Home >Common Problem >FIX: The file or directory is corrupted and unreadable
Some symptoms of a file or directory being corrupted and unreadable on Windows 10 are:
This error code may occur if the location is not available. This error often results in severe data loss.
May appear when trying to access a storage device on a Windows PC "X: Unreachable" error message, where X represents the drive letter of the device that cannot be accessed.
If you check the device, the device's file system is probably RAW.
Please note that if you do not resolve the problem in time, such as a file or directory that is damaged and unreadable, your information may be lost.
The "The file or directory is corrupted and cannot be read" error is usually caused by a hardware or software problem that Blocks your computer from accessing the file or folder you are trying to open. Here are some common causes of this error:
If your computer is infected with a virus or malware, It can damage files or folders and cause them to become unreadable.
If you unplug an external storage device (such as a USB drive or memory card) without unsafe ejection, it may Causes file corruption.
If the storage device has been physically damaged, such as a damaged read/write head on a hard drive or a bent connector USB drive, it may cause the file or directory to become unreadable.
Keep reading and you will find out how to fix the file or directory is corrupted and unreadable error in Windows 10.
3.1 Preparation for formatting the disk
Format Freezing the hard drive will solve this problem, but it will also delete your important files. You need to be fully prepared before formatting the drive in question. Backing up important files is the first choice, but don’t worry if you’re not in the habit of backing up.
Tenorshare 4DDiG is an effective way to recover any important data from problematic drives. It supports over 1000 file types and you can get your data back in just 3 easy steps! Just follow these steps:
Step 1: Launch 4DDiG and select the drive you want to retrieve
Download 4DDiG from the official website and install it. After opening the software, you can select the drive from which you want to recover files, whether it is an internal hard drive or an external hard drive.
Step 2: Scan the Disk and Preview Files
Scanning the hard drive will take a while, but it won't last long. During this time, you can preview the scanned files in two views (file view or tree view).
Step 3: Click the "Restore" button.
After the scan is complete, select the files you want to retrieve. Click the "Recover" button and it only takes a few seconds to recover your files.
Remember to save the file in the new location.
3.2 How to format the disk
You can use built-in tools such as "Disk Management" to format the disk. Here's how to format:
Step 1: Right-click the "Start" button and select "Disk Management" from the menu.
Step 2: Locate the drive showing the error "The file or directory is corrupted and cannot be read." Right click on it and select Format…
Step 3: Let it finish and open the drive again
4.1: Use the CMD command
If you encounter the error "The file or directory is corrupted" on your Windows computer Corrupted and unreadable", you can use Command Prompt (CMD) to try to resolve the issue. Here are the steps to do this:
Step 1. Click the "Start" button and select "Command Prompt (Admin)".
Step 2. Type the command and press Enter:
chkdsk /f A:
(replace A with the drive letter of the affected drive)
Step 3. The chkdsk utility will start scanning the drive for errors and fix them if possible.
Step 4. When finished, type "exit" and press Enter. Then, close the CMD window and try accessing the file or directory again to see if the error is resolved.
If the above steps don’t work, you can also try to use 4DDiG to recover any lost data from the damaged drive.
4.2: Use the Error Checking Tool
In fact, you can also use the "Error Checking" tool built into Windows to scan and fix any errors on the disk. Here are the detailed steps to use it:
Step 1: Open File Explorer and locate the disk showing the error. Right-click it and select Properties.
Step 2: In the Properties window, go to the Tools tab and click on Error "Check" button under the "Check" section.
Step 3: A new window will appear. Check the box next to "Scan drive" and click the "Scan" button.
Step 4: Once the scan is complete, the tool will display a report of any errors found. If you find an error, click the Repair Drive button to fix it.
After completing these steps, you should be able to access your files and directories without seeing the "The file or directory is corrupted and unreadable" error.
4.3 Using Startup Repair
If this error occurs on the C drive of your system, you can use Windows Startup Repair to fix them. Here's how to do it on Windows 10:
Step 1: Press "Win X". Then, hold down the "Shift" key on your keyboard and click on the "Power" icon.
Step 2: Select Restart from the pop-up menu. Your computer will now restart and you will see the "Choose an option" screen.
Step 3: From here, you can select TroubleshootingTroubleshooting to access advanced troubleshooting options.
Step 4: Select Start Repair, The system will automatically repair potential problems.
After completing the entire process, you can try plugging in the external device again.
5.1 Restart your computer
If you develop By putting your computer into sleep mode instead of shutting it down completely, you may experience various problems and slowdowns. Therefore, the error message "The file or directory is corrupted and cannot be read" may be just a brief hiccup that can be resolved by simply restarting your computer.
5.2 Disable antivirus software
Antivirus software may block access to external drives if it detects a potential threat . To use the drive without real threats, you can temporarily turn off your antivirus software.
5.3 Change the location of unreadable files
To solve the "The file or directory is damaged and unreadable" error, you can try to re-install the affected file or folder. Target another location. For example, copying a file from an external drive to an internal drive may help to access it without any issues.
So, you don’t need to worry about how to fix error “The file or directory is corrupted and unreadable” in Windows 10. There are many effective ways for you to deal with this tricky problem.
This error usually occurs on small portable devices such as USB drives. So, here are some tips to protect your USB drive from damage or damage:
Before Ejecting USB Drive from Computer Be sure to pop it out safely before removing it. This ensures that all data has been written to the drive and there is no risk of data loss or corruption.
#You can use a protective case to protect your USB drive from physical damage. The casing also helps prevent dust and moisture from getting inside the drive.
Always scan the USB drive for viruses before use. This helps prevent virus infections and data loss.
High-quality USB drives are less susceptible to damage and provide better durability. Invest in a quality USB drive to ensure your data is always safe.
By following these tips, you can protect your portable device from damage or damage and ensure that your data is always safe and secure.
In summary, the error message "The file or directory is corrupted and unreadable" can be caused by a number of factors, such as physical damage or malware infection. Fortunately, there are several solutions to fix this problem, including running CHKDSK, using an error checking tool, and formatting the drive. However, if formatting is required, important files must be backed up beforehand. In case of data loss, 4DDiG is a reliable tool to recover lost files from the drive.
The above is the detailed content of FIX: The file or directory is corrupted and unreadable. For more information, please follow other related articles on the PHP Chinese website!