Windows FOUND.000 File Recovery: Restore Your CHK Files Now

Can I Delete FOUND.000 Folder?

Don't panic if you find a folder named: FOUND.000. Inside, you find a bunch of cryptic files with the .CHK extension. Where did these come from, and more importantly, where on earth are your original files? Can I delete the FOUND.000 folder? How to recover files from the FOUND.000 folder? But don't you worry; this guide will give you answers and help you recover precious files safely.

What is A FOUND.000 Folder?

The FOUND.000 folder is a system-generated folder containing fragmented and corrupted file segments recovered by the chkdsk(Check Disk) utility in Windows. This folder can appear after an unexpected system shutdown, a power outage during a file operation, or when CHKDSK is manually run to scan for and repair errors.

The FOUND.000 folder acts as a recovery location, storing the recovered file fragments as .CHK (CHK is short for Chunk) files instead of deleting them. However, Windows can't recognize the CHK files, which is the reason it's difficult for data recovery.

Why Windows Creates CHK File Fragments？

CHKDSK fixes the structural integrity of the drive by isolating the orphaned data clusters when there are file system errors, which break the links between file locations and their names in the directory. The utility prioritizes making the drive functional again, leaving the task of identifying and restoring the actual content to you. This is precisely why a structured approach to Windows FOUND.000 file recovery is so vital.

It's usually a sudden, ungraceful interruption:

• A blue screen of death (BSOD).
• Your laptop battery is dying unexpectedly.
• An application freezing that forces a hard reboot.
• An unplugged external drive without using "Safely Remove Hardware".
• An aging drive with developing bad sectors is a prime candidate for such issues.

When CHKDSK runs automatically or is manually triggered after one of these events, it creates the FOUND.000 folder, setting the stage for your recovery mission.

Preparations Before Recovery

• First things first, don't save any new files or install software on the drive where the FOUND.000 folder appeared. You risk overwriting the very data you're trying to save.
• Your next step is to make a copy for the FOUND.000 folder. If you can, copy the entire FOUND.000 folder to a different location, like another internal drive, an external USB drive, or a cloud storage folder. This gives you a safe working copy to experiment with, ensuring the original data remains untouched.
• Back up existing files on your hard drive to another safe location to keep them in case of data loss.

How to Access FOUND.000 Folder?

The FOUND.000 folder is typically hidden by default. Learning how to access found 000 folder is simple.

1. Open File Explorer, navigate to the drive where it's located.

2. Click the "View" tab in the top menu, then choose Show, and check the box for "Hidden items" to make the FOUND.000 foldervisible.

3. You might also need to ensure "File name extensions" are checked so you can see the .CHK extension clearly.

If it’s on an external drive, the process is identical once the drive is connected. If you can’t find the FOUND.000 folder, you can search FOUND.000 in the search box in Windows File Explorer to find all of them on your computer.

How to Recover CHK Files from FOUND.000 Folder?

Some proven solutions can help you out of trouble; check them one by one.

Way 1. Restore FOUND.000 Files on Mac

You can copy the FOUND.000 folder to an NTFS external hard drive. After copying, you can connect the external hard drive to an Apple Mac, then make hidden files visible through TERMINAL.

• Then you can find the CHK files in the FOUND.000 folder, right-click it and open it.
• You will see the missing files are located here.
• Enable NTFS write support on Mac using a Terminal command.
• Now, copy and paste files from the FOUND.000 folder to another safe location.

It should be work.

Way 2. Rename CHK Files

Some users reported that you can rename the files if you know the original file type of these files. For example, change the file extension .chk to .jpg, .txt, .mp4, or something else. Once renamed, you can open the files, then copy them to a safe location.

Way 3. Recover Files from FOUND.000 Folder Using CMD

Recovering the CHK files using only CMD involves attempting to rename the .CHK files to their original extensions. This method is most effective if you know the original file types (e.g., .jpg, .doc, .mp3).

Steps to attempt recovery using CMD:

1. Press Win + X and select Command Prompt (Admin) or Windows Terminal (Admin).

2. Type the drive letter where the FOUND.000 folder is located (e.g., D:), and press Enter.

3. Type cd FOUND.000 and press Enter.

4. Attempt to rename .CHK files to their original extensions:

If you suspect the files are images, type:

ren *.chk *.jpg

If you suspect they are documents, type:

ren *.chk *.doc

Repeat this process for other common file extensions you expect to find (e.g., .png, .mp3, .mp4, .pdf, .zip, .exe).

