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We store all kinds of files and folders on our PC, but sometimes certain files and directories become corrupted and unreadable.
External Hard Drive Corrupted And Unreadable Fix
In fact, you have encountered the problem of files or directories that are damaged and unreadable, and there is nothing more frustrating than not being able to access them, especially when you need them.
How To Fix The “file Or Directory Is Corrupted And Unreadable” Error On A Windows 10 Computer
But there are some important tips to remember if you find yourself in this unfortunate situation, so don’t despair.
This can be a big problem for users, but there is a way to fix a file or directory that is damaged and unreadable in Windows 10. Before we dig in, let’s look at some specific situations and examples where you might encounter this problem.
Error messages The file or directory is corrupted, and unreadable types of errors can be considered critical. This happens when malicious software causes file corruption, affecting your file system.
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All programs can have corrupt files that cannot perform their functions. Therefore, this type of file is called corrupt.
A corrupt directory can be a problem because it won’t allow you to access your files. Speaking of corrupt directories, users report the following issues:
According to users, one way to fix problems with corrupt directories is to use the chkdsk tool. Chkdsk is a command-line tool that repairs any folder, scans specific hard drive partitions, and repairs damaged files or folders.
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We should mention that some users report that the chkdsk command deletes files from their partitions without warning, so be sure to back up important files just in case.
Restoring your system to a previous state can fix some system problems. A simpler way to restore your system is to use a special tool that can do all the work for you.
Restore will automatically scan your PC for problematic files and replace all unavailable critical Windows system files with previous versions that are fully working.
Fixes] The Disk Structure Is Corrupted And Unreadable Error
The built-in system restore tool will roll back your Windows to a previous version, so you won’t lose some valuable data that was saved after the restore point was created. You can restore your system to its pre-repair state.
Disclaimer: This program needs to be upgraded from the free version to perform some special actions.
Using an external storage device is a great way to free up some space on your hard drive and keep your important files backed up.
Fixes: The File Or Directory Is Corrupted And Unreadable
Unfortunately, users have reported that this problem occurs with their external storage devices. According to users, one of the easiest ways to fix this problem is to keep connecting your external hard drive.
After you have reconnected your drive a few times, Windows 10 will inform you about the industry problem and ask you for permission to fix it.
The repair process should take about 30 seconds, and the problem should be resolved once the process is complete.
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If you still have problems with corrupt directories on your PC, you can try using recovery software to restore your files.
We must mention that these tools can give different results, depending on the amount of corruption.
If you are looking for a good file recovery software, we recommend the professional Stellar Data Recovery tool, which quickly recovers files from damaged directories.
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One way to fix this problem is to partition and format the drive by following the steps above.
If the drive is disconnected, you need to format it from This PC. To do that, follow these steps:
After the drive is formatted, you can access your external storage device without any problem. However, remember that formatting will delete all files from your external storage device.
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Corrupt directories can be a sign of a damaged hard drive, and if you want to make sure your hard drive is healthy and working properly, you need to check its health.
Many third-party applications can help you, and if you need a tool that can clone your hard drive to a new one, you should consider using a professional.
Some PC problems are difficult to solve, especially when it comes to corrupt repositories or missing Windows files. If you are having trouble fixing the error, your system may be partially corrupted.
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If you cannot open a particular directory on your PC because it is corrupted, you can try to access this directory in Safe Mode.
If you’re not familiar, Safe Mode is the part of Windows that runs default apps and settings, so it’s perfect for troubleshooting.
If you have problems with corrupt directories, the problem may be related to your user profile. For example, if your user profile is corrupted, you may not be able to access certain directories.
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However, you can always avoid this problem by simply creating a new user account. After that, switch to the latest version and check if the problem persists.
If you can access all directories without problems, it means that a corrupt account is causing the problem.
Since there is no way to fix a broken account, you should transfer your files to a new account and start using it as your primary account.
How To Troubleshoot And Fix External Drive Not Detected Issues On Windows 10
On Windows-based operating systems, the CHKDSK system tool or utility (check disk) performs a scan of your hard drive to look for file system problems.
To maintain proper computer cleanliness, you should regularly run the CHKDSK tool to check and fix errors on your hard drive and keep your system data organized. We showed you how to use it in the first solution, so check it out.
Fixing a corrupt directory in Windows 10 can be a complicated process, but if you encounter a problem with a corrupt directory, be sure to try one of our solutions above.
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But if you want to prevent this problem from happening in the future so that you don’t have to go through the same process every time, then there are some things to consider:
Malware plays an important role in the file corruption problem, even though its main goal is to corrupt your entire operating system, not a single file.
Microsoft Defender is a reliable ally against malware and viruses that can attack your PC, but often the innovation of hackers surpasses it.
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That’s why a life-saving solution seems unexpected, and you can choose one of the best Windows 10 antivirus software in use today.
Choose an antivirus solution that fits your needs, and use it with confidence to save your work and protect your PC.
Regarding durability over time, HDDs are more fragile and require more attention from users who want to keep their PCs at the best standards.
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Bad sectors are a common problem with your hard drive, which often results in corrupt files or directories and affects your entire system.
To ensure that your HDD remains healthy, you need from time to time a defragmentation or chkdsk command, which can be obtained by a simple user.
Sometimes when your PC crashes, it is impossible to open a particular file. The safe solution is to open the file or directory in Safe Mode or create a new user profile.
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Also, if you don’t know how to fix corrupted files in Windows 10, we give you the easiest solution to get you out of the problem.
We hope our above solutions help you to fix the issue of corrupt or unreadable files or directories on your Windows 10 PC.
If you have any other suggestions or questions about this topic, please access the comment section below.
Fix: Chkdsk Got Stuck In Windows 10/11
If the advice above doesn’t solve your problem, your PC may be experiencing a deeper Windows issue. We recommend downloading this PC Repair tool (rated Excellent on TrustPilot.com) to fix this. After installation, just click Start Scan button and then press Repair All. If you are facing the error “The file or directory is corrupt and unreadable” when you try to access an external hard disk, SD card or USB flash drive, then This means that there is a problem with the device and not you can access it until the problem is taken care of. Errors may occur if you sometimes remove your USB drive without safe removal, virus or malware infection, damaged file structure or bad sectors, etc.
Now that you are probably the reason why this error is caused it is time to see how to fix the problem. So without wasting time let’s see how to actually fix the corrupt file or directory and unreadable error on Windows 10 PC with the help of the troubleshooting guide listed below.
Warning: Running Checkdisk may delete your data because if there are bad sectors, checkdisk will delete all data on that particular partition, so make sure you backup your data.
What Is A Corrupted File And How Can I Fix It?
1. Open Command Prompt. Users can perform this step by searching for ‘cmd’ and pressing Enter.
Note: Make sure you use the drive letter where Windows is currently installed. Also in the command above C: is the drive we want to check the disk, /f stands for the flag that allows chkdsk to fix errors related to the drive, /r makes chkdsk look for non good sectors and do.