Scan Disk
  When to Use It  
How to Use It

When:

Scan Disk is a tool you can use when you think that your files may have been corrupted or  you suspect that your hard disk is damaged. There is no definitive time to run Scan Disk, but if you experience unexpected problems with a software application, file or folder, it could mean that information has been corrupted. It could also be an indication of a flaw in your hard disk. If you have trouble writing a file to the disk or retrieving files from the disk, try running Scan Disk. As a means of preventative maintenance we do recommend you perform a “Standard” Scan Disk once every month or two.
Please note taht Windows NT does NOT come with Scan Disk software.

How:

To run Scan Disk

• Left click on your Start button
• Go To Programs, Accessories, System Tools and left click on Scan Disk
• In the dialog box that appears, click the drive(s) you want to check.
• Determine whether you want a “Standard” or “Thorough” scan and select the appropriate one. Keep in mind a Thorough scan can take 30 minutes or more. A “Standard" scan will take only two to five minutes.
• Click on the “Advanced...” button and change the following settings:

• Click Start

Tips:

• If you want to specify how ScanDisk repairs any errors it finds, make sure the Automatically Fix Errors box is not checked.
• For Help on an item in the main ScanDisk screen, use your right mouse button to click the item, and then click the What's This? command.
• For Help on an item in the Surface Scan Options or ScanDisk Advanced Options dialog boxes, click  the “?” at the top of the dialog box, and then click the item.

Joe Huggins
Coordinator of Technology
Colorado AHEC/MAPP
Phone: (303) 724-1131
Email: joe.huggins@uchsc.edu
Fax: (303) 724-0891