CHKNTFS: Displays or modifies the checking of disk at boot time.

Microsoft Windows [Version 10.0.19045.3693]
(c) Copyright 1985-2023 Microsoft Corp.

C:\\WINDOWS>

Displays or modifies the checking of disk at boot time.

CHKNTFS volume [...]
CHKNTFS /D
CHKNTFS /T[:time]
CHKNTFS /X volume [...]
CHKNTFS /C volume [...]

  volume         Specifies the drive letter (followed by a colon),
                 mount point, or volume name.
  /D             Restores the machine to the default behavior; all drives are
                 checked at boot time and chkdsk is run on those that are
                 dirty.
  /T:time        Changes the AUTOCHK initiation countdown time to the
                 specified amount of time in seconds.  If time is not
                 specified, displays the current setting.
  /X             Excludes a drive from the default boot-time check.  Excluded
                 drives are not accumulated between command invocations.
  /C             Schedules a drive to be checked at boot time; chkdsk will run
                 if the drive is dirty.

If no switches are specified, CHKNTFS will display if the specified drive is
dirty or scheduled to be checked on next reboot.

The `CHKNTFS` command in the Windows Command Prompt is used to configure automatic file system checking when the operating system boots. Here are some examples with comments: Example 1: Enable checking of all drives on next system boot:

CHKNTFS /D

Description: This command displays the current automatic scan status for all drives. If automatic scanning is disabled for a drive, it will be enabled the next time the system boots. Example 2: Disable checking of all drives on next system boot:

CHKNTFS /DC:

Description: Here the automatic check for the C: drive is deactivated. This means that this drive will not be checked the next time the system boots. Example 3: Enable scanning for a specific drive at next system boot:

CHKNTFS /XD:

Description: This command enables automatic scanning for the D: drive at the next system boot, regardless of whether it was previously disabled. Example 4: Disable scanning for all drives at next system boot:

CHKNTFS /X

Description: This command disables automatic scanning for all drives at the next system boot. Example 5: Show verification for all drives:

CHKNTFS

Description: This command displays the current automatic scan status for all drives. The `CHKNTFS` commands allow configuring automatic file system checking when the operating system boots. This can be useful to ensure that the file system is regularly checked for errors, especially if the system was not shut down properly. Note that changes to these settings usually require a system restart.

There are a few important points to note when using the `CHKNTFS` command in the Windows Command Prompt: 1. Administrator Privileges: To use `CHKNTFS`, administrator privileges are required. Make sure you open Command Prompt as an administrator to make the appropriate changes. 2. System Integrity: `CHKNTFS` affects the way the operating system handles automatic file system checking at startup. Make sure changes are made carefully so as not to jeopardize the integrity of the system. 3. Specify drives correctly: Make sure the drives are specified correctly if you want to use `CHKNTFS` with specific drives. This is important to ensure that the settings are changed for the correct drives. 4. Reboot Required: Changes to settings using `CHKNTFS` usually require a system reboot to take effect. Plan accordingly to ensure the changes are implemented. 5. Error handling: Check the return values ??and output information after using `CHKNTFS`. This will help you confirm that the desired changes have been made. 6. Use disablement carefully: Disabling automatic verification (`CHKNTFS /X`) should be done with caution. The automatic check is used to identify and resolve potential problems early. Disabling it can cause problems to go undetected, especially if the system shuts down unexpectedly. 7. Drive Monitoring: Monitor your drives regularly for possible problems, regardless of the `CHKNTFS` settings. If you notice any signs of hard drive problems, it is advisable to run a check with `CHKDSK`. 8. Use with Scripts: When using `CHKNTFS` in scripts, ensure that the script has been properly tested to run, especially if it is intended to be used on multiple systems. Note these points to ensure that the automatic file system check (`CHKNTFS`) configuration is done correctly and securely.