CHKDSK Not Working in Windows 11/10/8/7? Fix It Now!

Overview of CHKDSK Not Working

CHKDSK is a utility that scans and fixes hard drive problems, designed to prevent data loss and potential risks. It checks the file system for errors and can repair soft bad sectors or mark hard bad sectors to prevent further use. However, some users may encounter issues with CHKDSK not working in Windows 11, 10, 8, or 7.

Why is CHKDSK not working occasionally as expected? First of all, start a basic examination of the following basics of a successful disk checking in Windows 10.

1. Did you run as an administrator?

2. If CHKDSK is stuck or frozen due to high disk usage, it may be caused by a virus or malware that is consuming system resources, or a disk error that is preventing the disk from being accessed. In this case, CHKDSK may be unable to complete its scan and will appear to be stuck or frozen.

3. The command chkdsk /f (chkdsk /f/r) is not working. It is running but not completing.

4. Did CHKDSK return the exact error messages as follows?

The error message "Windows cannot run disk checking on this volume because it is write-protected" indicates that Windows is unable to perform a disk check on the volume because it is currently write-protected. This means that the volume is in a read-only state, and Windows cannot write any data to it.
The file system type is RAW, which means CHKDSK (Check Disk) is not available for this drive, as it's not a formatted drive.
This type of file system is NTFS. CHKDSK cannot continue in read-only mode.

Typical error messages related to CHKDSK not working are usually easier to tackle, but if you're experiencing issues, you can try five general troubleshooting methods. If you're receiving specific error messages, you can click the link to find corresponding solutions. For cases not presented, don't worry, as these methods can help resolve issues with CHKDSK not working in Windows 11/10/8/7. Users who are unable to run CHKDSK or experience issues with the command failing to repair errors on a hard drive, USB flash drive, or memory card can try each method to resolve the problem.

How to Fix CHKDSK Not Working in Windows 11/10/8/7 [ 5 Methods]

If you're experiencing issues with CHKDSK, such as it hanging or failing to repair problems, you're not alone. Many users face this problem on their Windows 10, 8, or 7 computers, hard drive partitions, or storage devices. Fortunately, there are effective methods available to help you resolve the CHKDSK not working issue and run a successful disk check, even when scheduled as a startup task.

Method 1. Fix CHKDSK not working error with CHKDSK alternative software

When CHKDSK fails to work on your PC hard drive, partitions or storage devices, you can apply a CHKDSK alternative software for help. A highly recommended free CHKDSK alternative software is Qiling Partition Master Free, which can free check and fix internal errors in Windows system, hard drive partitions and external storage devices.

To run a CHKDSK checking process on your storage devices or partition hard drive, download Qiling Partition Master for free and follow the steps below. This tool allows you to check and manage your storage devices and partition hard drive with ease.

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Step 1. To check the disk in Open Qiling Partition Master, select the disk you want to check from the "Disk management" page, and then click on "Surface Test". This will initiate a test to verify the disk's condition.

Step 2. Click "Proceed" button to start scaning sectors and all bad sectors will be marked as red.

Method 2. Run System Restore to fix CHKDSK command not working issue

If you're unable to run CHKDSK using the cmd command in your PC, you can try a system restore to revert the system to a previous state, which may resolve the issue. To do this, follow the guide to restore the system to a point where the problem no longer exists.

For Windows 10/8 users:

To access the System settings, follow these steps: Open the Control Panel, then click on the "System and Security" tab, and finally click on "System" from the options provided.
To access System Restore, first go to the Start menu, click on Settings, and then click on System. In the System window, scroll down and click on System Protection, and then click on System Restore.
To fix the error where CHKDSK is not working, click Next when the System Restore window appears, and then select the restore point you want to use to resolve the issue.
Confirm the restore point on the Confirm your restore point window and tap Finish.
Click Yes to start the System Restore now.

Once the System Restore process starts, it cannot be interrupted, so be sure to backup any essential personal files stored on the system drive before proceeding.

For Windows 7 users:

To access System Tools, go to Start, then click on All Programs, and finally click on Accessories, then System Tools.
Click on System Restore > Click Next.
To resolve the CHKDSK not working error, select the desired restore point from the list and click Next. This will revert the system to a previous state when the error was not present, potentially resolving the issue.
To initiate System Restore, click Finish on the Confirm your restore point window. This will begin the process of restoring the system to its previous state.

After finishing the system restore process, restart your computer to keep all changes. Then run CHKDSK to check and fix system errors or internal errors in hard drive, partition, or storage devices.

Method 3. Correct registry data to fix CHKDSK not running error

1. To open the Registry editor, press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog, type `regedit.exe`, and then press Enter. This will open the Registry editor.

2. Navigate to below location: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session ManagerHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager.

3. In the right pane, double-click on the "BootExecute" string and ensure the value data is set to 'autocheck autochk*'.

Method 4. Disable hybrid boot in Windows 10 to fix CHKDSK not working issue

If you've enabled and used the hybrid boot feature in Windows 10, the CHKDSK command may not work properly. To resolve this issue, you'll need to disable the hybrid boot feature.

1. Open the Command Prompt by typing "CMD" in the Windows search bar and hitting Enter.

2. To disable the hybrid boot feature in Windows 10, type `powercfg /h off` and press Enter.

3. To keep all changes in the Windows system, you should reboot your PC. This will allow you to use the Command Prompt (CMD) with the CHKDSK command again.

Method 5. Repair autochk.exe to fix CHKDSK not running issue

1. To access the Windows.old folder, open File Explorer, click on "This PC", and navigate to the "C:\Windows.old" directory.

2. To change the ownership of the autochk.exe file, right-click on it, select "Properties", and then modify the ownership to your account.

3. Copy the autochk.exe file to C:\Windows\System32 folder and replace it.

4. You can also try to copy the autochk.exe file from an older Windows system version to this not working PC and replace it.

5. Reboot PC to keep all changes.

What Else Can You Do When CHKDSK Does Not Work?

CHKDSK is a powerful tool to scan and fix hard drive issues, but it may not work properly sometimes. Fortunately, there are several ways to troubleshoot the problem. By learning these methods, you can resolve the issue of CHKDSK not working, whether it's due to a not working chkdsk/f or chkdsk f / r.

CHKDSK may be stuck at a certain percentage for hours, but it doesn't necessarily mean it's not working. If you've waited for hours and it's still stuck, you may need to take further action to resolve the issue.

Step 1. Run sfc /scannow to run the System File Checker.

Step 2. Execute the command Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth to repair the Windows image

Step 3. Escape and restart the CHKDSK.

Qiling Partition Master is a reliable tool that is trustworthy, powerful, fast, safe, and easy-to-use, allowing you to convert a hard disk from GPT to MBR or vice versa with simple clicks, taking less than five minutes.

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