Can I schedule CHKDSK to run before my automatic backup?

In this excerpt from
Answercast #4, I’ll discuss how to find your Task Scheduler and set it up to
run CHKDSK before that backup starts.

]]>
<![CDATA[

How to Schedule CHKDSK

So, I’m not sure what it is that complicates this. To me, the answer seems fairly simple. CHKDSK can be scheduled. I have an article on scheduling defragging and the same technique applies to scheduling CHKDSK.

You can use Windows 7’s built-in Task Scheduler (TaskSched.msc) and schedule CHKDSK. Set up the schedule that runs CHKDSK automatically; add a specific time on a specific day.

You can schedule it to run Saturday evening if that makes sense. Windows own backup, if it’s running automatically, is also scheduled somewhere in Task Scheduler. Either you set that up or Windows backup has set itself up in there.

Schedule compatible times

All you really need to do is understand Windows backup schedule and make sure that you schedule your automatic CHKDSK to run enough prior to that so that CHKDSK will have finished.

You’ll need to know the CHKDSK running time. I’d run it manually first to see how long it takes on that particular drive. Then double or triple that time and schedule the automated CHKDSK to be that much ahead of the automated backup.

Like I said, there doesn’t seem to be a lot of complexity here. All of the magic is inside the Task Scheduler which is also, by the way, in the Control panel. I believe it’s in administrative tools. And that’s the direction to head off in to make this happen.