How to Fix Scanning and Repairing Drive on Every Boot

Improper shutdowns or power failures may trigger an automatic drive scan on your computer, attempting to repair any issues encountered. However, if this process becomes stuck in a loop, it’s crucial to address the underlying causes. Follow this detailed guide for effective solutions. See What Happens if You Turn Off Your Computer During an Update, and How to Fix the “Windows Installer Service Could Not Be Accessed” Error While Installing an Application.
Troubleshoot common windows errors with these detailed guides: How to fix Windows Update Error Code 0xC1900101 – 0x30018 on Windows 10/11, Fix 0x800f0831 Error when installing Windows update,and how to Fix You Might Not Have Permission to Use This Network Resource Error.
Checking Disk Health with SMART Scan
Before delving into fixes, it’s prudent to assess the health of your SSD or HDD. Perform a SMART scan to identify potential issues:
- Some motherboards or laptops offer dedicated utilities in UEFI/BIOS for disk health checks.
- SSD or HDD manufacturers often provide OEM applications for S.M.A.R.T. checks (e.g., Samsung, WD). See this detailed guide on How to check Hard Drive Health (SMART) in Windows.
- If not, use third-party software like CrystalDiskInfo, SSD Lite, or Crystal Disk Mark for this purpose.
Ensure your disk is healthy before proceeding to software fixes. If the disk is failing, consider replacing it and reinstalling Windows.
Manually Disabling Auto Scan and Repair
If your system repeatedly shows the Scanning and Repairing Drive screen unnecessarily, try the following:
Open an elevated Command Prompt (CMD) by pressing Windows key, typing “cmd,” and selecting “Run as administrator.”

Execute chkntfs C: to check the scheduled scan. If scheduled, cancel it with chkntfs /x C:.
chkntfs C:
chkntfs /x C:

Run a deep CHKDSK scan with /r flag: chkdsk /r C:. Confirm with ‘Y’ and restart your computer.
chkdsk /r C:

Use Command Prompt via Advance Startup
If the issue persists, utilize Advanced Startup to run CHKDSK again:
To access Advanced Startup, click on Restart while holding the Shift key. Alternatively, press the Windows key + I to open Settings, select System, and then click on Recovery in the left pane.

Click Restart now beside the Advance startup option.

Navigate to Troubleshoot > Advanced Options > Command Prompt.

Confirm your system drive letter using the following diskpart utility command.
diskpart
list volume
exit

Then execute CHKDSK /r C: (replace C: with your system drive letter).
CHKDSK /r C:

Running SFC and DISM
If necessary system files are corrupt, SFC and DISM can help. Open an Elevated Command Prompt.

Execute DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth and then SFC /Scannow.
DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
SFC /Scannow

Repeat the process to ensure resolution.
Perform a System Restore to fix the scanning and Repairing Drive issue
Utilize System Restore to revert your system to a point before the issue. Open Run, type “rstrui,” and press Enter.

Choose a suitable restore point and follow instructions for restoration.

System Stuck on Scanning and Repairing Drive:
In instances like these, begin by performing a force restart on Windows to exit the Scanning and Repairing Drive screen. If the problem persists, access the Advanced Startup options using a bootable Windows USB drive and see this comprehensive guides on How To Fix “Startup Repair Couldn’t Repair Your PC and How to Fix Windows Stuck on System Restore.
Conclusion
By following these comprehensive steps, you can effectively address the Scanning and Repairing Drive loop in Windows and ensure the optimal performance of your system.
FAQs
After such events, Windows initiates an automatic drive scan to repair any issues. If the process gets stuck, it may indicate corruption, failed resets, or potential disk problems. This guide provides solutions to resolve these issues.
Conduct a SMART scan to assess disk health. Many motherboards, laptops, and disk manufacturers offer utilities for this purpose. Third-party software like CrystalDiskInfo or SSD Lite can also be used. Ensure your disk is in good health before attempting software solutions.
If the issue persists, run a deep CHKDSK scan using the Advanced Startup option. Additionally, perform SFC and DISM scans to address potential system file corruption. If all else fails, consider utilizing System Restore to revert to a point before the issue occurred.
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