Check Disk - Reset

How to Reset Check Disk to Not Run at Startup​

   Information

This will show you how to reset Check Disk or chkdsk back to it's default state of not running at the next startup. This can be handy if you had scheduled disk check to run on the next startup and changed your mind, or Check Disk will not stop running at startup.

See also: The Chkdsk.exe program does not start correctly on a Windows 7-based computer

   Warning

You must be logged in as an administrator to be able to do the steps in this tutorial.

OPTION ONE

Reset chkdsk using an Elevated Command Prompt

1. Open an elevated command prompt.

2. To Check to See if a Disk Check is Scheduled for a Drive
A) In the elevated command prompt, type the command below and press Enter. (see screenshots below)
NOTE: Substitute C: in the command below with the drive letter of the drive you wanted to check instead.
chkntfs c:

If scheduled to run chkdsk at next startup, you will see this:


If not scheduled, you will see this:

3. To Cancel a Scheduled Disk Check for a Drive
A) In the elevated command prompt, type the command below and press Enter. (see screenshot below)
NOTE: Substitute C: in the command below with the drive letter of the drive you wanted to cancel the scheduled disk check to run at the next startup for instead.
chkntfs /x c:


4. When finished, close the elevated command prompt.

OPTION TWO

Reset chkdsk using a REG File Download

1. Click on the download button below to download the file below.
Reset_Chkdsk.reg

Download


2. Save the REG file to your desktop.

3. Right click on the downloaded REG file and click on Merge.

4. When prompted, click on Run, Yes, Yes, and OK to approve the merge.

5. You can now delete the downloaded REG file if you would like to.

OPTION THREE

Reset chkdsk using Registry Editor

1. Open the Start Menu, then type regedit in the search box and press enter.

2. If prompted by UAC, then click on Yes or enter the administrator's password.

3. In regedit, navigate to the location below. (see screenshots below)
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager




4. In the right pane, right click on BootExecute and click on Modify. (see screenshots above)

5. Copy and paste either command below, and click on OK. (See screenshot below)
(Default do not run)
autocheck autochk *

OR

(Disable chkdsk for C: drive)
autocheck autochk /k:C *

6. The registry will now look like this. (see screenshot below)

7. Close regedit.
That's it,
Shawn

Related Tutorials

---

• How to Run Disk Check in Windows 7
• How to Change the AUTOCHK Initiation Countdown Time in Windows 7
• How to Read the Event Viewer Log for Check Disk (chkdsk) in Windows

 

[Rose1]

I have HKEY LOCAL MACHINE, but the rest I don't have.

 

[Dinesh]

I have HKEY LOCAL MACHINE, but the rest I don't have.

Hi Rose, that isn't possible. Look again. I can see This registry path even on a Windows XP computer.

BTW, this tutorial works with XP as well.

 

[Brink]

Hello Rose,

You can use OPTION ONE to use the download to have this (OPTION TWO) done automatically for you.

 

[need4steer]

Thanks a lot for another great tutorial.

 

[Mual]

Thanks Brink, I have downloaded the reg file and use it, I don't know if next time I restart my computer will there be any auto checking on my E: drive or not, because it stuck at "Windows Is Starting" for about 5-10 minutes and only start disk check itself! But when I'm log on to Windows and I click on "My Computer", the E: drive is not accessable!

 

[Brink]

Hello Mual,

There may be an issue with your E: drive. Depending on what brand the HDD is, you might run correct program below to scan the HDD with to see if it may be failing or dead.

Seagate (SeaTools) SeaTools | Seagate
NOTE: Click on "Downloads" there.

OR

Western Digital (Data Lifeguard Dagnostic): WD Support / Downloads / SATA & SAS / WD Green / GP

 

[Mual]

Hello Brink, if it is dead, or either is failling, there is no way to save the hard disk already?
I'll download and dignose soon

 

[Brink]

If it's dead, then no. However, let's see what the results say. Fingers crossed.

 

[Mual]

If it's dead, then no. However, let's see what the results say. Fingers crossed.

Sorry, is late right now, I'm gonna take a rest, tomorrow I'll give a feedback, thanks for providing the link

I check on all the Seagate drive already, and it pass SMART test, but which fix or scan should I apply to fix the bad sector? From the basic tests tab, there are a few option there. I used the SMART test, other I not sure. Can you guide me?
And what does it mean the SeaTools will fail the drive if not success repairing the bad sector? Means the tools might damage the hard disk?

 

[Brink]

If it's dead, then no. However, let's see what the results say. Fingers crossed.

Sorry, is late right now, I'm gonna take a rest, tomorrow I'll give a feedback, thanks for providing the link

I check on all the Seagate drive already, and it pass SMART test, but which fix or scan should I apply to fix the bad sector? From the basic tests tab, there are a few option there. I used the SMART test, other I not sure. Can you guide me?
And what does it mean the SeaTools will fail the drive if not success repairing the bad sector? Means the tools might damage the hard disk?

You're welcome.

Only the E: drive, but it depends on what brand the HDD is that you need to scan for what "for Windows" version of the program to use. From your specs, either Seagate or Western Digital.

 

[Mual]

You're welcome.

Only the E: drive, but it depends on what brand the HDD is that you need to scan for what "for Windows" version of the program to use. From your specs, either Seagate or Western Digital.

