Can chkdsk recover deleted files?

No. chkdsk repairs file system structure; it isn't a file recovery tool. For deleted or lost files, use dedicated file recovery software instead.

What if chkdsk says it can't lock the drive?

This happens when files on the volume are actively in use. Schedule the scan for next restart when prompted, or close all programs using that drive.

Is it normal for chkdsk to find the same errors repeatedly?

No — recurring errors after repeated repairs usually point to failing hardware, not a file system issue chkdsk can permanently fix.

How to Repair a Corrupted Drive with CHKDSK

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A corrupted drive can show up as files that won't open, folders that appear empty, or Windows prompting you to 'scan and fix' a drive. CHKDSK is usually the first tool to try.

Updated August 9, 2026 · PC Utility Hub Editorial Team

Before you start: back up if possible

If you can't access files normally, consider running a file recovery tool first, before repair, since recovery software reads the drive rather than repairing its structure.

Warning: If the drive contains important data and you suspect physical damage (clicking noises, drive not detected reliably), copy off what you can before running any repair scan. chkdsk /r can make unrecoverable sectors permanently inaccessible, and in rare cases a repair pass on a failing drive can worsen corruption.

Step-by-step repair

1Open an elevated Command Prompt.
2Run chkdsk C: (no switches) first to see a read-only summary of errors without changing anything.
3If errors are reported, run chkdsk C: /f /r to repair the file system and scan for bad sectors.
4Restart if prompted, and let the boot-time scan run to completion — this can take hours on large or heavily corrupted drives.
5After reboot, check Event Viewer (source Wininit) for the summary of what was repaired.

If chkdsk reports 'file system type is RAW'

chkdsk cannot repair a drive Windows sees as RAW because there's no recognized file system to check. This usually indicates severe corruption of the partition's file system metadata. In this case, try a file recovery tool to pull data off before reformatting, since chkdsk offers no fix here.

If chkdsk gets stuck or won't complete

A scan that appears frozen for a very long time on a large or heavily fragmented drive may just be slow, particularly during Stage 4/5 with /r. Give it substantial time before assuming it's hung. For persistent stalls, see the dedicated troubleshooting guide.

After the repair

Once chkdsk completes, verify affected files open correctly. If chkdsk repeatedly finds new errors on the same drive across multiple scans, that's a sign of a failing physical disk rather than a one-off corruption event — back up and plan to replace it.

Frequently asked questions

Can chkdsk recover deleted files?: No. chkdsk repairs file system structure; it isn't a file recovery tool. For deleted or lost files, use dedicated file recovery software instead.
What if chkdsk says it can't lock the drive?: This happens when files on the volume are actively in use. Schedule the scan for next restart when prompted, or close all programs using that drive.
Is it normal for chkdsk to find the same errors repeatedly?: No — recurring errors after repeated repairs usually point to failing hardware, not a file system issue chkdsk can permanently fix.