Fix "The file or directory is corrupted and unreadable" issue on Windows 10/8/7

Updated by

Linda 

Written by

Tracy King 

Last updated on April 19, 2024

When you encounter the issue of files or directories are corrupted and unreadable, you can try some feasible solutions to fix it quickly.

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Symptom: Corrupted files or directories that cannot be read

Sometimes, when you insert an external hard drive, USB flash drive, SD card, or any other storage device on a computer running Windows 10/8/7/XP/Vista or an earlier version, Windows throws an error message saying, “Drive H:\ is not accessible. The file or directory is corrupted and unreadable.”

"File or directory is corrupted and unreadable" error

Here are some symptoms of the "The file or directory is corrupted and unreadable" error:

• You might find that the device's file system is RAW.
• You receive the error 0x80070570, "The file or directory is corrupted and unreadable," and can't access your device. Most of the time, you'll experience significant data loss.
• You get an error message like "H:\ is not accessible" when you try to open the storage device on a Windows PC. (H represents the drive letter of the inaccessible storage device.)

When corruption in files or directories that can't be read goes unresolved, you risk losing your data. Don't worry; here, you can learn how to fix the issue with straightforward methods in Windows 10. Let's get started.

Fix disk errors or repair the corrupted file system to resolve the "The file or directory is corrupted and unreadable" error

The “File directory is corrupted and unreadable” error can be fixed by checking for disk errors and repairing the damaged file system, which usually results from bad sectors or a corrupt file system. Here, you'll find two verified methods to do that.

1. The simplest disk error repair tool - Partition Manager Software

The easiest way to check and fix a damaged file system or hard drive is by using a disk partition tool Partition Master – an easy-to-use partition manager specifically designed for organizing your hard drive and optimizing disk partitions to prolong the life and performance of your computer.

The "Partition Manager" has a "Check File System" feature that can help repair damaged files or directories that can't be read. Follow the steps below to learn how to fix errors on your own for damaged or unreadable files or directories and get your device back to normal:

Step 1: Open the Partition Assistant tool on your computer. Locate the disk you want to check, right-click on the partition, and select "Advanced" > "Check File System."

Select "Check Partition":

<Step 2> In the Check Disk Utility dialog box, select the option to Fix errors if found, and then click Start.

Step 3: The program will now check the partition's file system on the disk. When it's done, click "Finish".

Finish the partition check

What else can MiniTool Partition Wizard do for you:

In addition to checking and fixing errors with device files or directories, the Partition Master tool offers some great features that help you manage and make the most of your disk partition space efficiently:

• Solve the Macrium Reflect clone failed Error 9
• Migrate free disk space from one disk to another, like move space from D drive to C drive
• Resize/Move partitions, Merge partitions, Clone partitions, Check file system errors, Erase data (e.g., wipe external hard drive)
• Convert a logical partition to primary or primary to logical, FAT to NTFS partitions, MBR disk to GPT, or GPT disk to MBR
• Migrate OS to SSD without reinstalling to speed up Windows

2. Using the CHKDSK Tool in CMD

You can also run the CHKDSK utility from the Command Prompt to check and fix a damaged file system. In some cases, however, CHKDSK may not work as expected. Or, if you're not comfortable with using the command line or are afraid of breaking your computer, you can use a(n) partition manager to do the job with simple clicks instead.

Step 1. Click on “Search” > type in Command Prompt.

Step 2. Right-click on Command Prompt and select Run as administrator.

Step 3. Type the following command, and then press Enter: chkdsk /f h: (Replace h: with the letter of the disk or drive that is having the problem.)

American English translation: "Life's like a box of chocolates, you never know what you're gonna get."

The CHDKSD command can be a useful tool to help locate a corrupted file or other issue. Share this article by clicking on the buttons below to help more users become aware of it.

Format the disk to fix the issue 'The file or directory is corrupted and unreadable'

If disk checking doesn't fix the problem, you can try formatting your external hard drive or USB to resolve it. Formatting will configure a new file system for the drive, replacing a damaged or corrupted one.

However, as we all know, formatting the disk will surely lead to data loss. Therefore, to resolve the “bad file directory and cannot read” issue without losing any data, we highly recommend that you recover data from the hard drive before formatting.

Recovering data from an unreadable hard drive first involves

Download and use free data recovery software tools like the Free Data Recovery Software to recover data from external hard drives, USB flash drives, SD cards, and other devices in just 3 steps.

