Which system utility is used for checking disk integrity in Windows?

The system utility used for checking disk integrity in Windows is CHKDSK. This tool is designed specifically to examine the file system and the file system metadata of a volume for logical and physical errors. When executed, CHKDSK scans the disk for issues such as bad sectors, lost clusters, and cross-linked files and attempts to recover any errors it finds.

Running CHKDSK can be particularly useful for diagnosing and fixing problems with hard drives, ensuring that data stored on the disk remains intact and accessible. It can also recommend the necessary repairs and help maintain overall disk health by identifying potential problems before they result in data loss or corruption.

In contrast, while the defragmenter optimizes file placement on the disk, and Disk Cleanup is utilized to free up space by removing unnecessary files, neither of these functions is focused on checking disk integrity. Disk Manager allows users to manage disk drives and partitions but does not perform integrity checks on the disk itself. Thus, CHKDSK is the most suitable choice for maintaining and assessing disk integrity within the Windows operating system.