author avatar
27 August 2024  Amanda J. Brook  Senior Product Manager
 

Summary
The Found.000 folder on Windows systems is created during a disk check process when the system detects file system corruption. This folder contains files with a .CHK extension, which are fragments of corrupted files that Windows attempted to recover. While the folder itself is generally safe to delete, understanding its purpose can be important for data recovery. The article also provides guidance on how to make the folder visible in the file explorer and manage its contents.



Table of contents

table iconShould You Delete the Found.000 Folder?
table iconHow to Recover Data from the Found.000 Folder
table iconRecovering Deleted Files with Renee Undeleter If files Not Found in Found.000
table iconSummary
If you have ever encountered a folder named Found.000 on your Windows system, you might wonder what it is and how it got there. This folder is created by Windows during a disk check process, typically when the system detects file system corruption. It contains files with a .CHK extension, which are fragments of corrupted files that Windows attempted to recover. Understanding and managing this folder can be crucial for data recovery.
Found.000 Folder on Windows

Should You Delete the Found.000 Folder?

Since the folder is created by the “Chkdisk” function, it has no obvious purpose, so you can safely delete the content or even the entire folder.
In fact, the Found.000 directory is hidden. You need to configure Windows settings to display and access it.

How to Recover Data from the Found.000 Folder

To locate the Found.000 folder, you need to make it visible in your file explorer. Start by opening the file explorer, then click on the three-dot icon at the top and select “Options.” In the Folder Options window, open the View tab and scroll down to the option that says “Hide protected operating system files.” Uncheck this option, click “Yes” when prompted, and then click “Apply” and “OK.” This will make the Found.000 folder visible on your main drive.
Show Hidden And Protected Files And Folders In Windows 11/10
Once the folder is visible, you might notice that you cannot open it directly. To gain access, right-click on the folder and select “Properties“. Go to the Security tab and click on “Advanced“. Under the Permissions tab, click “Continue“,  then enable inheritance by clicking “Enable inheritance“. Apply the changes by clicking “Apply” and “OK,” and then click “OK” again.
folder properties
Enable inheritance
You should now have access to the folder. Inside the Found.000 folder, you will find files with the .CHK extension. These files are pieces of corrupted files that Windows has attempted to recover. To convert these .CHK files back to their original formats, you can use a small program called deCHK designed for this purpose. Download the program deCHK from a trusted website, extract it, and open it. Choose the English language for ease of use.
Found.000 Folder on Windows
Tips: deCHK is a free program designed to recover or repair CHK files on Windows operating systems. CHK files are typically created by Windows utilities like CHKDSK or Scandisk when they recover corrupted files. These files are often stored in a folder named Found.000 and have a .CHK extension. deCHK helps identify and restore these files to their original formats, making it easier to access the recovered data.
Next, specify the folder where the .CHK files are located and the destination folder where the converted files will be saved. You have the option to either copy or move the files; it is recommended to copy them to avoid any potential data loss during the conversion process. Finally, click “Go” to start the conversion. The program will process the .CHK files and restore them to their original formats.
deCHK
For those interested in maintaining their hard drive’s health, it is advisable to regularly check the drive for errors and perform routine maintenance. This can prevent future occurrences of file system corruption and the creation of Found.000 folders.

Recovering Deleted Files with Renee Undeleter If files Not Found in Found.000

If you are looking for a professional tool to recover lost or deleted files, consider using Renee Undeleter. It is a user-friendly and comprehensive tool that offers a high success rate for file recovery.
Step 1: Download, install, and run Renee Undeleter on your Windows computer.
Renee Undeleter - Powerful Data Recovery SoftwareRenee Undeleter data Recovery software

Easy to use Only simple steps to recover data from storage devices.

Multiple scan modes Fast partition scan, whole partition scan and whole disk scan for different recovery needs.

File types Support to recover pictures, videos, audios, documents, mails, etc.

Supported storage devices Recover data from recycle bin, SD card, external disk, etc.

Supported systems Windows 10, 8.1, 8, 7, Vista, XP, 2000 and Mac OS X10.6, 10.7, 10.8.

Easy to use Only simple steps to recover data from storage devices.

Multiple scan modes - 3 scan modes for different recovery needs.

Supported storage devices Recover data from recycle bin, SD card, external disk, etc.

Free TrialFree TrialFree Trial

3000 users have downloaded Renee Undeleter and found data back!

Step 2: Select the [Fast Partition Scan] option in the main interface.
Tips: Please avoid installing the software on the disk containing the data to be recovered in order to prevent data overwriting. Also, refrain from saving new data to the same disk partition after a file is lost to avoid further damage or complete loss of the lost file.
Renee Undeleter, select Fast Partition Scan
Step 3: Next, select the partition where the lost data is located, and click [Next].
select partition to scan for fast partition scan
Step 4: Select the [Fast Scan] option and click the [Next] button to scan. The [Fast Scan] mode scans the initial 30GB of available space on the chosen disk. If desired files are not found, the [Deep Scan] mode can be used for a thorough scan of the hard disk partition, though it will require additional time.
Select Fast scan in Fast Partition Scan
Step 5: Wait for the scan to complete. You can double-click the file to preview, then check the files that need to be recovered, and click the [Recover] button to recover the files to other disks.
preview before recovery
Tips: Please select a disk without any important data when installing the software to avoid overwriting it. If the quick scan mode doesn’t find the necessary files, we suggest trying the deep scan mode for a full search. Using a professional software like Renee Undeleter can greatly increase your chances of successful file recovery. It is important to note that the longer you wait to use this method, the lower your chances of successful recovery become.

Summary

Understanding the Found.000 folder and its contents can be crucial for data recovery on Windows systems. While it is safe to delete this folder, knowing how to recover data from it using tools like deCHK can help you restore important files. Regular maintenance and error-checking can prevent the creation of such folders in the future, ensuring the health and integrity of your hard drive.
Renee Undeleter - Powerful Data Recovery SoftwareRenee Undeleter data Recovery software

Easy to use Only simple steps to recover data from storage devices.

Multiple scan modes Fast partition scan, whole partition scan and whole disk scan for different recovery needs.

File types Support to recover pictures, videos, audios, documents, mails, etc.

Supported storage devices Recover data from recycle bin, SD card, external disk, etc.

Supported systems Windows 10, 8.1, 8, 7, Vista, XP, 2000 and Mac OS X10.6, 10.7, 10.8.

Easy to use Only simple steps to recover data from storage devices.

Multiple scan modes - 3 scan modes for different recovery needs.

Supported storage devices Recover data from recycle bin, SD card, external disk, etc.

Free TrialFree TrialFree Trial

3000 users have downloaded Renee Undeleter and found data back!