Disk Error Checking is not a "quick" fix (Microsoft Windows XP)

Disk errors include logical errors, where data is corrupted or misplaced, and physical errors, where the disk surface itself has a defect. To check for these errors, double-click on My Computer, right-click on the drive to be checked, and select Properties from the shortcut menu.

Switch to the Tools tab and click on Check Now in the Error Checking section. You'll be able to choose to automatically fix files system errors and/or scan for and attempt recovery of bad sectors. You'll have to restart Windows so the check utility has exclusive access to some Windows files.

Upon restart, the program will verify files, indexes, security descriptors, file data, and free disk space. In one test run, the entire process tied up the computer for more than one hour while checking a 100 GB drive that was about 1/3 full. Larger drives with more data will take longer. No other programs can be run during the process, so plan ahead for extended down time. A lunch hour may not be long enough.