manager:

Press Windows + X and select Device Manager.

Expand Disk Drives:

Find your hard drive or SSD in the list and expand the section.

Update Driver:

Right-click the drive and select Update driver.

Choose Search automatically for updated driver software.

Follow the prompts:

If Windows finds an updated driver, it will install it automatically.

8. Perform a Disk Cleanup

Over time, your disk may accumulate unnecessary files, such as system files, temporary files, and cached data, which can cause slowdowns and errors. Disk Cleanup can help clear up space and improve system performance.

Open Disk Cleanup:

Press Windows + S to open Search, type Disk Cleanup, and select the tool from the search results.

Select the drive to clean:

Choose the drive you want to clean (typically the C: drive) and click OK.

Select the files to delete:

Disk Cleanup will analyze the drive and display a list of files you can delete. Select the types of files you want to remove (e.g., temporary files, system files, etc.).

Click OK to delete the selected files.

9. Reinstall Windows 10

If all else fails, and your disk errors persist, reinstalling Windows 10 may be necessary. A clean installation can resolve deep-seated issues with the operating system, including disk errors.

Backup your data:

Before reinstalling, ensure that you back up all important files.

Create a bootable USB drive:

Download the Windows 10 Media Creation Tool from the official Microsoft website.

Use it to create a bootable USB drive with Windows 10.

Reinstall Windows:

Boot from the USB drive and follow the on-screen instructions to reinstall Windows 10.

10. Preventing Future Disk Errors

To avoid running into disk errors in the future, consider the following preventive measures:

Regularly run disk checks using tools like chkdsk to ensure your disk is in good health.

Keep your system updated to ensure that you have the latest patches and fixes.

Defragment your disk (if using an HDD) to improve performance and reduce fragmentation.

Use a surge protector to protect your computer from power surges that can damage your hard drive.

Back up your data regularly to protect against potential data loss from disk errors.