I have test and the result is :

Test Option: EXTENDED TEST 
Model Number: WDC WD15EARS-00Z5B1 
Unit Serial Number: WD-WMAVU2142358 
Firmware Number: 80.00A80 
Capacity: 1500.30 GB 
SMART Status: PASS 
Test Result: FAIL 
Test Error Code: 08-Too many bad sectors detected. 
Test Time: 01:23:07, October 04, 2012

So do you think that drive is dead or failing badly? And the previous post might have some info I provided, please check, thanks

 

[Brink]

The HDD failed the test and has to many bad sectors on it. With that and not be able to access it, I'm afraid the HDD is dead. R.I.P.

 

[Mual]

The HDD failed the test and has to many bad sectors on it. With that and not be able to access it, I'm afraid the HDD is dead. R.I.P.

I still able to access it sometime, but randomly it will be slow down and cannot be use. So there is no way to backup the files?

 

[Brink]

Not unless you are able to copy the files off of it to another location when able to access it.

I suppose that you could try and use a free program like Recuva on it to try and recovery anything from the HDD, but I wouldn't get your hopes up.

 

[Mual]

Not unless you are able to copy the files off of it to another location when able to access it.

I suppose that you could try and use a free program like Recuva on it to try and recovery anything from the HDD, but I wouldn't get your hopes up.

I think I'm still able to copy the files... but might took a very long time since the speed is slow on the E: drive now. I'll try to copy if can, gonna get this hard disk to the guy who install on my computer.

So if I'm still can copy, which mean I'm still have chance to save my hard disk?

 

[Brink]

You may have a chance to save the data on the HDD before it fails, but the HDD is on it's way to being completely dead and inoperable.

 

[Night Hawk]

If you hear any clicking sounds at all coming from the drive that will mean the armature that holds the read/write heads is worn and slapping up against the spindle. Grabbing anything you can now will likely prove the last chance unless later taking the drive to a professional data recovery service to grab data off the drive's platters directly for a price!

Besides Recuva best used on drives in working order there are a large number of partition recovery programs usually trials to try out to grab what you can from it before it quits entirely. The main problem faced with that type of recovery program however is files are too often renamed by number! if you are able to recover a large number of them.

Meanwhile I have to wonder if there a way to create a desktop shortcut with the chkntfs /x command applied in some way rather then opening a command prompt for a fast cancel? Most of the time shortcuts go direct to a file on the drive. But i had to wonder about a shortcut with a scripted command somewhat on the idea of a tiny batch file in a sense.

 

[Mual]

You may have a chance to save the data on the HDD before it fails, but the HDD is on it's way to being completely dead and inoperable.

I understand what you saying now, I'm will go get a new HDD, also a same model too because I have warranty still available on this damaged HDD. Gonna copy all files to there before that HDD fails to work.

If you hear any clicking sounds at all coming from the drive that will mean the armature that holds the read/write heads is worn and slapping up against the spindle. Grabbing anything you can now will likely prove the last chance unless later taking the drive to a professional data recovery service to grab data off the drive's platters directly for a price!

Besides Recuva best used on drives in working order there are a large number of partition recovery programs usually trials to try out to grab what you can from it before it quits entirely. The main problem faced with that type of recovery program however is files are too often renamed by number! if you are able to recover a large number of them.

Meanwhile I have to wonder if there a way to create a desktop shortcut with the chkntfs /x command applied in some way rather then opening a command prompt for a fast cancel? Most of the time shortcuts go direct to a file on the drive. But i had to wonder about a shortcut with a scripted command somewhat on the idea of a tiny batch file in a sense.

There is no sound at all, I took off the cover of my CPU, no sound was coming from the HDD, just unable to access it. Now I manage to access it as I mentioned before, and copying some data that I need.

Will taking the drive to a professional data recovery service to grab data off the drive's platters be expensive?

Recuva seems very complicated to me, ha ha
I don't know about the shorcut things you mentioned

 

[Night Hawk]

Data recovery services will charge! For most it will depend on how important the data is compared to what a service will charge. For things you can download again most would say "no way!" For family photos and other unreplaceable things then you have to decide to pay out to see what they can recover for you.

The alternative methods here may cost a blank disk or two when making a comparison to what a service will charge and why most will be a "do it themselfer" and try to recovery things on their own.

As for Recuva that can be a rather limited file recovery program while Windows is up and running while others work when booting live from disk for recoverying entire partitions. Another option not mentioned so far goes a bit further in using another OS entirely which you rescue files from a drive while booting live from a disk or even a usb flash drive. Recover files from Windows hard disk using Puppy Linux | help.artaro.eu

Ubuntu live cd, Knoppix Live on dvd(at one time small and on cd), Linux Mint live, Linux Mint Debiar live, etc. are able to read, write, copy to and copy from MS volumes. For the effort of download and burn to disk or seeing an iso image written to a flash drive made bootable to boot live from you can grab files manually to save to another drive.

The professional services on the other hand are usually sought once a drive has failed completely and can no longer be written to or not even allowing you to see anything let alone copy files from. The serivce will open a drive up under controlled circumstances to read from the platters directly for the fee they charge. You simply provide the blank media or spare drive they recover files to.