MS-DOS CHKDSK Program Not Designed to Work with Windows (32443)



The information in this article applies to:
    Microsoft Windows 3.0
    Microsoft Windows 3.0a
    Microsoft Windows 3.1
    Microsoft Windows 3.11
    Microsoft MS-DOS operating system 3.1
    Microsoft MS-DOS operating system 3.2
    Microsoft MS-DOS operating system 3.21
    Microsoft MS-DOS operating system 3.3
    Microsoft MS-DOS operating system 3.3a
    Microsoft MS-DOS operating system 4.0
    Microsoft MS-DOS operating system 4.01
    Microsoft MS-DOS operating system 5.0
    Microsoft MS-DOS operating system 5.0a
    Microsoft MS-DOS operating system 6.0
    Microsoft MS-DOS operating system 6.2
    Microsoft MS-DOS operating system 6.21
    Microsoft MS-DOS operating system 6.22

This article was previously published under Q32443

SUMMARY

Microsoft recommends that you do not use the MS-DOS CHKDSK utility from Microsoft Windows.

If you choose to run CHKDSK from Microsoft Windows, do not use the /F parameter. CHKDSK was not designed to run with Windows, and the /F parameter closes any files your Windows applications are using (such as temporary files).

MORE INFORMATION

In MS-DOS version 5.0 and later, attempting to use CHKDSK with the /F parameter results in the message:

CHKDSK /F cannot be done in a Windows/DosShell command prompt
To check the amount of memory or disk space available when you are in Windows, choose the About MS-DOS Executive command from the File menu in the MS-DOS Executive window.

Modification Type: Major Last Reviewed: 11/25/2003
Keywords: KB32443