Windows, despite its widespread use, is prone to errors, including the dreaded “The file or directory is corrupted and unreadable” message. This article aims to explore this error and provide effective solutions.
What Triggers the Error?
This error typically arises when Windows struggles to access an external drive such as a USB flash drive, SD card, external SSD, or HDD. It indicates that the system cannot read the file system or the data stored on the drive.
Common Causes
Several factors can lead to this error:
- Drive corruption.
- Malware or virus infections.
- Physical damage to the external drive.
- Improper removal of the external hard drive.
- Malfunctioning USB port.
Here are some effective solutions to resolve this error in Windows:
Running chkdsk from the command prompt
If the graphical method doesn’t work, try running the disk check utility from the command prompt.
Step 1: Right-click the Windows icon and select Command Prompt (Admin) or Windows Terminal (Admin).
Step 2: In the command prompt window, type the following command:
chkdsk /r d:
Make sure to replace d: with the drive letter of the affected external drive.
Step 3: Press Enter and wait for the scan to complete.
This process might take some time, so be patient. Once it’s done, restart your computer.
Run the ChkDsk command
This method uses the disk check utility through the graphical user interface to attempt to fix the error.
Step 1: Open File Explorer on your Windows PC.
Step 2: Right-click on the external hard drive and select Properties.
Step 3: Click on the Tools tab.
Step 4: Under the Error-checking section, click on the Check button.
Step 5: In the next popup, click on the Scan drive option.
Step 6: Wait for the scan to complete.
Step 7: Once the process is complete, click the Close button.
Use Malware Removal Programs
Malware infections can also lead to this error. Therefore, it’s crucial to scan your entire system with a reliable security solution.
We recommend using a reputable antivirus program to scan the drive. Ensure that the antivirus software has the latest malware definitions for optimal scanning.
Restart your computer
Sometimes, the error is simply a result of a temporary glitch that a restart can resolve.
Step 1: Close all open applications and save your work.
Step 2: Click the Windows icon in the taskbar.
Step 3: Select Restart from the power options.
After the restart, check if the error persists.
Disable Your Antivirus Program
Antivirus programs can sometimes cause false positive warnings, preventing access to your external drive.
Step 1: Locate the icon for your antivirus program in the system tray (usually in the lower-right corner of the screen).
Step 2: Right-click the icon and look for an option to temporarily disable the program. This option might be labeled as Disable, Pause Protection, or something similar.
Step 3: Choose a duration for which the antivirus will be disabled (e.g., 15 minutes, 1 hour).
Step 4: Try accessing the file on the external drive again. If the error is gone, your antivirus program was likely the cause.
Remember to re-enable your antivirus protection as soon as possible to keep your system secure.
Hopefully, these steps helped you resolve the “The file or directory is corrupted and unreadable” error. Remember to always safely eject external drives to prevent data corruption.