If there’s a piece of equipment that works hard in your PC, it’s your hard disk drive (HDD.) HDDs operate at anywhere between 4200 and 15000 RPM (perhaps higher) while in use. In other words, these things spin anywhere between 70 and 250 times a second—sometimes for days on end! While the information in this guide mostly applies to both HDDs and Solid State Drives (SSD), SSDs have no moving parts so some of the information will not apply.

With high speeds and enormous data transfers on a daily basis hard drive file systems, used to store and access all your data, are prone to corruption and failure. Thankfully, all versions of Windows come with a nifty, free tool called “Check Disk” (chkdsk.) In this guide, we’ll show you how to use Check Disk and explain a little about common errors to which hard drives are prone.

How Do Hard Drives Get Corrupted?

All storage media is prone to corruption; however HDDs are a little more exposed as they have moving parts. Included in these moving parts are read/write heads that, when jolted mid read/write (i.e. when you put your laptop down on a table) can crash into the hard disk platters and ruin data. Technically, a jolted head can wipe out a whole HDD if it hits the right area and I’ve seen this happen with a coworker’s laptop. Presumably, that won’t happen to you if you’re careful; however, you may have already lost/scrambled data without realizing it.

Even you’re careful with your PC (or it’s a desktop and you don’t move it while it’s powered on), there are other ways to corrupt data. Common ways in which data is corrupted include: power surges, malware, turning your PC off without a clean shut down (Windows may label your drive as a “dirty” disk), and even flipped bits resulting from non-ECC protected memory. These corruption issues affect both HDD and SSD users. Often, HDDs will take care of bad sectors with self-detection mechanisms; however, corrupted file systems are dealt with using chkdsk.

What Does chkdsk Do?

chkdsk scans your hard drive, identifies problems, and attempts to fix these problems. Specifically, chkdsk:

• Searches for invalid file names and dates
• Identifies and attempts to fix bad compression structures, sectors, and invalid clusters
• Finds lost clusters (orphaned) and fixes cross-linked clusters
• Fixes file-system cycles (e.g. folders referring to themselves as their parent folder)
• Marks unrecoverable sectors as bad so they cannot be used again to store (and lose) data

What is a Sector? What is a Cluster?

Hard disks are made up of millions of tiny storage areas referred to as sectors; these sectors are a physical section of a hard disk platter in which data (usually up to 512 bytes) is stored. As hard drives increase in size, addressing so many sectors (a 1TB drive has up to approximately 2,147,483,648 sectors) becomes difficult. Thus, sectors are grouped, by Windows, into clusters. A cluster size is determined by the size of your hard disk partition.

What Happens to these Clusters?

Clusters can become orphaned (disassociated with their original data), incorrectly marked (unused put part of a cluster chain), invalid (incorrectly valued), or cross-linked (assigned to two files or twice for one file.) Another way to think of this is to take a look at your food pantry/storage/cupboard. Without regular upkeep, food expires; ingredients, purchased specifically for meals get forgotten; and labels may even fall off so you’re left guessing what spice concoction you have.

There are many reasons why this may happen and while you may be able to prevent much of this through proper hardware care, sometimes data just gets out of line without you realizing. Thankfully, chkdsk can often convert these broken clusters to files that you can copy somewhere safe.

How Do I Use chkdsk?

You can access chkdsk in two ways: through the graphical user interface (GUI) or through the command line interface (CLI.)

Note: chkdsk requires admin privileges. If you are unable to run chkdsk, please check with your systems administrator. If you run chkdsk on a disk from which files are in use (i.e. your “C” drive), you will need to allow Windows to run chkdsk next time you boot your PC (using autochk settings stored in HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager\BootExecute.)

