Notes:
It is normal for the scan to seem "stuck" at 10% or 80% for a long time if the drive is large or has many errors. Do not unplug the drive mid-process. If you prefer not to use the command line: Right-click your external drive in File Explorer . Select Properties > Tools tab. Click Check under the "Error checking" section. Select Scan and repair drive .
For deeper repairs or when the interface method fails, use the Command Prompt to run specific "switches" like Open Command Prompt as Admin in the Start menu search bar, right-click it, and select Run as Administrator Identify Your Drive Letter
If chkdsk says "The type of the file system is RAW. Chkdsk is not available for RAW drives," this is bad news. It means the file system table is completely destroyed. chkdsk on external drive fix
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If you get an error saying "The volume is in use by another process," you can force the drive to unmount so the scan can start:
: Locates bad sectors and recovers readable information. This switch automatically includes the functionality of /f , but it conducts a physical scan of the disk surface, which takes significantly longer. Notes: It is normal for the scan to
If you run /r and chkdsk hangs (gets stuck) at a certain percentage for hours, or returns "File system detected," the drive likely has physical hardware failure. In this case, stop running scans immediately and replace the drive.
Before running CHKDSK, ensure your external hard drive is securely connected to your computer. Try using a rear USB port (on a desktop) to ensure it receives adequate power. Step 1: Identify the Drive Letter Open or File Explorer . Locate your connected external hard drive. Note the letter assigned to it (e.g., E: , F: , or G: ). Step 2: Open Command Prompt as Administrator Press the Windows Key , type cmd into the search bar. Right-click on Command Prompt from the search results.
. Windows will search for errors and notify you if a repair is needed. Method 2: The Pro Way (Command Prompt) Select Properties > Tools tab
Running CHKDSK on an external drive can help resolve these issues and prevent data loss. CHKDSK can:
Open File Explorer and identify the drive letter of your external drive (e.g., E: , F: , G: ).
When a drive's file system table is completely destroyed, Windows can no longer recognize its formatting (NTFS/exFAT) and labels it RAW. CHKDSK cannot repair a drive without a recognizable file structure.