{"id":16523,"date":"2024-06-12T20:30:41","date_gmt":"2024-06-12T20:30:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.auslogics.com\/en\/articles\/?p=16523"},"modified":"2025-04-07T07:21:20","modified_gmt":"2025-04-07T07:21:20","slug":"why-does-windows-10-run-chkdsk-at-startup","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.auslogics.com\/en\/articles\/why-does-windows-10-run-chkdsk-at-startup\/","title":{"rendered":"Why Does a Windows 10 and Windows 11 PC Run CHKDSK at Startup?"},"content":{"rendered":"

You have probably realized that every time you turn on your computer, it does a disk check, something that it never used to do before. Should this be a cause for alarm? While disk scanning does not always mean harm, it is mostly trying to communicate about an underlying problem.<\/p>\n

This used to be an issue in Windows 10. However, many users are also experiencing it in Windows 11. As it turns out, your operating system may be detecting possible issues with your drive that it needs to check to confirm that everything is alright.<\/p>\n

What Is Chkdsk.exe?<\/h2>\n

This is pronounced as \u201ccheck disk,\u201d and it is basically a command that checks drives. It works by displaying the status report of the disk and can even fix the issues found. However, to use this tool, your computer should have Autochk.exe in its system.<\/p>\n

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The computer\u2019s hard disk stores all the files in folders. Also, it contains some security information on who can access those files.<\/p>\n

The hard disk carries so much information, and CHKDSK\u2019s work is to ensure that all the information about the folders, data, and security status is correct. Unfortunately, an error might occur when the computer shuts down abruptly or when you eject or remove a USB device unsafely. It could also be a result of hardware issues or malware.<\/p>\n

These problems are reflected in the hard disk\u2019s administrative information, thus forcing the CHKDSK command to run in order to detect and fix those issues.<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\n

The CHKDSK command scans the hard disk and fixes any file issues on the drive. There is a range of possible reasons why the Check Disk command is triggered, some of which include:<\/p>\n

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\r\n \"IMG\"\r\n <\/div>\r\n
What Triggers Chkdsk.exe?<\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n
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Incorrect shutdowns<\/strong><\/h3>\n

The primary trigger of the check disk process is if the system shuts down inappropriately. You are supposed to switch off the computer via the Start menu and give it time to shut down completely.<\/p>\n

If the computer goes off abruptly or if you shut it down by pressing the Start button, you are likely to experience data losses and file system issues that force it to go through a check disk routine when booting.<\/p>\n

Also, you should not make the mistake of shutting the computer down by unplugging it from the power supply. The Check Disk command is triggered to check if the hard disk is okay after undergoing the improper shutdown. This could also happen if you experience a power failure.<\/p>\n

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Also read:<\/strong> Shutting down a PC when the Windows 10\/11 update is under progress<\/a><\/p>\n

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A malware attack<\/strong><\/h3>\n

A check disk scan could also be an indication that your computer is under a malware attack<\/a>, which might include viruses and other foreign programs that undermine the file system\u2019s functionality.<\/p>\n

You probably opened an unsecured link that threatened the safety of the computer system, and this triggers the Check Disk utility to run to ensure that there are no threats.<\/p>\n

The best way to avoid this is by ensuring that you have a quality antivirus program installed at all times.<\/p>\n

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Also read:<\/strong> How to Prevent Malware: Lock Down Your Online Safety<\/a><\/p>\n

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Hard drive issues<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Chances are that some problems with the drive have been detected. This is the leading cause of Windows 10 running CHKDSK every time you turn your PC on. It does so to check for any file system issues, like bad sectors<\/a> that put the entire computer system at risk and could even result in hard drive failure.<\/p>\n

It is recommended that you give the program time to run, hoping that it will fix the problem. It will indicate if it finds any issues and show how they should be solved. The report is in Check Disk\u2019s log file, which you can access by going to the Start menu and then typing \u201cevent viewer<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n

Click on it and select the application. You will find comprehensive information on any found issues, and you can also do that by checking the system logs for any sources listed as the cause of the underlying problems. If you notice that the Check Disk utility keeps running after every startup, it means that the hard drive is failing, and that should cause alarm.<\/p>\n

How to \u0421ancel Check Disk in Windows 10<\/h2>\n

The Check Disk command is handy as it continually checks for bugs and failures in the computer system, but you do not need it to run every time after starting the computer.<\/p>\n

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If you have enabled the command, it is easier to stop it since you only need to click on any key to skip this step. You will have about 8 seconds to quickly skip checking, after which the process will automatically run.<\/p>\n

The issues come in when you have a scheduled disk check and have no time to wait for the process to finish running. In such scenarios, you have no choice but to cancel the disk check.<\/p>\n

Before doing so, you should determine if any of the drives have a scheduled check so you can cancel it by pressing skip on the next reboot.<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\n

That said, there are steps you can take to prevent the utility from running at startup. You don\u2019t have to wait to hit a key to skip the automatic check desk routine whenever you turn on or restart your PC.<\/p>\n

You can edit your system registry on Windows 10 or Windows 11 or use a command in the Command Prompt. We\u2019ll walk you through both steps.<\/p>\n

Using the system registry<\/h3>\n

The system registry controls many different processes in Windows. Whether you\u2019re running Windows 10 or 11, the process is pretty much the same, and you have to be careful about how you adjust settings in the registry. That\u2019s because one wrong turn or adjustment could cause severe damage to your operating system.<\/p>\n

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Warning!<\/div>\r\n\t
It\u2019s advisable that you create a backup of the entire registry before attempting to run this fix. This way, if you make a mistake, you can roll back the changes and undo the damage.<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\n

That said, you should look for an expert to handle this if you\u2019re uncomfortable using the Registry Editor or don\u2019t know how to navigate it.<\/p>\n

Follow these steps to back up the registry in Windows 11 and Windows 10:<\/p>\n