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What to do if…
your computer warns of disk errors and offers a repair that could risk data loss

Produced and maintained by PanicStation.org Published: Last reviewed: Editorial policy UK guide

Short answer

Do not start the repair yet if you can still copy files. First, copy your most important files to a separate drive, another computer, or a cloud account you already use.

Do not do these things

  • Don’t start a repair, fix, scan-and-repair, First Aid, or CHKDSK repair before copying important files, unless there is no safer option.
  • Don’t keep using the computer for normal work, downloads, installs, updates, or lots of browsing.
  • Don’t tidy up by moving or renaming large numbers of files.
  • Don’t run cleanup, defrag, drive-optimiser, or third-party repair tools during the panic moment.
  • Don’t repeatedly restart the computer if it keeps failing in the same way.
  • Don’t open lots of large videos, photo libraries, or project files just to check them; that may add unnecessary reading from a failing drive.

What to do now

  1. Stop new writing to the problem disk. Save only anything already open and essential, close apps, and keep the computer connected to power if possible.
  2. Choose “Skip”, “Cancel”, “Not now”, or the safest available way to leave the repair prompt. If the repair has already started, do not force it off unless you have a clear reason to think it is stuck or unsafe.
  3. Connect a separate destination for the copy. Use an external USB drive, another computer, or a cloud storage account you already trust and have space in. Do not copy the rescue files onto the same internal disk that is showing errors.
  4. Copy the irreplaceable files first. Start with documents, photos, work folders, password vault files or recovery codes you already have saved, finance and tax files, project folders, and local email archives.
  5. If a file or folder will not copy, skip it and keep going. The aim is to rescue as much as possible, not to make a perfect backup in one pass.
  6. If the drive makes unusual sounds, becomes extremely slow, disconnects, or files vanish, reduce activity. Copy only the smallest, most important items first. More activity may reduce what can still be copied.
  7. On a Mac, copy before using Disk Utility First Aid if you can. Apple advises having a current backup before repairing a storage device. If the Mac will not start normally, Apple silicon Macs may allow file transfer using Share Disk in macOS Recovery, and some Intel Macs may allow Target Disk Mode.
  8. After your important files are copied, use the built-in repair tool cautiously. On Windows, CHKDSK repair options can fix file-system errors and, on some file systems or damaged structures, may change how damaged data is handled. On a Mac, Disk Utility First Aid can check and repair storage-structure errors.
  9. If the repair fails, the warning comes back, or the device keeps behaving strangely, treat the disk as unreliable. Avoid storing the only copy of anything important on it, and plan for replacement or professional help.
  10. If the computer is under warranty or was bought recently, contact the retailer or manufacturer after your files are copied. UK consumer rights may give you routes through the retailer for faulty goods, depending on how and when you bought it.

What can wait

  • You do not need to decide now whether to wipe the disk, reinstall the operating system, replace the drive, or buy a new computer.
  • You do not need to organise, rename, deduplicate, or perfect the backup during the panic moment.
  • You do not need to prove whether the cause is software or hardware before copying your files.
  • You do not need to try multiple repair tools today.

Important reassurance

A disk-error warning does not mean everything is already lost. The safest first move is to slow down, reduce changes to the disk, and copy the files that would hurt most to lose.

Scope note

These are first steps only. After your important files are safe, later decisions about repair, replacement, warranty, consumer rights, or data recovery may need specialist help.

Important note

This is general information, not professional IT, legal, financial, or data-recovery advice. If the device holds business-critical, legally sensitive, or irreplaceable data, consider official support or a reputable data recovery professional before repeated repair attempts.

Additional Resources

Closely connected guides that may be useful during the same situation or its immediate aftermath.

About this guide

This guide was produced and is maintained by PanicStation.org using its published editorial process. Official and specialist sources are checked where relevant, and AI-assisted tools may be used for drafting, organisation, and consistency checks. The site operator remains responsible for publication, revision, and removal decisions.

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