How to Run a Scandisk in DOS Mode

Scandisk is a hard disk repair utility available with Windows 95, Windows 98 and Windows ME that can be run from the operating system, the Command Prompt or DOS. Scandisk is a useful tool that can be used when bad sectors are reported on your hard drive. Once the utility is run, it has the ability to automatically detect and repair the bad sectors.

Instructions

Boot the computer into DOS, or open the Command Prompt. To reboot the computer into DOS, open the "Start"  menu, click "Shut Down" and select the option to restart the computer in DOS. To open the Command Prompt, open the "Start" menu, and click "Run." Type "CMD" into the Run text box, and click "OK."

Type "scandisk /checkonly" into the Command or DOS prompt, and press "Enter" if you would like to scan your entire hard drive and only receive a report of its status without making any repairs.

Type "scandisk /autofix" to run the Scandisk utility and have the utility automatically repair all detected errors without prompting. If you would like the utility to prompt you before repairing errors, type "scandisk /all."

Add the suffix "/nosave" to "/autofix" if you would like the utility to delete the erroneous sectors, rather than saving them as files. For example: "scandisk /autofix /nosave."

Add "/nosummary" after the "/checkonly" and "/autofix" modifiers if you would like the utility to refrain from producing a report of its actions upon completion. For example: "scandisk /autofix /nosummary."