To run the chkdsk GUI:

1. Click the Start button and click Computer
2. Right click on any drive and click Properties
3. Click the Tools tab and click Check Now
   Caution: Check Disk may run for many hours (a full check on a 1.5TB drive once took 28 hours) so please be patient and don’t schedule a disk check  when you require access to your PC
4. Select Automatically fix file system errors and click Start
   Note: I’d use “Scan for and attempt recovery of bad sectors” sparingly as many drives do this, for the most part, themselves

To run the chkdsk CLI:

• Bring up the command line and run chkdsk /F C: to fix file system errors only (on drive C)
• or run chkdsk /R G: to fix system errors and attempt recovery of bad sectors (on drive G)

How Often Should I Run chkdsk?

Your PC works better when there’s organization and data is both referenced and stored in the same place. Thus, I recommend you run chkdsk 4-12 times/year depending on your PC usage. Running it more often than once a month is probably a waste of time.

Note: If your computer is infected with a virus or if your hard drive is seriously damaged, chkdsk may fail mid operation. If you opted for a boot-time check, you may not be able to get into Windows to do much else with your PC (if it still boots into Windows.) Diagnosis and explanation of such an issue is out of the scope of this basic guide. If you’re stuck and need assistance, we can help at Windows Forums. 

There are a number of Windows Guides that ask you to start the computer in safe mode:

• Remove Viruses And Malware in Safe Mode [How To]
• 5 Easy Ways to Uninstall Toolbars In Internet Explorer 8
• Perform a System Restore in Windows Vista and 7 [How To]

In this guide, we’ll show you a couple of ways to get into Safe Mode in Windows XP, Vista, 7, and Windows 8.

There are two easy ways to boot into safe mode. I recommend the first method if you want to boot into Safe Mode one time; I recommend the second method if you plan to boot into safe mode each time your computer starts or if you have trouble with the first method.

1. Use the F8 Key when Windows boots to invoke Safe Mode
2. Modify the BOOT.INI file to boot into safe mode every time

Use the F8 Key when Windows Boots to Invoke Safe Mode

The quickest way to boot into Safe Mode is to hold and press the F8 key as you restart your computer:

1. Remove flash drives and any optical discs from your PC

2. Restart your computer; once your computer is shut down (the power will go off and on for a brief moment), hold the F8 key down until you see the following menu*:

Modify the BOOT.INI File to Boot into Safe Mode every Time

Vista/7/8 msconfig settings:

Next time you boot you will see something like this:

If you find you can’t access Safe Mode, please head over to Windows Forums where we can give you a hand.

Launching Sysinternals tools from the command line/Run dialog is easy. First, you’ll need the list of names of the Sysinternals tools, which can be found here: live.sysinternals.com

Once you have the name of the tool,  launch the Run dialog (Winkey+R) and type the following:

 \\live.sysinternals.com\tools\toolname.exe

Replace toolname.exe with the name of the tool you want to run. For example, if you want to run Process Explorer, enter the following command:

 \\live.sysinternals.com\tools\procexp.exe

Give it a few moments and you’ll be prompted to run the tool for which you executed the command:

For most tools, you are asked to accept the terms of the software and then you’ll be up and running:

That’s it. Now you can access Sysinternals tools from any Windows PC  with an internet connection—anywhere in the world. If you’d like to carry the most important tools with you in a suite, check out the Sysinternals Suite here. If you want to learn more about Sysinternals tools such as Process Explorer, head here.

We like using Sysinternals tools here at Windows Guides; these tools bring core Windows functions together and help you administer to your systems more easily.

In this guide, we’ll cover the basics:

1. What are the Sysinternals tools?
2. How to download and run these tools on your PC
3. Where can I learn more about these tools?

We’ll then take a look at two of my favorite tools: Bginfo and Process Explorer.

Here are some other tools that we’ve covered in the past on Windows Guides:

• AutoRuns – What is really going on inside your Windows?
• SDelete Deletes Your Files Permanently
• Microsoft Desktops Gives You Multiple Desktops to Work With

What are the Sysinternals tools?

