What is the FOUND.000 Folder and FILE0000.CHK File on a Drive?

If you've noticed a folder named FOUND.000 or a file in the format FILE0000.CHK on your drive, you might wonder where they came from and whether they are safe to delete. Let’s dive into their purpose and origin.

Purpose of the FOUND.000 Folder

The FOUND.000 folder is created by the Windows operating system during a disk check, typically after an unexpected shutdown or data read errors. When Windows performs a file system check (for example, through CHKDSK), it looks for corrupted files and, if it finds any, moves them into this folder. The number after "FOUND" (such as FOUND.001) may change if the system creates multiple folders.

Understanding FILE0000.CHK Files and Their Role

Files with the .CHK extension are data fragments that Windows has attempted to recover. If the system detects corrupted or orphaned file fragments, it saves them as files with names like FILE0000.CHK. These files may contain a variety of data types, from simple text to fragments of images or videos.

Is It Safe to Delete the FOUND.000 Folder and .CHK Files?

Generally, you can delete the FOUND.000 folder and .CHK files if you’re sure the data isn’t needed. However, before deleting, ensure that no essential data has been recently lost due to errors, as these recovered files might contain critical information.

How to Recover Data from .CHK Files

If you wish to retrieve data from .CHK files, you can use specialized recovery programs. These tools can help extract information from fragmented or damaged files. Programs like UnCHK or CHK-Mate analyze .CHK files and, in some cases, can restore the original data.