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Original post : How to check for HDD/SSD failures - Guide for Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8, 10.
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This guide details <strong>how you can test if your hard-disk is failing or it's corrupted</strong>. You can follow these steps to check the status of your HDD for the following Windows versions: <strong>XP, Vista, 7, 8, 8.1 </strong>and<strong> 10.</strong> To test if your HDD or SSD drive has failed, use the SMART (S.M.A.R.T.) utility that's already included on the HDD/SSD drive. <strong>S.M.A.R.T.</strong> stands for Self-Monitoring, Analysis and Reporting Technology. It's a monitoring system utility already included on the HDD or SSD drive of your computer and it can gauge your computer's drive reliability. <h2>Check HDD/SSD failures with EasyRE</h2> Using the Automated Repair feature from Easy Recovery Essentials (our recovery and repair disc) you can gauge the health of your HDD/SSD in just a few clicks. The Automated Repair process will report any issues found with your HDD or RAM: [partial name="partial_easyre_hardware_testing"] <h2>Check HDD/SSD failures with wmic</h2> [setupcd] You can also run the <code>wmic</code> and <code>diskdrive</code> commands from Command Prompt to test the status of your hard-disk. To do so, follow these steps: <ol> <li>Insert the Windows installation media (DVD or USB)</li> <li>Boot from the media</li> <li>At the <em>Welcome</em> screen, click <strong>Repair your computer</strong> to access Command Prompt [caption id="attachment_2109" align="alignnone" width="393"]<img class="size-full wp-image-2109" src="/wiki/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2014/06/windows-vista-repair-your-computer.png" alt="Windows Vista Repair Your Computer Menu" width="393" height="277" /> Windows Vista Repair Your Computer Menu[/caption]</li> <li>Open <strong>Command Prompt</strong></li> <li>Type: <pre>wmic</pre> </li> <li>Press <kbd>Enter</kbd></li> <li>Type: <pre>diskdrive get status</pre> </li> <li>Press <kbd>Enter</kbd></li> <li>If <code>diskdrive get status</code> command output is <code>OK</code>, your HDD/SSD is healthy.</li> </ol> <h2>Check HDD/SSD failures with chkdsk</h2> <h3>From My Computer</h3> You can right-click on Computer to run the chkdsk utility. For Windows XP, Vista or 7, follow these steps: <ol> <li>Boot into your Windows</li> <li>Click <strong>Start</strong></li> <li>Go to <strong>Computer</strong></li> <li>Right-click on the main drive you want to check</li> <li>Click <strong>Properties</strong></li> <li>At the <em>Tools</em> tab, click <strong>Get started</strong> at the <em>Error-checking</em> section<img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-2439" src="/wiki/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2014/09/chkdsk-utility-windows-vista.jpg" alt="chkdsk in Windows Vista at My Computer" width="286" height="216" /></li> <li>Check the <strong>Automatically fix file system errors</strong> checkbox</li> <li>Click <strong>Start</strong></li> </ol> For Windows 8, follow these steps: <ol> <li>Boot into Windows 8 or Windows 8.1</li> <li>Go to <strong>Computer</strong></li> <li>Select the drive you want to check, e.g. <code>C:\</code></li> <li>Click <strong>Properties</strong></li> <li>Click <strong>Tools</strong></li> <li>Click <strong>Check</strong> at the <em>Error checking</em> section</li> <li>Click <strong>Scan Drive</strong>. Click to scan the drive regardless if you receive this message from chkdsk: <pre>You don't need to scan this drive We haven't found any errors on this drive. You can still scan the drive for errors if you want.</pre> Scan Drive</li> </ol> <h3>From installation media</h3> [setupcd] If you can't boot into your Windows version to follow the steps from <a href="#From_My_Computer">Run chkdsk from My Computer</a>, use your Windows installation media to run chkdsk directly from Command Prompt. For Windows XP computers, follow these steps: <ol> <li>Insert the Windows XP installation CD and boot from it (press any key at the "Press any key" screen)</li> <li>At the <em>Windows Options</em> screen, press <kbd>R</kbd> to open <strong>Recovery Console</strong> [caption id="attachment_1993" align="alignnone" width="636"]<img class="size-full wp-image-1993" src="/wiki/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2014/05/windows-xp-r-recovery-console.jpg" alt="Windows XP Press R for Recovery Console" width="636" height="380" /> Windows XP Press R for Recovery Console[/caption]</li> <li>When Command Prompt is open, type this command: <pre>chkdsk C: /r</pre> Replace <code>C:</code> with the letter of the drive where your Windows XP is installed on.</li> <li>Press <kbd>Enter</kbd></li> </ol> For Windows Vista or Windows 7 computers, follow these steps: <ol> <li>Insert the Windows installation media: DVD or USB</li> <li>Restart the computer and boot from the media</li> <li>At the <em>Welcome</em> screen, click <strong>Repair your computer</strong> [caption id="attachment_1505" align="alignnone" width="800"]<img class="size-full wp-image-1505" src="/wiki/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2013/10/Install-Now-Windows-7.jpg" alt="Windows 7 setup Install Now dialog, with repair your computer link" width="800" height="600" /> Install Now (Windows 7)[/caption]</li> <li>At <em>System Recovery Options</em>, click <strong>Command Prompt</strong></li> <li>When Command Prompt is open, type this command: <pre>chkdsk c: /r</pre> Replace <code>C:</code> with the letter of the drive where your Windows Vista or Windows 7 is installed.</li> <li>Press <kbd>Enter</kbd></li> </ol> For Windows 8 and Windows 10 computers, follow these steps: <ol> <li>Insert the installation media: DVD or USB</li> <li>Boot from the media by restarting your computer</li> <li>Choose your keyboard, language, time and click <strong>Next</strong></li> <li>Click <strong>Repair your computer</strong> [caption id="attachment_2111" align="alignnone" width="610"]<img class="size-full wp-image-2111" src="/wiki/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2014/06/windows-8-repair-your-computer-screen.png" alt="Windows 8 Repair Your Computer Menu" width="610" height="430" /> Windows 8 Repair Your Computer Menu[/caption]</li> <li>At <em>Choose an option</em>, click <strong>Troubleshoot</strong> [caption id="attachment_1723" align="alignnone" width="980"]<img class="size-large wp-image-1723" src="/wiki/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2014/02/windows-8-recovery-options-screen-troubleshoot-1024x687.png" alt="Troubleshoot in Windows 8 recovery options screen" width="980" height="657" /> Troubleshoot in Windows 8 recovery options screen[/caption]</li> <li>Click <strong>Advanced options</strong></li> <li>Click <strong>Command Prompt</strong></li> <li>When Command Prompt is open, type this command: <pre>chkdsk C: /f /x /r</pre> Replace <code>C:</code> with the letter of the drive where your Windows or Windows 8.1 is installed on.</li> <li>Press <kbd>Enter</kbd></li> </ol> <h2>More Information</h2> <h3>Linked Entries</h3> <ul> <li><a href="https://neosmart.net/wiki/chkdsk/">chkdsk</a></li> </ul> [partial name="partial_moreinfo" versions="xp,vista,7,8,10"]