It finds and corrects errors in your folders and files!
As you save, erase, and move files sometimes things do not go just right. Thisis not caused by anything you are doing wrong. A PC is a very complex, fastmachine and despite the best efforts of all the designers, engineers andprogrammers who've toiled to make it flawless, sometimes programs collide andmess up each others files.
This unwanted interaction can result in invalid files, files with lost filefragments, and cross linked files. You don't always know right away when thishappens. This is why you should run the Scandisk utility from time totime.
For Windows 9x and ME
1) Click the Start button.
2) Select Programs, Accessories, then System Tools. Click Scandisk.
3) Select and click the drive you want to scan, and then choose either the Standardor the Thorough test.
4) Click Start.
Scandisk runs in two modes
- The Standard test checks the files and folders on the selected drive for errors.
- The Thorough test performs the Standard test and then checks the entire surface of your hard drive for physical damage. You can even specify to scan areas of your disk containing only data files, or just the areas with system files, or both. This process takes a long time. Unless the Standard test fails you shouldn't need to run this test.
For Windows XP and 2000
In XP and 2000, the utility is called 'Error Checking' and doesn't offer thefull physical surface check.
1) From 'Start' double click 'My Computer'.
2) Right-click the drive you want.
3) Click on 'Properties', then 'Tools'.
4) Under 'Error Checking' click 'Check Now' and then Start.
5) A small scandisk window appears and the process begins.