Sysinternals utilities help you manage, troubleshoot, and diagnose Windows and applications. These tools are created by the Microsoft community and are kept up to date to work with the latest versions of Windows. I’ve used some of these tools for as long as I can remember using modern versions of Windows (Windows 2000 and beyond) and you might just find one or two useful–even if you don’t consider yourself a PC geek.

How to Download and Run these Tools on Your PC

You have a few choices when using the Sysinternals tools:

1. Download individual tools from the Sysinternals website
2. Run Sysinternals tools from the command line (requires internet connection)
3. Download the Sysinternals Suite (all troubleshooting tools in one)

Where can I Learn More about these Tools?

Note: Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 come bundled with PowerShell so you don’t need to do anything.

If your PC is in a domain or workgroup where its use is prohibited, speak with your IT administrative staff.

Download PowerShell 2.0 (Vista, Server 2008/3)

	Download PowerShell 2.0 for Windows Vista
	Download PowerShell 2.0 for Windows Vista (64-bit)
	Download PowerShell 2.0 for Windows Server 2008
	Download PowerShell 2.0 for Windows Server 2008 (64-bit)
	Download PowerShell 2.0 for Windows Server 2003
	Download PowerShell 2.0 for Windows Server 2003 (64-bit)

Download PowerShell 1.0 (XP, Windows Embedded)

Download PowerShell 1.0 for Windows XP and Windows Embedded

Now you’ve downloaded PowerShell, why not use it as a calculator?

1. Open a Command Prompt (Click Start, type cmd, and click cmd.exe.)
2. Type sfc /scannow and press Enter

What Does the sfc /scannow Command Do?

System File Checker (SFC) verifies all protected system files are current and complete. If they’re not, it replaces them to bring them into currency.

Here’s what Microsoft say (applies to Windows XP):

System File Checker gives an administrator the ability to scan all protected files to verify their versions. If System File Checker discovers that a protected file has been overwritten, it retrieves the correct version of the file from the cache folder* (%Systemroot%\System32\Dllcache) or the Windows installation source files, and then replaces the incorrect file. System File Checker also checks and repopulates the cache folder. You must be logged on as an administrator or as a member of the Administrators group to run System File Checker. [1]

*The DLL cache folder is replaced in Windows Vista and 7 with Windows File Protection (files are kept in C:\Windows\winsxs\Backup.) Thank you Marc Liron, Microsoft MVP, for this information.

This is a good thing. If something doesn’t seem right on your PC, run this command to give you peace of mind and a good start.

More information:

• SFC Usage Windows 7/Vista
• SFC Usage Windows XP

1 Description of Windows XP and Windows Server 2003 System File Checker (Sfc.exe)

If you’re hanging on to Windows XP because you don’t want to buy a new computer, you’re used to the interface, or you just don’t see a need to upgrade, then this guide will help you extend the life of your Windows XP machine by making it more stable and by helping it run more efficiently. This guide will show you how to speed up Windows XP in 11 easy steps.

I highly recommend you create a system restore point before starting.

(Here’s a similar list for Windows Vista and for Windows 7.)

Note: Before making any changes, I strongly recommend you create a restore point, which will let you roll back any changes you make during this guide: create a restore point in XP. I also recommend you perform a full malware scan with a good anti-malware program like Microsoft Security Essentials:

1. Keep Windows up to Date

Windows updates are provided to increase performance, security, and stability. Before you move on to steps 2 and beyond, update your copy of Windows.

To update Windows:

1. Click Start > All Programs and click Microsoft Update:

2. When Internet Explorer finishes loading, click Express:

3. Follow the instructions to apply updates specific to your computer

2. Defragment Your Hard Drive

There are many opinions floating around about whether drive fragmentation slows down a computer. Here’s my view: if you’re trying to open a document and the file is split into fragments spread across your hard disk, it’s going to take longer to open it while it grabs all the pieces. An uninterrupted, sequential file will load quicker if it’s in one place on the drive. The only case where this is not necessarily true is on Solid State Drives (SSD.) If you have an SSD, skip this step.

