Repairing hard disk errors in Windows XP has been automated to a degree, making it more effortless in case of a hard disk problem. While there are manual methods to check your hard disk for errors in Windows XP, you will not find a listing for this feature under the Start Menu.

Windows XP takes a more automated process of checking your hard disk for errors by automatically checking the disk when it is needed. The utility responsible for this called Check Disk (also referred to as chkdsk, which is also the executable command name). While a check disk can fix many issues with the file system on the hard disk, Windows XP will automatically schedule a chkdsk under certain situations where the file system may be damaged or un-usable. Some of these situations could be:

• Improper shutdown of the computer (such as a power outage) while the hard disk was in use (reading and writing)

• Corrupt data on the hard drive (due to corrupt software installations or incorrect copying methods)

While the main point of the check disk utility is to fix bad or corrupt sectors on a hard disk, this does not guarantee that it can fix all problems on a hard disk. A badly damaged hard disk sector(s) can be due to hardware related issues or simply because the hardware is old.

To run a Check Disk from My Computer, follow these steps:

1. Open My Computer.
2. Right Click on your local disk drive (default is C), and select Properties.
3. Select the Tools tab from the Local Disk (C:) Properties window.
4. Under the Error-Checking area, click the Check Now button.
5. Click the Start button. (Checkboxes are available for: Automatically fix file system errors, and Scan for and attempt recovery of bad sectors. These additional options may cause the chkdsk process to take longer.)