Fix The File or Directory Is Corrupted and Unreadable in Windows 10/8/7

Updated by

Shelly 

Written by

Tracy King 

Updated on Apr 29, 2025

When you encounter the file or directory is corrupted and unreadable, you may want to know the following items.

The File or Directory Is Corrupted and Unreadable Symptoms

Sometimes, when you plugged in an external hard drive, USB flash drive, SD card, or some other storage devices into your computer runs Windows 10/8/7/XP/Vista or some other previous versions, Windows prompts an error message: "Drive H:\ is not accessible. The file or directory is corrupted and unreadable.".

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

• If you check the device's file system, you are likely to find that it is a RAW file system.
• When location is not available error 0x80070570 the file or directory is corrupted and unreadable error message happens, you can not access your device. You might end up with huge data loss at most times.
• 'H:\ is not accessible' error message pops up when you try to open a storage device on Windows PC. (H represents the drive letter of your inaccessible storage device.)

If you don't solve the problem timely when the file or directory is corrupted and unreadable, your data will most likely be lost. Rest assured, you can learn how to fix the error on Windows 10 with simple solutions here. Let's do it together.

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Repair Disk Errors or Corrupted File System to Fix The File or Directory Is Corrupted and Unreadable Error

Checking disk errors and repairing corrupted file systems can resolve the file directory is corrupted and unreadable error caused by bad sectors and file system corruption. Additionally, this part offers another method for removing viruses or malware from your PC. 

1. Easiest Disk Error Repair Tool - Partition Management Software🔥

To check and repair the corrupted file system and a hard drive, the simplest way is to use EaseUS Partition Master - a simple-to-use partition tool specializing in organizing your hard drive and optimizing disk partitions to extend your computer's life and capability.

EaseUS partition manager has a "Check File System" feature to help fix the file or directory is corrupted and unreadable issue. Follow and learn the steps of how to fix file or directory corrupted or unreadable error on your own and make your device work normally again:

Step 1. Open EaseUS Partition Master on your computer. Then, locate the disk, right-click the partition you want to check, and choose "Advanced" > "Check File System".

Step 2. In the Check File System window, keep the "Try to fix errors if found" option selected and click "Start".

Step 3. The software will begin checking your partition file system on your disk. When it completes, click "Finish".

What Else Can EaseUS Partition Master Do for You:

Aside from checking and fix device file or directory corruption error, EaseUS Partition Master also provides you some magnificent features as listed below to help you manage and make full use of disk partition space efficiently:

• Transfer free disk space from one drive to another, like move space from D drive to C drive
• Resize/move, merge, clone partition, check file system error, wipe data (e.g. wipe external hard drive)
• Convert a logical partition to primary or primary partition to logical, FAT to NTFS partition, MBR disk to GPT, or GPT disk to MBR
• Migrate OS to SSD to speed up Windows without reinstalling.

2. Run Disk Check in Windows Properties

If you're not familiar with the CHKDSK command prompt tool, you can use the Check Disk utility. It can check your hard disk for faults and correct them. The Check Disk option launches the CHKDSK application, which can scan your hard disk and create a report, or it can scan and repair both file system problems and bad sectors.

Step 1. Press Win + E to open File Explorer > click This PC > find the hard disk that you want to check for errors.

Step 2. Right-click on your selected drive > click Properties. Under the Tools tab, click Check.

Step 3. Choose Scan drive to detect potential disk errors on your chosen drive.

3. Use CHKDSK Tool in CMD

You can also run the CHKDSK tool in Command Prompt to check and repair the corrupted file system. In some cases, CHKDSK may not work as expected. Or, if you're new to the computer and afraid to use the command line, you can resort to the partition manager to do the job in simple clicks.

Step 1. Click Search > type command prompt.

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

Step 3. Enter the below command: chkdsk /f h: and then press Enter. (Replace h: with the drive letter of your unreadable disk or drive.)

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4. Run System File Checker

Besides CHKDSK, System File Checker (SFC) is another Windows tool that helps you detect and fix problems with your computer's files. Please ensure you're running the latest version of Windows. Then, you're ready to adopt the following steps.

Step 1. Type command prompt in the search bar > select Run as administrator to open the Command Prompt window.

Step 2. Type DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth > press Enter.

Step 3. After seeing The operation completed successfully, type sfc /scannow > press Enter.

Step 4. When you see Verification 100% complete, type exit > press Enter to end the Command Prompt window.

5. Run Windows Security to Check for Malware on Your PC

Malware or virus infection is also responsible for the file or directory is corrupted and unreadable. If the above ways are useless, you can run Windows Security to check for malware on your PC, as its real-time protection constantly scans your device for potential threats, including viruses, malware, and spyware.