After renaming, you can try opening the files to see if they are recoverable.

Important:✎...

Some files the FOUND.000 folder may be too corrupted to be recovered.

If the FOUND.000 folder is large; it may indicate a problem with the drive itself, and you may need to consider replacing it.

Alternative Ways to Recover Missing Files

Besides, there are some other ways for you to recover missing files and bypass the Windows FOUND.000 file recovery.

Way 1. Restore Files with File History

If you have backed up these files with File History, you can try to restore to the previous version, bypassing the Windows FOUND.000 file recovery. Here is how it works:

1. Launch Windows Explorer by the Windows + E key combination.

2. Locate the folder that is missing files, and right-click it.

3. Choose "Restore previous version".

4. Find the right files to restore.

Way 2. Windows File Recovery

You can download Windows File Recovery, then try the following guide to recover missing files:

1. Search for "Windows File Recovery", and open the app.

2. Enter a command in the following format:

winfr source-drive: destination-drive: [/mode] [/switches]

• source-drive: The drive where the file was originally stored (e.g., C:).
• destination-drive: A different drive where you want to save the recovered files (e.g., E:).
• /mode: Use /regular for standard recovery or /extensive for a more thorough scan.
• /switches: Use these to filter what you want to recover, such as /n \Users\YourUserName\Documents\, or /n *.pdf to recover all PDF files.

For example:

Winfr F: E: /regular

3. Press Y to start the recovery process, and wait for it to complete.

The recovered files will be in a new folder on your destination drive, named with the date and time of recovery.

Way 3. Recover Missing Files with MyRecover

If the above ways fail, you can try a powerful data recovery software, MyRecover. It's specifically designed to examine these CHK fragments, identify their original file signatures, and reconstruct them properly.

With MyRecover, you can enjoy:

• A clear, intuitive interface.
• High recovery rate in the market.
• Preview before recovery.
• Supports 1,000+ file formats.
• Supports 500+ devices.
• Deep and quick scan.

So, how to recover missing files with MyRecover easily? Try the simple guide:

1. Download and install MyRecover, then launch it.

2. Tap Disk Data Recovery, choose the drive where the FOUND.000 folder is located, click Scan.

3. Hit OK when it’s done.

4. Choose the files you need, and hit Recover.

5. Opt for a safe location to save. After recovery, check the integrity of the recovered files.

Tips:✎...

Once the scan is complete, you'll be presented with a beautifully organized results screen. Files are often grouped by their original type—Images, Documents, Videos, etc. You can even preview many of them directly within the MyRecover interface.

Crucially, you will be prompted to choose a save location. Always save these recovered files to a different drive. Saving them back to the original location risks corrupting the process and could lead to permanent data loss.

To recover files from unlimited computers, please upgrade to MyRecover Technician to enjoy.

FAQs About Windows FOUND.000 File Recovery

Q: What exactly are the .CHK files in the FOUND.000 folder?

A: .CHK files are data fragments salvaged by Windows' CHKDSK utility from a corrupted file system. They are like puzzle pieces without their original names or locations. The goal of the chk file recovery is to identify their original format (JPEG, PDF, etc.) and restore them.

Q: I can't see the FOUND.000 folder on my drive. Where is it?

A: The folder is hidden by default. To see it, open any folder, select the "View" tab, and check "Hidden items".It will then appear on the root of the drive (e.g., C:), which is the first step to how to access FOUND.000 folder.

Q: Is it possible to recover the original file names of the CHK files?

A: Unfortunately, no. The link between the data and its original name is lost during corruption. The goal of Windows FOUND.000 file recovery is to restore the file's content, not its name, so you'll get generic names like "image_001.jpg".

Q: Can I run CHKDSK again to fix this without creating CHK files?

A: No. Running CHKDSK /F is what creates these files. Once they exist, running it again won't reverse the process and could overwrite data. After this happens, use specialized tools to recover FOUND.000 files.

Q: I've recovered my files. Is it completely safe to delete the FOUND.000 folder now?

A: Yes, absolutely. Once you've successfully recovered your needed files, the folder and its .CHK contents are redundant copies. Deleting it is safe and frees up disk space.

Q: Does the presence of a FOUND.000 folder means my hard drive is dying?

A: Not always, but it's a warning. A single instance after a crash may be a one-time event. However, if they appear frequently, it strongly indicates a failing drive with bad sectors, and you should back up data and replace the drive.