To defragment your drive:

1. Open My Computer (Winkey + E), right click your C drive, and click Properties:

2. Click the Tools tab and click Defragment Now…

3. Select your C: Drive and click Defragment:

Take a break while your drive defragments. This step takes the longest but will set you up for quicker maintenance as you move on to step 3 and beyond.

3. Check Your Hard Disk for Errors

Over time, segments of your hard disk may become corrupted and you’ll need to reorganize your disk to fix them. Bad sectors slow down your computer and can even lead to data loss.

To check your hard disk for errors:

1. Open My Computer (Winkey + E), right click your C drive, and click Properties:

3. Check both Automatically fix file system errors and Scan for and attempt recovery of bad sectors and click Start:

Note: You may need to restart your PC to check the disk:

4. Remove Unused Windows Components

Windows components are core programs and tools that are bundled with Windows. Many of these components can be safely disabled if you find you’re not using them. A good example of this is disabling Games, Windows Media Center, and Windows Media Player.

To disable Windows components:

1. Press Winkey + R (or click Start > Run), type appwiz.cpl, and press Enter

2. When the Add or Remove Programs dialog loads, click Add/Remove Windows Components:

3. Check the components you want to disable and click Next:

Hint: Not sure which components you can remove? Ask us in the forums.

The components will now be disabled:

5. Uninstall Unused Programs

As well as taking up disk space, programs put “hooks” into your system that require resources. For example: programs may run services on your computer that will slow down start up and general computer use. If you’re not using a program and don’t plan to use it in the future, you should uninstall it.

To uninstall a program:

1. Press Winkey + R (or click Start > Run), type appwiz.cpl, and press Enter

2. Click the program you want to remove and click Remove

3. Follow the uninstall dialog for the program you wish to remove.

6a. Stop Network Folder/Printer Scanning

If you don’t use network folders or printers, you should disable them. This will remove the delay each time you open My Computer, which is caused by a scan for folders and printers on your network.

If you do use network drives, skip to step 6b.

To disable network folder/printer scanning:

1. Open My Computer (Winkey+E)

2. Click Tools > Folder Options…

3. Click the View tab, uncheck Automatically search for network folders and printers and click OK:

6b. Disconnect Unused Network Drives

If you use network drives but have a huge list of drives you connect to, you’ll find it takes a while to open My Computer. To decrease load time, consider disconnecting unused network drives (be sure to make note of connection information i.e. Server and share names before disconnecting.)

To disconnect network drives:

1. Open My Computer (Winkey + E)

2. Right click and unused network drive, and click Disconnect:

7. Update Your Drivers

Drivers are used to provide communication between your hardware (i.e. Printers); operating system (XP); and, often, other hardware (i.e card Readers.)

Outdated drivers can be a security threat, may be buggy, and are often incompatible with newer hardware and programs. To update your drivers:

1. Download Device Doctor (free)

2. Install in and, when it’s opened, click Begin Scan:

Wait while Device Doctor scans your current hardware and drivers:

3. Download updates for each piece of hardware listed:

4. When you click Download update, a website will load. Click Download Driver Installer:

5. Install the driver and, if necessary, restart your computer.

8. Adjust Display Settings for Performance

By today’s standards, XP looks dated but it still has some bells and whistles that can affect performance on older hardware. To optimize your display for better performance:

1. Click Start, right click My Computer, and click Properties:

2. Click the Advanced tab and click Settings:

3. On the Visual Effects tab, select Adjust for best performance, and click OK:

9. Remove Programs from Startup

In step 5, you removed programs you don’t need. While this was a good start, you may have programs on your PC that you use but don’t need to start every time.

To remove programs from startup:

1. Press Winkey + R (or click Start > Run), type msconfig, and press Enter

2. Click the Startup tab, uncheck programs that you don’t want to start with Windows, and click OK:

Hint: Not sure which programs you can remove from startup? Ask us in the forums.

