-----------------------  CHKDSK - External DOS Command  ------------------------

CHKDSK analyzes memory and the directories and File Allocation Table of the
   specified disk and produces a report of disk and memory status.

FORMAT:   CHKDSK [d:][filename[.ext]][/F][/V]

REMARKS:

   d:           - the drive whose disk is to be analyzed.  If omitted, the
                  default drive is assumed.
   filename.ext - specifies files to be checked for non-contiguous sectors.  The
                  files must be in the current directory.  Global characters
                  (* and ?) may be used.
   /F           - specifies that errors found in the directory or file
                  allocation table are to be fixed.
   /V           - causes CHKDSK to display messages indicating its progress and
                  provides more information about the errors it finds.

   CHKDSK does not prompt you to insert a diskette (as DISKCOPY does, for
   example).  If you are using a single drive system and the diskette you want
   to check is not the DOS diskette, you must specify a drive other than the
   default drive.  For example, if the default drive is A, place the DOS
   diskette in drive A and enter CHKDSK B:.  You may then insert the diskette to
   be analyzed when DOS prompts you to enter the diskette for drive B.

   CHKDSK can sometimes correct errors found in the directory or file allocation
   table.  If you specify the /F parameter, corrections will be made.  If you
   omit /F, CHKDSK will function as though you did specify /F, to inform you of
   detected errors, but will not actually make the corrections.  If you did not
   specify /F and CHKDSK informs you of errors and you want to correct the
   errors, run CHKDSK again and specify /F.

   Specifying the "filename.ext" parameter causes CHKDSK to look for
   non-contiguous (non-sequential or "fragmented") sectors for the specified
   files.  Files with non-contiguous sectors take longer to read since DOS
   cannot access them sequentially.  A file with non-contiguous sectors is
   called a "fragmented file."  You can check fragmentation of all files in the
   current directory by specifying *.* for this parameter.

   If CHKDSK finds lost clusters (one or more sectors of disk storage) on disk,
   it asks you (via a Y/N prompt) if you wish to recover the lost data into
   files.  If the /F parameter was specified and you respond Y to the prompt,
   CHKDSK converts the lost data into files named:

          FILEnnnn.CHK     where nnnn is a sequential number starting with 0000.

          These files will be written in the root directory.  Check these files
          to see if they contain any data you want to retain.  If they do not,
          erase them.

   Below is an example of the status report produced by CHKDSK.  The line
   numbers are added for reference in the following explanation:

          1      Volume FIXDISK      Created APR 5, 1985 9:35

          2      362496 bytes total disk space
          3       22528 bytes in 2 hidden files
          4        2048 bytes in 2 directories
          5       72704 bytes in 8 user files
          6      265216 bytes available on disk

          7      327680 bytes total memory
          8      282912 bytes free

   Explanation:

      Line 1 - Volume label and the date and time the disk was formatted.
      Line 2 - Total number of bytes (characters of information) on the disk.
               This gives the total storage capacity of the disk.
      Line 3 - Total bytes and count of hidden files.  DOS uses two hidden files
               to store operating system programs.  A disk volume label is a
               hidden file.  Applications may also create hidden files.  Hidden
               files do not show up in a directory listing and cannot be removed
               with the ERASE command.
      Line 4 - Total bytes and count of directories.
      Line 5 - Total bytes and count of user files.  A "user file" is a file
               that is not a directory or a hidden file.
      Line 6 - Total bytes available (not used).
      Line 7 - Total bytes of RAM (Random Access Memory, "user memory")
               installed on the system.
      Line 8 - Total bytes of RAM that are free (not used).  The number will
               always be less than "bytes total memory" (line 7) because a
               portion of DOS is placed in RAM when the system is started.

EXAMPLES:

Perform a CHKDSK on the B drive.  The default drive is A:

          CHKDSK B:


Perform a CHKDSK on the default drive and recover any lost clusters:

          CHKDSK /F


Perform a CHKDSK on the default drive.  Recover any lost clusters and produce
information on CHKDSK's progress and more detailed error information:

          CHKDSK /F/V


Check the fragmentation of all files in the current directory of the default
drive:

          CHKDSK *.*
