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13 March 2024  John Weaver  Senior Program Developer
 

Summary
Learn practical solutions for the common issue of Chkdsk getting stuck during disk repairs and find data recovery methods for lost files in this article.



Table of contents

table iconI. The reason why Chkdsk is stuck
table iconII. How to solve Chkdsk stuck?
table iconIII. Recover lost data with Renee Undeleter
chkdsk stuck

I. The reason why Chkdsk is stuck

Chkdsk, a Windows utility, scans and fixes file system issues and bad sectors on a hard drive, improving computer performance when disk problems are detected.
Chkdsk may become unresponsive due to excessive file fragmentation, a corrupted hard disk file system, or disk bad sectors causing the check to halt. Understanding these reasons allows us to explore solutions to the issue.

II. How to solve Chkdsk stuck?

1. Wait patiently for Chkdsk to complete

Running a chkdsk scan can take a significant amount of time, which is greatly influenced by the size of the disk and the extent of file corruption. It’s crucial to wait patiently for the scan to complete. However, if the process takes longer than 24 hours, you might want to look into the following solutions.

2. Perform disk defragmentation

Extended use of a hard drive increases its fragmentation. Disk defragmentation consolidates fragmented files, enhancing their organization, reducing read times, and boosting hard disk performance. This also expedites the Chkdsk process. However, in cases of accidental deletion or data loss, it is advisable to promptly use data recovery software to scan and retrieve the data before it is irretrievably overwritten or corrupted.
Step 1: Reboot your computer and press Esc to bypass the Chkdsk on startup. Then, navigate to This PC, right-click on the desired drive, and select Properties.
Step 2: Select (Tools), and then click (Optimize) from the “Optimize and defrag drive” below.
optimize and defragment drive
Step 3: Select the hard disk you intend to defragment and click “Optimize”. It’s important to note that defragmentation is generally reserved for HDDs. For SSDs, Windows 8 and Windows 10 carry out a process known as trimming instead.
optimize drives on Windows 10

3. Run SFC and DISM scans

To resolve Chkdsk getting stuck, run the System File Checker (SFC) to find and fix corrupt or missing files in the system files directory, which can also repair registry issues. Additionally, use the Deployment Image Servicing and Management (DISM) tool to check and repair system image files, as well as to detect and clean registry entries. Follow these steps to perform the scans:
Step 1: Restart your computer, pressing Esc to prevent Chkdsk from automatically running. Use the search box in the bottom left corner to find cmd, right-click it, and choose Run as administrator to open an elevated Command Prompt.
run as administrator
Step 2: Open the command prompt, type SFC /scannow, and press Enter. After the scan finishes, reboot your PC. Press Esc to prevent Chkdsk from starting during boot if necessary.
Type SFC /scannow
Step 3: Search for “cmd“, right-click it, and select Run as administrator to open the Command Prompt. Type in DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth and press Enter. After the command finishes, re-execute Chkdsk to verify if the scan concludes successfully.
Type DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
Several methods to resolve a stuck Chkdsk are outlined above. Should you lose critical files for any reason during computer use, the third section below offers guidance on data recovery. Let’s proceed with the learning.

III. Recover lost data with Renee Undeleter

1. What is Renee Undeleter?

Renee Undeleter is specifically crafted for data restoration. It’s your go-to solution for retrieving files after accidental deletion, recycle bin clearance, or disk formatting. Featuring four key modules – Fast Partition Scan, Whole Partition Scan, Whole Disk Scan, and Image Creation – it offers comprehensive assistance for various data loss scenarios encountered during system operation, ensuring convenience and efficiency.
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2. How to recover lost files with Renee Undeleter?

Step 1: Download and install Renee Undeleter. Launch the program and select the “Fast Partition Scan” option from the main menu.
Note: Do not install on the disk from which you intend to recover data to prevent data overwriting. Use Fast Partition Scan for recently deleted files on built-in disks; for formatted disks, long-time deleted files, or external disk data recovery, opt for the (Whole Partition Scan) or (Whole Disk Scan) function.
fast partition scan with Renee Undeleter
Data Recovery Features:

  • Fast Partition Scan – Quickly retrieve files lost due to accidental deletion or emptying the recycle bin.
  • Whole Partition Scan – Quickly recover files lost due to inaccessible or formatted partitions.
  • Whole Disk Scan – Analyze and get partition information and perform a full scan of the entire partition.
  • Image Creation – You can create a mirror image for a partition to back up the current partition state.
Step 2: Select the partition where data loss occurred and click Next to begin the scanning procedure. Patience is required during this process until completion.
scan disk with Renee Undeleter
Step 3: Select Fast Scan and click Next to begin the scan, covering the initial 30GB of the chosen disk’s free space. Should the file remain undiscovered, switch to Deep Scan for a comprehensive examination. This process is more time-consuming; your patience is appreciated.
fast scan lost data
Step 4: Once the scan is complete, preview the file by double-clicking it. Choose the file you wish to restore and click the Recover button to save it to an alternate disk.
recover files with Renee Undeleter