How To Run Chkdsk On External Drive Windows 10

Learn how to run CHKDSK on an external hard drive in Windows 10.

Connecting and accessing an external hard drive in Windows 10 is pretty easy. However, sometimes users face some problems with the hard drive connected to their computers. The good thing is that almost all the drive problems are resolvable.

There are some trusted tools and methods that help you identify the cause of the drive problem and resolve it. The CHKDSK utility is one among them. This utility comes built-in with your Windows 10 computer. It will assist you in checking the drive for errors and resolving them.

Does chkdsk work on an external hard drive?

YES, of course. This utility works with both internal and external hard drives.

CHKDSK Command On External Hard Drive

Follow these step-by-step instructions to run chkdsk on external hard drive in Windows 10.

Connecting The Drive To A Computer

Connect the external hard drive (that you wish to scan using the chkdsk utility) to your computer, if it is not connected yet.

Skip to the “Accessing chkdsk” section if you have already connected the drive to your computer. Otherwise, follow these steps to connect the drive to your computer.

• Get the USB cable that is provided with your hard drive.
• Now, plug the cable from your drive’s USB port to the Windows 10 computer’s USB port. (If your EHD requires external power to turn on, connect the drive to the electrical outlet using its power cable and adapter and then turn it on).
• Once the drive is recognized by your computer, go to the next step.

Accessing CHKDSK

You can access the CHKDSK utility in two different ways.

• Manually (chkdsk repair)
• From the drive properties dialog box

Manually

• On your computer, move the mouse cursor over the Start menu in the taskbar and right-click on it.
• Choose the Windows PowerShell option.
• Alternatively, click on the Search field and type "Windows PowerShell".
• Choose the relevant option from the suggestion list and right-click on it.



• Click on the Open as Administrator option.
• Now, the Windows PowerShell app window will open.
• Here you find the “C:\WINDOWS\system32> chkdsk”.

From The Drive Properties Dialog Box

• Open the This PC window on your Windows 10 computer.
• Locate your external hard drive and right-click on it.
• Choose the Properties option from the Context menu.



• Go to the Tools menu in the Properties window.
• Click on the Check button.



• Now, you can see the Windows PowerShell app window with the “C:\WINDOWS\system32> chkdsk d:” command opened. (“d” is the drive letter).

Cmd Scan Disk Repair And Fixing The Error

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