How to Check a Hard Drive for Bad Sectors

As you use PC, its hard drive may finally developed bad sectors. Bad sectors are sections of drive that can no longer be utilized consistently and should be "worked around." When a bad sector is noticed, hard drive will no longer write data to that region of drive, helping to keep data. Windows Disk Checking utility used to scan hard drive for bad sectors and help stop data loss.

Instructions

1. Step 1

Go to "Start," and then "Computer" in Windows Vista and 7 or "My Computer" in Windows XP.

2. Step 2

Right-click hard drive, and choose "Properties."

3. Step 3

Click the "Tools" tab, and then "Check Now" button on window, below "Error-Checking." This will run Windows Disk Checking utility.

4. Step 4

Choose checkbox options "Automatically Fix File System Errors" and "Scan for and Attempt Recovery of Bad Sectors."

5. Step 5

Click "Start." You get a warning that Windows requires direct access to disk to scan and asking if you want to run the scan when you reboot PC. Click "Yes." The scan will start after you reboot PC. The whole process is automatic; no input is needed for scan to continue.