“CHKDSK /f” is taking now close to 24h to analyze 500G SSD drive. What should I do?

Understanding and Troubleshooting Prolonged CHKDSK Operations on External SSD Drives

Introduction

When maintaining or troubleshooting storage devices, tools like CHKDSK (Check Disk) are essential for diagnosing and repairing filesystem issues. However, users sometimes encounter situations where CHKDSK appears to take an excessively long time, especially on modern SSDs. This article explores such a scenario, provides insights into potential causes, and offers practical guidance on best practices and safety precautions.

Case Overview

Imagine a user attempting to free up space on an external 500GB SSD drive. During the cleanup process, they uninstall a game—Dwarf Fortress—from Steam. However, residual files and save folders within the game directory persist, prompting the user to manually delete them. When Windows reports that certain folders are unreadable and suggests running CHKDSK, the user initiates the scan.

The issue: CHKDSK begins analyzing the drive but has now been running continuously for nearly 24 hours. The process displays messages indicating it’s scanning files and folders, with a “failure” message associated with increasing file indices (reaching over 12,000). Occasionally, errors during analysis are reported, leading to concerns about potential looping behavior or system problems.

Understanding the Problem

1. Duration and Performance of CHKDSK on SSDs

Traditional CHKDSK operations can vary in duration based on disk size, complexity of filesystem issues, and hardware performance. External SSDs generally provide faster read/write speeds; thus, prolonged scans are often indicative of underlying problems rather than normal processing times. Typically, a standard scan of a 500GB SSD should conclude within a few hours, not nearly a day.

1. Potential Causes of Extended or Stuck CHKDSK Runs

2. Corrupted Filesystem: Severe corruption can cause CHKDSK to repeatedly attempt repairs or get stuck in certain sectors.

3. Bad Sectors or Hardware Issues: Physical defects on the drive may slow down or halt the scanning process.
4. Looping During File/System Checks: Certain filesystem anomalies can lead CHKDSK into repeated loops or stuck states.

5. Software Conflicts or Malware: Malicious software or conflicting programs might interfere with disk analysis.

6. Is It Safe to Interrupt or Stop CHKDSK?

Intervening during a CHKDSK process carries risks. If the tool is actively fixing corrupted sectors or files, stopping abruptly can exacerbate filesystem damage, leading to data loss or further