How to fix “The File or Directory is Corrupted and Unreadable” error

This is a common error encountered on a Windows computer when the operating system cannot access the data on the external hard drive:

E: is not accessible. The file or directory is corrupted and unreadable.

(Drive E: cannot be accessed. The file or folder is damaged and cannot be read).

You might get this error after trying to open something from the USB. Or, depending on how your computer is set up, the error might appear right after inserting the hard drive into the computer.

This “not accessible” error can happen at any time, even if you have just used the drive recently. The head of the error message is an unreadable location, so it could be E :, H :, K :, etc

Causes of “The File or Directory is Corrupted and Unreadable” error

There are several reasons why you might get this error:

• Drive is removed without safely disconnecting
• Malware has infected the drive
• The external hard drive is physically damaged

This error can occur on any Windows operating system. The steps below apply to Windows 10 and earlier.

How to fix “The File or Directory is Corrupted and Unreadable” error

The best way to fix the “The File or Directory is Corrupted and Unreadable” error is to perform these troubleshooting steps, in order:

1. Run the chkdsk command on the hard drive

Do this by opening a Command Prompt with admin privileges and entering the following command, replacing the last letter with the letter of the drive that is displaying the error:

chkdsk /r e:

Note: Running the chkdsk command is the most likely fix for this error. If you skip this step, the next two suggestions below may not work because the drive is still unreadable.

2. Scan your hard drive with a malware removal program

If malware is the cause of the error, deleting it could restore access to the drive. Reference: Root removal of malware (malware) on a Windows 10 computer for more details.

3. Format the drive

If the drive is unreadable, it might not be possible to format it, but give it a try anyway.

Note: Formatting will erase everything from the drive! Before you complete this step, try to recover files from the drive using a file recovery program.

If the reason for the “The file or directory is corrupted and unreadable” error is due to the physical failure of the drive, repairing the drive is not enough to restore the data and prevent the error. In this case, you will need to replace the drive.

Check out the best list of USB and external hard drives Make tech easier for suggestions.

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