Disable Disk Scan at Startup in Windows 11 or 10

Unexpected system shutdowns, power outages, or software conflicts can cause file system errors. At that moment when the computer is about to restart there is disk check performed for any to solve the problems.

CheckDisk is a tool used to check and repair the integrity of a file system and disk surface. When run during computer startup, it can perform various tasks. However, if it is constantly stuck in a loop, or it is executed every time the computer starts up, this is annoying.

In this guide, I'll explain how to disable disk checking at computer startup. This prevents disk checking from running after an unexpected event closing or problem with your computer.

Disable Disk Scan at Startup in Windows 11 or 10

ScanDisk is a task that is automatically created in advance in Windows. You can cancel disk check with a single command. This will stop disk checking at boot time.

Open a Command Prompt as administrator. In the Command Prompt type the following command:

chkntfs /x c:

Below I explain what exactly this command means:

chkntfs: This is the command used to configure the disk check function at startup or to show its status.

/x: This option is used to disable automatic disk checking at startup for a specific disk or disks.

c:: This specifies the drive you want to apply the action to, in this case the C: drive. You can replace this with D: if it concerns the D drive, but also with c: d: e: if it concerns multiple drives.

So by running chkntfs /xc: you are telling the system to skip the automatic disk check for the C: drive the next time you boot the computer, even if it detects a problem that would normally cause it to run automatically of a disk check.

Permanently disable Disk Checking at boot time

The disadvantage is that the above is not a permanent solution. To always prevent disk checking or (“chkdsk”) at startup, you must make an adjustment in the Windows registry.

1. Press Windows + R to open the Run window.
2. Type regedit.exe and press Enter to open the Open Windows Registry editor.
3. Navigate to the following key:

   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager
   

4. In the right column, look for a value called BootExecute. Double click on it to edit it.
5. The default value is usually:

   autocheck autochk *
   

   This means that chkdsk will automatically run at startup for all drives that need it.

6. To prevent chkdsk from automatically running at startup, change the value to:

   autocheck autochk /k:C *
   

   The /k:C option prevents chkdsk from running on the C: drive. If you have multiple drives and you want to prevent chkdsk from running on those drives, you can add the drive letters such as /k:C /k:D.

7. Click OK to save the change.
8. Close the Windows Registry editor and restart your computer.

I hope to have informed you with this. Thank you for reading!

Read more: Disable automatic repair in Windows 11 or 10.