How do you use the command to repair the file system and recover data from bad sectors?

Answer 1

It depends on the operating system you are using and the exact system tools that are available. Chkdsk and Scandisk are two such programs.

For instance, if you are at a system (or MS-DOS) prompt, then you can type:

Chkdsk c: /f

The C: is your drive letter. If you want to check a different drive, then give its letter instead. The /f means to fix whatever is found.

If you are inside of Windows, then go to Computer or My Computer, and right click on the drive letter in question. From there, select properties and select the System Tools tab. From there, you can launch Scandisk. Then you can select if you want to fix what it finds or not, and then you can start it.

If you have Norton Utilities or similar, then you can use its feature for checking disks and recovering data. That program just runs and prompts you if it finds trouble so you can decide what to do.

Also, your hard drive manufacturer may have a tool for scanning for errors and relocating the sectors to spare sectors at the end of the drive. Such tools are specific to the hard drive in question. For instance, Seagate tools won't do this type of work on Western Digital drives, and vice-versa. In fact, the tools might even bail saying that you don't have an eligible hard drive.