| Microsoft ScanDisk | |
|---|---|
.png) Text-based version of Microsoft ScanDisk running onWindows 98 | |
| Other names | ScanDisk |
| Developer | Microsoft |
| Initial release | 1993; 32 years ago (1993) |
| Operating system | MS-DOS 6.2 andWindows 9x |
| Type | Utility software |
| License | Proprietarycommercial software |
Microsoft ScanDisk (also calledScanDisk) is a diagnostic utility program included inMS-DOS andWindows 9x. It checks and repairsfile systems errors on a disk drive, while the system starts.
The program was first introduced in MS-DOS 6.2[1] and succeeded its simpler predecessor,CHKDSK. It included a more user-friendly interface thanCHKDSK, more configuration options,[2][3] and the ability to detect and (if possible) recover from physical errors on the disk. This replaced and improved upon the limited ability offered by the MS-DOSrecover utility.[4] UnlikeCHKDSK, ScanDisk would also repair crosslinked files.[5]
InWindows 95 onwards, ScanDisk also had agraphical user interface, although thetext-based user interface continued to be available for use in single-tasking ("DOS") mode.[6][7]
However, ScanDisk cannot checkNTFS disk drives, and therefore it is unavailable for computers that may be runningNT based (includingWindows 2000,Windows XP, etc.) versions of Windows; for the purpose, a newerCHKDSK is provided instead.
OnUnix-like systems, there are tools likefsck_msdosfs[8] anddosfsck to do the same task.
If you are running MS-DOS 6.2 or later, run ScanDisk, instead of [~snip~]