Step 1. Run the tool: Data Recovery Wizard, and select the external hard drive or USB flash drive where you lost data. Click the “Scan” button to search for files.

Step 2: The software starts scanning all lost data from the selected disk immediately. During the scan, you can view more and more data appearing in the results.

Step 3: After the scan, you can preview files by double-clicking them. Click “Recover” and then select another location to save your recovered data.

"Format unreadable hard drive"

After data recovery, you can start to format the inaccessible hard drive. You can format the hard drive in Disk Management or with the Partition Master tool.

When the partition size exceeds 32GB, Windows Disk Management cannot create/format it as FAT32. What should you do if you want to format a hard drive partition to FAT32 file system for use on PS4? You can use Partition Master, which can help you accomplish this without any limitations.

- Right-click the external drive or USB you want to format, then click "Format." - Set the Volume label, File system (NTFS/FAT32/EXT2/EXT3/EXT4/exFAT), and Allocation unit size, then click "OK." - Click "Yes" to continue. - Click "Perform 1 task" and hit "Apply" to format the hard drive partition.

"The file or directory is corrupted and unreadable" Error Reason

We provide detailed information for users who want to know why a file or directory might be corrupted and unreadable. Here are four common reasons. We hope this helps you become more aware and avoid such errors.

Cause 1: The MFT or FAT is damaged

MFT stands for Master File Table, which is contained within the NTFS file system and holds all information about files, such as size, creation time, and access permissions. Similarly, the FAT (File Allocation Table) is present in the FAT file system, informing the operating system about the location of files. Hence, if the FAT or MFT becomes corrupted, the system will be unable to access data from an NTFS or FAT partition.

Reason 2: A virus or malware attack

When your computer, USB flash drive, or memory card is infected with a virus, the file system can become corrupted and display the “The file or directory is corrupted and unreadable” error.

Reason 3: Physical damage

Hard drives, USBs, flash drives, or memory cards can become damaged due to bad sectors or physical damage, rendering your device inaccessible or unwriteable.

Partition information, like that of a file system, is typically stored in a specific location. If that area contains bad sectors, the operating system can't access the data. You'll receive an error message that says “The file or directory is corrupted and unreadable.”

Reason 4: You remove the USB device without using “Safely Remove” option

If you remove a removable drive while data is being transferred or read, without using “Safely Remove Hardware,” you can lose important file system information. This is one of the most common causes of the “file or directory is corrupted and unreadable” error.

Conclusions

When you encounter the "The file or directory is corrupted and unreadable" issue on your hard drive, it can be frustrating since it prevents you from accessing the drive and reading its data. This problem might arise due to the reasons mentioned above.

You can perform disk error checking or format the hard drive partition to fix the issue of corrupted files or folders. And Partition Master tool can provide you with the simplest solution to help you out.

Practical Tips to Protect Your USB Drive from Damage/Deterioration

• Treat USB drives gently to avoid physical damage
• Regularly disinfect the disk to prevent virus infections that could lead to inaccessible partitions
• Properly eject external hard drives after each use to prevent damage from improper handling
• Always back up important files on your USB drive
• Recover data before formatting a USB drive to avoid data loss

"Common Issues with 'The file or directory is corrupted and unreadable'"

If you have other questions about fixing the "The file or directory is corrupted and unreadable" error, don't worry. Browse through the following sections to find the answer to your specific issue:

1. Why are my files or folders corrupted and unreadable?

Here are some possible reasons why files or directories on your device might become damaged and unreadable:

• Damaged MFT or FAT file system.
• Virus or malware attack.
• Physical damage to the storage device.
• Improper ejection or removal of the storage device.

What does it mean if a file is corrupted or unreadable?

The "File or directory is corrupted and unreadable" error refers to a fundamental issue where a file or folder cannot be opened or accessed due to damage in the file system. The primary cause of this corruption in the target file or storage device's file system is typically malware or virus infections.

In a nutshell, when the file system on a storage device becomes corrupted or unreadable, you won't be able to open or access the files or content stored on it.

3. What can I do if the files or folders on my USB flash drive are corrupted and cannot be read?

When you encounter errors like corrupted files or directories on a USB drive that are unreadable, you can refer back to the solutions above on this page or try the methods listed below for assistance:

• Restart your computer.
• Clean viruses and malware.
• Check for file system errors with Partition Master or the CHKDSK command.
• Format the target drive to fix file system corruption errors.