Hard drive error checking

CHKDSK (error-checking) is a hard drive error fixing utility built into Windows. Errors can accumulate on your system during regular computer usage. CHKDSK can fix these errors. Running error-checking and fixing errors on an active volume (hard drive partition) cannot be performed while Windows is running. Instead, it has to be scheduled to run at your computers next startup. Fixing errors on a non-active disk (like an external hard drive) is usually possible while Windows is running. It is a good idea to fix possible errors on you primary hard drive once a month.

Using CHKDSK
CHKDSK can be accessed by "right clicking" a hard drive icon in "My Computer" (Windows XP) or "Computer" (Windows Vista) and choosing Properties->Tools->Check Now. Then put a check in both boxes ("Automatically fix file system errors" and "Scan for and attempt recovery of bad sectors") and click "Start". If prompted to schedule error check on your next restart, answer "Yes". CHKDSK can take some time to run, so you should only run it if you do not need your computer for an hour or two (ex. restart instead of shut down your computer when you are finished with it for the day).

Videos
Running error-checking in Windows XP manually or automatically through Scheduled tasks.