10. Perform a Disk Cleanup

Temporary files, left over installation files, and files associated with unused programs, installations etc. can take up space on your drive. Cleaning them up will only really help if you’re low on disk space. Given these files are unused (or may not have a use for you), you can clean them up and get back disk space.

To clean up your disk:

1. Open My Computer (Winkey + E), right click your C drive, and click Properties

2. Click Disk Cleanup

3. Check the items you’d like to cleanup and click OK:

Hint: Not sure which items you can clean up? Ask us in the forums.

11. Defragment one More Time

Now you’ve removed programs, temporary files, and other data from your hard disk, you should defragment one more time to get everything in line. See step 1 for instructions.

Bonus: Keep Your Computer Cool

The hotter your computer gets, the harder your fans have to work to keep it cool and the slower your hardware performs. If using your laptop, ensure there is proper ventilation by putting your laptop on a hard surface (not buried in a pillow!) Also check your desktop has proper ventilation by doing the following:

• Removing bunches of wires from the back of the PC.
• If your desktop has holes in its case for ventilation, ensure these holes are unrestricted.
• If your desktop is in a cabinet, leave the door open or install an intake and outtake fan to keep the cabinet cool.
• Consider adding more fans to your desktop.
• Keep your hardware clean.

It’s important to keep your drivers updated to take advantage of code fixes, reliability improvements, and security; Intel have made it even easier to keep your drivers up to date with the Intel Driver Update Utility.

Intel Driver Update Utility

To use the Intel Driver Update Utility, go here.

Intel does not collect personal information when running this check. From the site:

• No personal information is collected.
  • Intel is committed to protecting your privacy. For more information about Intel’s Privacy Notice, please visit www.intel.com/privacy.
• Only your system’s hardware and system software are evaluated.
  • For example: chipset, graphics driver version, networking, operating system version.
• Available for Windows 7*, Windows Vista*, Windows XP*, and Windows 2000*. If you are using a different operating system, please visit Download Center to look for available software.
• Compatible with Internet Explorer*, Firefox*, Google Chrome*, and Safari* browsers.
• Installing a secure ActiveX*/Java* browser component is required.

Click Check your system for the latest updates:

Once you click the Check your system button, you’ll need to confirm the Java applet can run by clicking Run.

Any updates will be listed and you can download them directly from Intel.

I recommend uninstalling the tool after you’ve updated drivers although it should do no harm if it remains installed:

Please note: Some devices will be found but not recognized such as non-Intel graphics and sound cards. You can update drivers for these devices (as well as your Intel devices) using a program like Device Doctor.

Download Intel Driver Update Utility

Run Intel Driver Update Utility

Want to check for updates to and update all your drivers? Download Device Doctor:

Download Device Doctor

Download Device Doctor

To make the most of these updates, you should install them when available. We’ve looked at troubleshooting specific Windows Update errors in the past and showed you the System Update Readiness tool. If you’re still stuck with Windows Update errors, you can try resetting the Windows Update Agent (WUA) with a FixIt tool. You can also try installing updates manually, in Safe Mode, or by removing Malware that’s blocking updates first. 4sysops has put together a guide to help you troubleshoot issues with Windows Update and how to take the troubleshooting steps listed above before you take your PC in for a potentially expensive and inconvenient repair.

Windows Update errors – A troubleshooting guide | 4sysops

Personally I never used it. I pride myself in maintaining a strict Desktop Clutter Policy and rarely allow any programs I install to take occupation on my desktop. Therefore I never needed the DCW, and could remove that annoying popup reminder all together.

Here’s how you do it

• Right click an empty area on the desktop.
• Click Properties and select Properties.
• Click the Desktop tab.
• Click Customize Desktop.
• In the Desktop Items dialog box, clear the checkbox labeled “Run Desktop Wizard every 60 days.”
• Click OK to close the dialog boxes.

You can still run the wizard manually should you want to, by clicking “Clean Desktop Now” in the Desktop Items dialog box.