CheckDisk

Finding and fixing disk errors is quite an important job for all computers users, and even if Windows comes with a dedicated tool to address this issue, there are still a lot of applications that are designed for the same purpose and work at least just as well. With a pretty self-explanatory name, CheckDisk is a program that can easily verify the state of your computer's hard disk and, in case there are some errors, it will try to repair them.

This application is incredibly easy to use because it relies on a very simple and clean interface that doesn't involve too much user interaction. In fact, the only things you have to do is to pick the drive you wish to scan, choose from one of the available types of test and start the scan.

The 'Standard' scan takes just a few moments to complete, so it's best to try to avoid using the computer while the app performs the verification and remember that it's better to close other running applications before initiating the scan to avoid data loss.

In case you go for the 'Thorough' test which includes a surface scan, you will notice it involves more stages and take a bit more time to complete. Also, note that to fix the issues it identifies, CheckDisk will require in most cases a restart.

This lightweight program can do a lot of good helping you to identify problems Windows' Check Disk tool is most likely to miss. Because CheckDisk is so easy to use, it is well suited for less experienced users or anyone who wants a simple program that can run without requiring too much attention.