Once the “Go” operation finishes, navigate to your chosen output directory. You will find the recovered files, each given a generic name (e.g., 0.jpg , 1.docx , 2.mp4 ). The original file names are lost, and the recovered files will retain the original folder structure. However, you can manually rename them based on their content, or sort them by type to make organization easier.
DeCHK uses a simple syntax: dechk [drive:] [options]
On Windows 10/11, run dechk.exe as Administrator. Right-click the file > Properties > Compatibility > Run as Windows 7. download dechk v2.1
: Automatically converts .chk fragments back into their original extensions (e.g., .jpg , .pdf , .zip ).
By following the step‑by‑step instructions in this guide, you can give your lost data a second chance at life—and possibly avoid the heartbreak of permanent loss. Once the “Go” operation finishes, navigate to your
Faster processing for complex tasks.
deCHK supports about 50 file types. If your lost data belongs to an unsupported format (e.g., proprietary database files, certain RAW camera formats, or highly specialized application data), deCHK will not be able to recover it. In such cases, consider using a professional data recovery suite or a file‑carving tool like PhotoRec. However, you can manually rename them based on
: Rewritten in Lazarus/Free-Pascal for version 2.0+ to ensure it remains free and open-source.
For most users whose problem is specifically a large set of .CHK files from a CHKDSK operation, due to its simplicity, portability, and zero cost. For more complex data loss scenarios (e.g., formatted drives, repartitioned disks, or physically damaged media), one of the other alternatives (especially PhotoRec or Recuva) may be more appropriate.
If deCHK runs into severely fragmented files or an extension it doesn't recognize, you can deploy alternative recovery workflows:
The underlying engine reads the magic bytes of file headers to sort fragments into fifty distinct file variations. Supported Extensions .doc , .docx , .xls , .xlsx , .ppt , .pptx , .pdf , .rtf , .txt Images .jpg , .png , .gif , .bmp , .psd , .psp , .tif Media .mp4 , .mp3 , .wav , .avi , .3gp , .mid Archives .zip , .rar , .7z , .cab , .ace System/Code .exe , .dll , .class , .java , .pas , .dcu