Chkdsk (an acronym for check disk) is a Microsoft® utility designed to check the integrity of the data on a computer's hard disk drive as well as find and fix errors which can muddle data. Using chkdsk can also improve the performance of your computer. Running chkdsk on your Windows®Vista system can most often repair numerous problems you may experience and/or encounter. Many people regularly run chkdsk as a part of their overall computer maintenance plan. To use chkdsk on your Windows®Vista system:

1. Click to open Computer.
2. RIGHT click the hard disk drive that you want to check (e.g. "C"), and then click Properties.
3. Click the Tools tab, and, under Error-Checking, click Check Now. If you are prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation.

Important Notes:
To automatically repair problems that are discovered in files and folders, select Automatically Fix File System Errors. Otherwise, chkdsk will only report the problems it discovers but not fix them.

To perform a thorough chkdsk, select Scan For and Attempt Recovery of Bad Sectors. This will allow scan chkdsk to both find and repair physical errors on the
hard disk. This can take much longer to complete depending upon the size of your hard drive and the amount of information stored there.

To use chkdsk to look for both file errors and physical errors, select both Automatically Fix File System Errors and Scan For and Attempt Recovery of Bad Sectors and then click Start.

To obtain the best results, do not use your computer for any other task while chkdsk is running.

If you select Automatically Fix File System Errors for a disk that is in use, for example, a hard disk  partition that contains Windows Vista, you will be prompted to schedule chkdsk for the next time you restart your computer.

You can also run sfc /scannow at the command prompt to look for and fix errors. Do this by:

1. Finding your Command Prompt in the start menu (usually) under Accessories
2. RIGHT clicking on it and selecting the Run as Administrator option
3. Typing in sfc /scannow at the command prompt
4. Pressing Enter to start the process