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CHKDSK (Check Disk) is a utility that scans storage devices for bad sectors and file system errors. It repairs the disk structure that is damaged to improve drive functionality. The CHKDSK is used usually when the file system corruption occurs, an external hard drive becomes inaccessible, the drive becomes RAW, or when Windows asks to scan and repair the drive. Although CHKDSK is used to repair disk errors, it sometimes removes the file entries that are damaged, which causes files to disappear.
Simple Methods to Recover Files Deleted by CHKDSK
In this section, we will discuss various methods that can help users to recover files deleted by CHKDSK. Let us go through each method one step at a time.
Method 1: Check the FOUND.000 Folder for .CHK Files
The easiest method to recover files lost after CHKDSK repair is to look for FOUND.000 folder.
- Open File Explorer.
- Go to the drive(C:\D:\E:\ etc) which is affected.
- Click View > Show > Hidden Items.
- Search for folders named FOUND.000 or FOUND.001.
- Look for files that have the .chk extension.
- Rename .chk files to their original formats, like: .jpg, .docx, .mp4, .xlsx etc.
Method 2: Restore Hidden Files Using Command Prompt
One can also restore hidden files using the command prompt. Follow the steps given below to unhide files.
- Open CMD (Command Prompt) as Administrator.
- Type the command: attrib -h -r -s /s /d X:\*.* and Press Enter.
Note: Replace X with the drive letter from which you want to recover hidden files.
Method 3: Restore Files from Backup
If you have enabled File History or System Protection, you can restore lost files using the previous versions.
- Right-click the folder for which you want to restore the previous version.
- Now choose Restore Previous Versions.
- Select an available backup version.
- Now click Restore,
Recover CHKDSK Deleted Files Using a Recovery Tool
If you are not able to recover files deleted by CHKDSK by using any of the above methods, the only option left for you is to try a professional data recovery tool. BLR Data Recovery Toolkit is one such advanced data recovery solution that helps users to recover files deleted after CHKDSK scans. It is also capable of recovering permanently deleted data after formatting the drive or data deleted using the Shift+Del key. The software provides a deep scan mode for scanning a severely corrupted drive and recovering data from it. It supports recovering data from a BitLocker-encrypted drive as well. This tool works on all kinds of storage media, be it HDD, SSD, USB, Memory cards, etc.
Conclusion
As we know, CHKDSK is an important utility used to repair disk errors, but it can also cause files to disappear while repairing the file system. But files deleted by CHKDSK can be recovered using the command prompt, through backup or previous versions, hidden folder recovery, or by using professional data recovery software. If the manual methods can’t recover the deleted files, you can take help of BLR Data Recovery Toolkit, which is a renowned name in the field of data recovery for safely extracting lost or deleted files from different storage devices.
