If you see a black screen with the Windows or OEM logo on the center of the screen with Fixing (C:) Stage 1 message across the bottom, then here’s what you need to do. It may not appear on a newly configured Windows 11/10 PC; you might find this text message on an old computer running an old hard disk. Either way, you can fix the issue by following this tutorial.
Your computer turns on, followed by showing either the OEM or Windows 10 logo on the screen. However, if it shows text – Fixing (C:) Stage 1: X% (n of n); Total: X%; ETA: time, you might have some issues to deal with.
It is Disk Error Checking, which detects hard drive problems and fixes them on the go. It mainly appears on a PC configured with an old hard drive, and it implies that the ChkDsk is stuck at a particular stage.
However, the drive letter (C) can be different in your case. Instead of C or the system drive letter, it can show others, such as D, E, etc. If it shows the C drive, you might have to worry, as it is your system drive, where Windows 10 is installed. You might not have to worry much if it shows D or another drive letter.
Whether it displays C or D, you need to stop the ChkDsk process. Otherwise, it will keep happening whenever you turn on your computer.
Fixing (C) Stage 1 error message during boot in Windows 11/10
To stop Fixing C Stage 1 in Windows 11/10, follow these steps-
- Press Win+R to open the Run prompt.
- Type regedit and hit the Enter button.
- Click the Yes option.
- Navigate to Session Manager in HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE.
- Double-click on BootExecute.
- Set the Value data as autocheck autochk /k:C *
- Click the OK button.
To learn more about these steps, keep reading.
Before getting started with the steps, it is recommended to create a backup of Registry files.
Press Win+R, type regedit, and press the Enter button. It shows the UAC prompt on your screen. If so, click on the Yes option to open Registry Editor. Once it is opened, navigate to the following path-
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager
In the Session Manager, you can see a Multi-String Value called BootExecute. By default, the Value data is set to autocheck autochk *. If you are getting problems with the C drive, enter the Value data as: autocheck autochk /k:C *.
Click the OK button to save the change.
However, if it doesn’t help, do follow the following suggestions:
- If you have a very old hard drive and Windows 11/10 shows the issue with the C drive, it is better to clone the drive and install Windows on another drive.
- If that doesn’t help, you can ask for help from a professional or change the hard disk.
I hope it helps.
Related: Reset BootExecute registry value to fix Windows Shutdown & Startup problems.
How do I stop Windows from scanning and repairing C drive?
To stop Windows 10 from scanning and repairing the C drive at startup, use the command chkntfs /x c: in Command Prompt. If you have additional drives like F, modify the command to chkntfs /x c: f:. After entering the command, restart your system to apply the changes.
Read: ChkDsk runs automatically at every startup
What is stage 1 of CHKDSK?
Stage 1 of CHKDSK involves verifying files by checking the entries in the Master File Table (MFT). This table acts as the partition’s table of contents. During this stage, the integrity of the files is compared and tested to ensure they are free from corruption or errors.
