MS-DOS 6.22 ScanDisk Without User Interaction

This guide explains how to run the MS-DOS 6.22 SCANDISK utility automatically without requiring manual user input. Using the correct command-line parameters allows users to integrate disk diagnostics and repairs into automated batch scripts, such as AUTOEXEC.BAT, ensuring system maintenance proceeds without pausing for confirmation prompts.

The primary parameter used to run MS-DOS 6.22 SCANDISK without user interaction is /AUTOFIX.

The /AUTOFIX Switch

When you launch SCANDISK with the /AUTOFIX switch, the utility automatically repairs any disk errors it encounters without pausing to ask whether you want to fix them.

Basic Syntax:

SCANDISK C: /AUTOFIX

Preventing Cluster Prompts with /NOSAVE

While /AUTOFIX handles general disk errors automatically, SCANDISK may still prompt you about what to do with lost cluster chains (whether to save them as files or delete them).

To make the process entirely non-interactive, combine /AUTOFIX with the /NOSAVE switch. This tells SCANDISK to automatically delete any lost allocation units instead of prompting you to convert them into .CHK files.

Fully Unattended Syntax:

SCANDISK C: /AUTOFIX /NOSAVE

Additional Non-Interactive Switches

Depending on your automation needs, two other switches control user interaction in MS-DOS 6.22:

• /CHECKONLY: Scans the disk and reports errors without prompting to fix them or making any changes to the disk.

  SCANDISK C: /CHECKONLY

• /CUSTOM: Runs SCANDISK using the automated configuration options defined in the [CUSTOM] section of the SCANDISK.INI file. This file allows you to preconfigure whether to perform surface scans, log errors, or prompt the user.

  SCANDISK C: /CUSTOM