Scandisk is
a utility that examines your file's, directory's, and the surface
of your hard disk for corruption or damage.
After an improper shut down, Scandisk often finds lost clusters
or cross-linked files. Both problems are just bookkeeping errors
in your hard disk's File Allocation Table and does not reflect
physical damage to on the disk's surface.
All files on your hard disk are broken
in to numerous small segments called clusters. Lost
clusters are simply clusters that are no longer linked to
an existing file. Unless you're afraid you might have lost
a critical file that you had open during a system failure,
you need not convert lost clusters. Just delete them.
A crossed-linked file is one that---according
to your hard disk's FAT--shares a cluster with another file.
Scandisk will offer to create two separate files, each with
it's own copy of the disputed cluster. And accepting this
offer is your best option.
If you suspect that your hard disk
is damaged, run Scandisk. To do this, click: Start*Programs*Accessories*System
Tools*Scandisk and select the Thorough option.
The utility will then perform a complete surface scan to check
for physical damage. Warning: This process can take hours,
depending on the size of your hard disk) You can expect to
generate a few bad sectors through wear and tear. But if you
constantly discover lots of new bad sectors--and if they appear
with increasing frequency--you may have a big problem. Back
up your data immediately and get your self a new hard disk. Setting the Advanced options :
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