How to Find a Corrupt File

By Tyran DeWalt

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According to s2services.com, there are a number of ways a file can become corrupt including: application crashes, virus infection, power outages, etc. As soon as you notice your computer behaving abnormally, it is best to take action immediately. Corrupt files can cause your computer to run slow, and other programs may begin to function improperly.

Step 1

Exit any programs that you have running, so that you can prepare to restart your computer. Restart the computer. Press "F8" repeatedly, in order to access the "Safe-Mode." Log in as the administrator.

Step 2

Go to "Start." Open up the "Run" utility. Type "chkdsk /f<(the letter of the hard drive you use)>". "" represents the drive in which you think the corrupt file is on. Press "OK" to run the "Chkdsk" utlity. If you have a large hard drive, it may take Chkdsk a while to scan the entire computer.

Step 3

Open "Start" and choose the "Run" utility. Type in "sfc/scannow" at the prompt. Press "OK" to begin running this utility. This searches for any corrupt or unstable files. If it finds any files that are corrupt, it automatically replaces them.

Step 4

Run the "Restore to an earlier date" function on your computer. Try to remember when the corrupt file began affecting your computer's performance. Restore the computer to a few days prior to its malfunction.

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