before you scan disk, it is a good idea to clear your temporary internet files. (start/settings/control panel/internet options/clear temp files ) so also recommend using a supplemental tool like easycleaner as well.

How do you scan disk: (close all applications first!!) this means disconnect from the internet, close internet explorer, shut off screensavers (start/settings/control panel/display ) and  turn off firewall and anti-virus. check down in lower  right of screen by the clock. right click and select exit or close on the icons there. for the most part, you should only have the speaker icon left. 

i prefer enditall,  to close all running programs, but if your a purist, and you want to double check, do a cntrl-alt-dlte once ~ select items and exit until only explorer and sys tray are left. Make sure you also turn off antivirus programs and also turn off screen savers! ( second time to say that i know. but its important! )that means right clicking your screen, and selecting properties, then screensaver tab, and select NONE in the drop down box~ you may want to look at the advanced settings on monitor as well, make sure it wont turn off monitor at 20 minutes idle, or whatever.. this can make a scan disk ( and a defrag) restart when you think it should be almost completed.

click your start button, then Programs	then accessories
then system tools	then  scan disk (click that!!)

select the drive you wish to check in the top box by clicking on it. usually c.
Type of test - standard (checks only files) or thorough (checks drive & files)- i do a thorough  every 3rd or 4th time
place an check in the automatically fix box. Then press start

How to scan disc on XP?

go to MY computer icon, click it. RIGHT click and select properties on the drive to scan.....click on TOOLS tab, and click check now under error checking. you will need to restart comp.

Scan disc disk -what that heck is that?  and what does it do? scan disk is your computers way of looks for physical errors on your hard disc.  a friend once told me ~ think of your disc this way- (thanks deepthawt for the comparison)

The hard disk of your computer,  has a head like a cassette player, it floats on a cushion of air between the head and the disk, if it bumped or shut down unexpectedly, the heads bounce and make contact to the surface of the disc, causing damage and/ or data loss. and it can  often "scratch in the surface". the data/ information within this scratch/space to become damaged or unreadable. Heavy usage can also cause this damage. Most comps will automatically scan if you shut down unexpectedly or incorrectly.

Where is scan disk in winxp?

WinXp has the error checking feature of win2k..

Open Windows Explorer.

Right click the drive you want to check, and select Properties from the menu.

Select the Tools tab.

Under Error Checking, click Check Now.

If you want the scan to automatically attempt to make repairs or check the disk for bad sectors, select those options and click Start.

Close Windows Explorer.

Get a message about something still writing to disc so scan disc has restarted 10 times? try a program like ENDITALL to close all running programs before you scan disc.

when done ... time to defrag :)