How to Repair a Hard Drive in Windows 8 Using Command Prompt

Here’s how to use Command Prompt to repair your hard drive in Windows 8:

Log into Windows 8/8.1
If your system is able to boot up normally, log into your Windows 8 or 8.1 account.
Open Command Prompt as an Administrator
Press the Windows and C key to open the Charm bar.
Select Search.
Type-in cmd.
Right-click on Command Prompt from the search results list.
Click Run as administrator.
Log in as an Administrator when prompted.
Run CHKDSK Commands
When Command Prompt launches, type the following command and press Enter:
chkdsk C: /f /r /x
Replace “C” with the drive letter of the partition you want to scan and repair if it’s different.
The chkdsk command with these switches will:
/f: Fix errors on the drive
/r: Locate and recover bad sectors
/x: Force the volume to dismount first if necessary

Repairing from Installation Media

If your system is unable to boot up normally, you can run CHKDSK from the Windows 8 installation media:
Insert your Windows 8 installation media (DVD or USB drive).
Boot your system from the installation media.
At the Install Windows screen, press Shift F10 to open Command Prompt.
Type diskpart and press Enter.
In diskpart, type list volume to list all available volumes.
Type exit to exit diskpart.
Type chkdsk D: /f /r /x (replace “D” with the appropriate drive letter).
Press Enter to start the CHKDSK scan and repair process.

Understanding CHKDSK Output

As CHKDSK scans and repairs your drive, it will display information about the process. Here’s what some common messages mean:
“Volume needs to be dismounted for this operation to succeed.” – The drive is currently in use and needs to be dismounted before CHKDSK can proceed. The /x switch will force this.
“Correcting errors in the volume bitmap.” – CHKDSK is fixing errors in the file system metadata that tracks which clusters are in use.
“Correcting errors in index $I30 for file 0xXXXXXXXX.” – CHKDSK is repairing errors in the index of a specific file.
“Correcting errors in the security descriptor index.” – CHKDSK is fixing errors in the file system metadata that tracks file permissions.
If CHKDSK finds unrecoverable errors or bad sectors, it will mark those areas as unusable to prevent further data loss. In some cases, this may result in the loss of some files or folders.

Scheduling CHKDSK at Next Boot

If CHKDSK is unable to scan and repair a drive due to it being in use, you can schedule it to run at the next system boot:
Type chkdsk C: /f /r /x /b (replace “C” with the appropriate drive letter)
Press Enter
When prompted, type Y to schedule the scan for the next boot
The system will run CHKDSK automatically the next time it starts up, before loading Windows. This can be useful if you suspect issues with the boot process or system files.

Preventing Future Hard Drive Issues

While CHKDSK can be a helpful tool for repairing existing issues with your hard drive, it’s important to take steps to prevent future problems:
Regularly back up your important data to an external drive or cloud storage
Use a good antivirus program to detect and remove malware that could corrupt files
Avoid defragmenting solid-state drives (SSDs), as this can shorten their lifespan
Consider upgrading to a larger, faster drive if your current one is getting full or showing signs of age
By taking these precautions and using tools like CHKDSK when needed, you can help ensure the long-term health and reliability of your hard drive in Windows 8 and 8.1.