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Is there a way to run a surface scan of a hard drive using Windows CHKDSK without attempt to repair?

The only option I see for a surface scan is /r which scans the surface but also attempts recovery of bad sectors. If you suspect a bad drive, I wouldn't always necessarily want to attempt recovery, just check the surface if there's any bad sectors, attempt a backup, then try to repair.

I know there's other tools for this, but was wondering if there is a way with CHKDSK?

EDIT: Not sure why downvoted, it's a valid question.

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  • No there is not, but you can with a 3rd party disk tool like Spinrite 6 using level 2 scan, not free but the best there is.>>>grc.com/sr/spinrite.htm
    – Moab
    Commented Sep 18, 2021 at 20:08

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chkdsk

Checks the file system and file system metadata of a volume for logical and physical errors. If used without parameters, chkdsk displays only the status of the volume and does not fix any errors. If used with the /f, /r, /x, or /b parameters, it fixes errors on the volume. Microsoft Documentation

to check without repairing use chkdsk from the commandline (cmd.exe) WITHOUT parameters:

chkdsk <driveletter>:

Also see social.technet.microsoft they explain the difference between the GUI and commandline invocation chkdsk technet

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    That only scans the file structure not the disk surface.
    – HTWingNut
    Commented Sep 18, 2021 at 14:47
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It appears there is no way to only scan the disk surface. All functions either scan the file system, or scan the surface but only with option to attempt recovery.

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