[4 Solutions] How to Recover Files Deleted by CHKDSK

Will CHKDSK delete my files?

CHKDSK (Check Disk) is a built-in tool in Windows, commonly used to detect and fix disk errors. It can maintain disk health and ensure data integrity by checking and repairing file system errors, bad sectors, and file structures.

However, many users might encounter a situation where their crucial files were deleted after using CHKDSK. Will CHKDSK delete my files? In reality, CHKDSK deleting files can happen occasionally. When executed, CHKDSK will detect and repair the logical errors by scanning the file system. Once there is any error, it attempts to figure it out, which may cause corrupted files to disappear. Additionally, CHKDSK also tries to fix the data on bad sectors. If it fails to repair the data, CHKDSK will mark these sectors as unavailable, leading to data loss.  

Can we recover files deleted by CHKDSK?

Yes, it is possible to recover files deleted by CHKDSK.

Fortunately, when files are deleted, they are not immediately removed from your storage device. Instead, the space previously occupied by these files is simply marked as available for new data. We can recover the deleted files before they are overwritten. The sooner you take measures, the more likely they are to be restored.

4 solutions to recover files deleted by CHKDSK

CHKDSK is a tool for checking and fixing errors in the file system, but it cannot support recovering deleted files. Even so, we can adopt appropriate solutions or select suitable tools to recover files deleted by CHKDSK. In this section, four easy and useful methods will be provided.

Recover deleted files from the FOUND.000 folder

When you find that CHKDSK has deleted your files, the first step is to check your FOUND.000 folder. This system folder stores the fragmented files recovered by CHKDSK during its operational process, offering a storage space for recovered data and helping users find their files unintentionally deleted.

If you want to try this method to recover files deleted by CHKDSK, please follow the next steps.

Step 1: Open your File Explorer.

Step 2: Select View on the top toolbar and check Hidden items to see the hidden folders.

Step 3: Click the folder named FOUND.000, and your losing files are stored here with .chk extensions.

Step 4: You can get them back by changing their extension to the original one.

While this method provides us with an opportunity to recover files deleted by CHKDSK, there are some potential issues to be aware of: ◆ Change the extensions manually can be tedious and may lead to file content not matching the extensions. ◆ Files that are not well preserved or are significantly damaged may be difficult to open, even after changing their extensions. ◆ Not all files deleted by CHKDSK will be stored in this folder.

Recover files deleted by CHKDSK with software

To better get our lost files back, one of the most effective solutions is recovering them using software. This solution not only the simplifies recovery process, but also maximizes the odds of success. There are numerous recovery products on the market, but I strongly recommend AOMEI FastRecovery. As a professional recovery expert, AOMEI FastRecovery allows users to  retrieve various types of deleted or corrupted files from multiple storage devices, including PCs, USB drives, SD cards, and more, with ease. Whether you have experience using it or not, the intuitive interface will guide you through a smooth recovery process.

Here is how you can use AOMEI FastRecovery to recover files deleted by CHKDSK:

Step 1: Download and install AOMEI FastRecovery, and then choose the exact partition or disk where your files are located.

Step 2: Scan your disk to find the deleted files. 

It offers two modes, Quick Scan and Deep Scan, supporting thoroughly scanning your storage devices for finding lost data.

Step 3: After scanning, all missing files will be displayed. Kindly choose the specific files and then click Recover.

Step 4: Specify a path for the file and wait for the process to complete.

★Several Using Tips:

Preview your files before restoring them, avoiding making the wrong choice.

Recovering a file during the scan is available if it appears on the interface.

Choose a new location to save recoverable files to prevent data from being overwritten.

Recover deleted files via File History

In addition to using software, recovering files deleted by CHKDSK via File History is also a viable way. File History (available in Windows 8 and later versions) is a practical feature on Windows that aims to help users back up files regularly and offer recovery service when the files are deleted by accident. It allows us to store multiple versions of files with just a few setup steps, offering a flexible recovery option. If you have enabled File History in advance, follow the steps below to get your missing files back:

Step 1: Go to the Control Panel, and select System and Security > File History in turn.

Step 2: Click Restore personal files.

Step 3: Choose the files you want to recover, and then click the Recover button.

Recover deleted files using Backup and Restore

Apart from File History, you can also recover files deleted by CHKDSK with another Windows feature called Backup and Restore (available in Windows 7 and later versions). Compared with File History, Backup and Restore is suitable for recovering data in more complex scenarios, such as system failure or hard disk corruption. Users are able to customize the backup content and plans according to their different needs.

If you have activated this feature beforehand, try to recover files deleted by CHKDSK with the following steps:

Step 1: Go to the Control Panel, and click System and Security > Backup and Restore in turn.

Step 2: Click Restore my files.

Step 3: Click Browse for files to choose the file you want to recover, and then click Next.

Step 4: Specify the saving path for your recovered file, and click Restore.

FAQs

Q1: What steps should I take immediately after CHKDSK deletes my files?

When your files are deleted by CHKDSK, remain calm. These files are not removed immediately and still remain on your system until being overwritten by new information. What you should do is take measures to recover them using backups or professional software as soon as possible.

Q2: Can I recover files deleted by CHKDSK without backup?

Yes, it is possible to recover files deleted by CHKDSK even if you don’t have a backup. You can use a specialized recovery tool to help retrieve your lost files, such as AOMEI FastRecovery.

Q3: What types of files are most at risk of being deleted by CHKDSK?

CHKDSK is designed to maintain system stability and data integrity by checking and repairing file system errors. Therefore, files that are improperly handled, such as damaged files, files in bad sectors, and incomplete files, are more likely to be deleted.

Wrapping Up

CHKDSK is a valuable Windows utility for keeping disk health, but it can lead to data loss under some circumstances. This article covers more details about this tool and provides four effective solutions to recover files deleted by CHKDSK. If you are still troubled by the issue that “CHKDSK deleted my files!”, why not try the solutions mentioned in this post? By the way, the last two methods both require you to set up the relevant features in advance. If you haven't configured these settings before, try to restore the missing files with a reliable recovery tool, such as AOMEI FastRecovery.