How to Recover .CHK Files in Windows 7 /10 / 11?

What Are .CHK Files?

.CHK files are fragments of data that are created when Windows' Check Disk utility (chkdsk) scans a storage drive for errors and finds issues with file system integrity. Essentially, they are "recovered" pieces of data that Windows couldn't properly associate with a file after finding corruption or bad sectors on a drive.

👉In simple terms:

• File extension: .CHK
• What they are: Recovered file fragments
• Where they’re stored: Inside folders named FOUND.000, FOUND.001, and similar.

Why Are .CHK Files Created?

To learn how to recover .CHK files in Windows 7, 8, 10 or 11, we can first figure out how and why the .CHK are generated:

Disk Errors: When your drive has file system errors or bad sectors, Windows might not be able to properly access or read some of the files. During a chkdsk scan (or when Windows automatically runs it at startup), the utility attempts to recover data from corrupted areas and saves the pieces in .CHK files.

Lost or Corrupted Files: If a file is damaged during system crashes, power loss, improper removal without ejecting or shutdown, parts of it may become unreadable. The chkdsk utility saves any recoverable pieces as .CHK files so you don't lose all the data completely.

Disk Repairs: If chkdsk repairs or attempts to fix the file system, .CHK files might be created from data that was once associated with now-missing or corrupted files.

How .CHK Files Store Data?

A .CHK file is not a normal file; it is a raw collection of data clusters that were once part of a real file. These clusters may belong to:

• A single file
• Multiple files mixed together
• A fragment of a file (missing headers or endings)

Because of this, Windows does not know what type of file it is, so it assigns the generic .CHK extension.

Can .CHK Files Be Recovered?

Yes, .CHK files can often be partially or fully recovered, but the success rate depends on several technical factors. Generally speaking, .CHK file Recovery chances are higher when:

• The original file was not heavily fragmented
• The drive was not written to after chkdsk ran
• The file is a common format (JPG, MP3, MP4, DOC, PDF)
• The file header is still intact

For example: Image files may still open if the header is present; audio/video files may play partially; text files may be readable even if incomplete.

How to Recover .CHK Files from Found.000 Folder?

When Windows runs a disk check, it may save recoverable pieces of lost or damaged files as .CHK files inside the FOUND.000 folder. Although these files don’t have original names or extensions, many of them can still be recovered using the right methods.

★Before proceeding: Back Up the FOUND.000 Folder First

Copy the entire FOUND.000 folder to another safe location. This prevents accidental data loss during the recovery process.

Method 1. Rename the .CHK Files

Many .CHK files are complete files missing only their extensions.Try renaming them to common formats such as:

• .jpg, .png (images)
• .mp3, .wav (audio)
• .mp4, .avi (video)
• .pdf, .docx (documents)

Open the file to check if it works.

★Tip: you can identify files by size

Very small files are usually unusable

Medium-sized files often contain images or documents

Large files may be videos, audio files, or archives

Method 2. Use Professional Data Recovery Software

If renaming .CHK files does not work, using professional FOUND 000 .CHK files recovery data recovery software is a more reliable solution. These tools are designed to scan devices for files that have been lost due to CHKDSK process and recover them successfully .

Step 1: Download and install MyRecover on your computer, then launch the program.

Step 2: Select the drive that contains the FOUND.000 folder and click “Scan”.

Step 3: Wait for the scanning process to complete. The software will automatically search for .CHK files and other missing data on the target drive.

Step 4: Preview the files found, select the .CHK files you want to recover, and click “Recover”.

Step 5: Choose a safe location on a different drive to save the recovered files.

Summary

Recovering .CHK files from the FOUND.000 folder is often possible, especially if the data has not been overwritten. Start by backing up the folder, then try renaming files or using recovery software. Once recovery is complete, remember to back up important data regularly using Windows File History or Windows 7 Backup and Restore to avoid future data loss.

FAQs about .CHK Files

Q: How to Convert .CHKFiles to Original Format?

A: You can try renaming the .CHK file with the correct extension (e.g., .jpg, .mp3, .docx) or use professional data recovery software like MyRecover, which can automatically detect the file type and restore it to its original format.

Q: How to Read .CHKFiles?

A: Since .CHK files are fragments of recovered data, they cannot be opened directly. You can either rename them with the proper file extension if you know the original type.

Q: Where Are .CHK Files Stored?

A: .CHK files are usually stored in hidden system folders named FOUND.000, FOUND.001, etc., located at the root of the drive that was scanned by Windows’ CHKDSK.

Q: Can I Delete .CHK Files?

A: Yes, if you are sure they don’t contain important data. However, it’s recommended to back them up first in case you want to attempt recovery later.