November 5, 2026

Windows 10 CHKDSK Runs at Every Startup: Stopping the Disk Check From Repeating

Every time the PC starts, a black or blue screen announces that it is scanning and repairing drive C, or counts down to checking a disk. When Windows 10 CHKDSK runs at every startup, startups become slow and slot online worrying.

CHKDSK runs at startup when Windows marks a drive as “dirty,” meaning it suspects file system errors. Normally, one successful check clears the mark.

If the check cannot finish, the errors cannot be fixed, or something keeps marking the drive dirty, the scan repeats every time.

Occasionally, that is an early warning that a drive is starting to fail, so it is worth taking seriously.

Why This Happens

CHKDSK repeats for these reasons:

• The check is interrupted, for example by pressing a key or switching off the PC.
• The drive has errors that CHKDSK cannot fully repair.
• The PC is shut down improperly, so the drive is marked dirty again.
• The drive is physically failing or its cable is loose.

External drives connected at startup can also trigger checks if they were unplugged without safe removal.

Start With These Basic Checks

Let the check finish once.

1. Allow the startup scan to complete without pressing any keys, even if it takes a long time.
2. After Windows loads, open Command Prompt as administrator and type fsutil dirty query C:.
3. If it says the volume is dirty, run chkdsk C: /f, type Y to schedule it, and restart.
4. Leave the PC alone until the check finishes.
5. Run fsutil dirty query C: again to confirm the drive is no longer dirty.

Disconnect external drives during startup to rule them out.

If the scan reports that it found and fixed problems each time, the drive is developing new errors regularly, which deserves closer attention.

Going a Step Further

Check the drive’s health.

1. Open Command Prompt and run wmic diskdrive get model,status. Anything other than OK suggests trouble.
2. Use the drive manufacturer’s diagnostic tool to read SMART data.
3. Check Event Viewer > Windows Logs > Application for “Wininit” or “Chkdsk” entries showing what was found.
4. On desktops, reseat SATA cables.
5. Avoid forced shutdowns, which mark the drive dirty.

If the drive is healthy but the check still repeats, an administrator can run chkntfs /x C: to skip the startup check temporarily. Use that only after backing up and confirming the drive’s health.

A Word of Caution

Back up important files before repeated disk checks, especially if errors keep appearing. Never cut power during CHKDSK.

Final Thoughts

Repeated CHKDSK at startup means the drive keeps being marked dirty. Let a full check complete, confirm the dirty flag clears, and test the drive’s health.

Keep regular backups while investigating, since recurring file system errors can be the first sign of a larger hardware problem.