Step 1. Press Win + I to open Windows Settings > select Privacy & Security > click Virus & threat protection.

Step 2. Under the Virus & threat protection tab, click Scan options.

Step 3. In this case, you'd better select Full scan > click Scan now. After scanning, restart your PC and try to access your file again.

Format Disk to Solve The File or Directory Is Corrupted and Unreadable Issue

If a disk check doesn't work, you can try to format your external hard drive or USB drive to solve the issue. Format configures hard disk with a new file system, after which the corrupted or damaged file system will be replaced.

However, as we all know, the disk format will definitely cause data loss. Therefore, to settle the file directory is corrupted and unreadable issue without any data loss, we highly recommend you recover your data from your hard drive before format.

Phase 1. Recover Data from Unreadable Hard Disk First

Download and use EaseUS free data recovery software to recover data from external hard drive, USB flash drive, SD card, and more devices with only 3 steps.

Step 1. Choose and scan the external hard drive

• Download and install EaseUS Data Recovery on your PC or laptop. 
• Connect the external hard drive to your computer.
• Run EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard and choose the external drive from External drives list. Then, click "Search for Lost Data". 

Step 2. Check the scan results

• EaseUS data recovery software will immediately scan the selected drive for all data, including deleted, corrupted, and existing data.
• You can use the Filter feature to quickly locate the files of one kind, such as Pictures, Word, Excel, PDF, videos, emails, etc.

Step 3. Preview and recover data

• Double-clicking a file from the scanned results to preview.
• Choose the files you want and click "Recover".
• Select a different drive to save the recovered files instead of the original one.

💡Tip: You can restore data on the local disks, external hard drives, and also the cloud storage.

Phase 2. Format the Unreadable Hard Drive

After data recovery, you can begin to format the inaccessible hard drive. You can format the hard drive in Disk Management or using EaseUS Partition Master.

Windows Disk Management doesn't allow you to create/format a partition to FAT32 when the partition size is larger than 32GB. What if you want to format your hard disk partitions to the FAT32 file system for use on PS4? Use EaseUS Partition Master, which can help you do it without limitation.

• Right-click the external drive or USB you intend to format and choose "Format".
• Set the Partition label, File system (NTFS/FAT32/EXT2/EXT3/EXT4/exFAT), and Cluster size if you intend to change. Then click "OK".
• Click "Yes" to continue.
• Click the "Execute 1 Task(s)" button and click "Apply" to format your selected external hard drive or USB stick. 

The File or Directory Is Corrupted and Unreadable Causes

We provide detailed information for users who want to figure out why the file or directory is corrupted and unreadable error happens. Here we list 4 common reasons. We hope it is helpful, and you can take caution with awareness to avoid this error.

Cause 1. MFT or FAT Corruption

MFT is short for Master File Table and is included in the NTFS file system, containing all the information, including file size, creation time, and access permissions. Like MFT, FAT (File Allocation Table) is included in the FAT file system. It tells the operating system where the file is stored. Thus, FAT or Master File Table corrupted error will disallow the system access data from the NTFS or FAT partitions.

Cause 2. Virus or Malware Attack

When your computers, USB flash drive, memory card get infected with a virus, the file system might be corrupted and show the file or directory is corrupted and unreadable error.

Cause 3. Physical Damage

Hard drive, USB, flash drive, or memory card can be corrupted due to bad sectors or physical damage, which will cause your device to no longer accessible or writable.

Partition information such as file system is usually saved in a specific location. If this location includes bad sectors, then the operating system will fail to access data. Then you'll get the file or directory is corrupted or unreadable error message.

Cause 4. Unplug USB Without Using Safely Remove Option

If you unplug a removable disk from the computer without using 'Safely Remove' while the drive is transferring or reading data, you will risk losing vital files system information. This is one of the most common reasons for the file or directory is corrupted or unreadable error.

Conclusion

It can be nettlesome when your hard drive has the file or directory is corrupted and unreadable problem, as it prevents you from accessing your hard drive and read the data. The issue can occur due to the causes mentioned above.

You can fix the file or directory is corrupted issue by performing disk error repair or hard drive partition formatting. And EaseUS Partition Master can help you resolve the problem with the easiest solutions.

Useful Tips for Protecting USB Drive from Damage/Corruption

• Handle your USB drive with care to avoid physical damage
• Disinfect the disk regularly to prevent virus attacks that can lead to partition no accessible error
• Remove your external hard drive properly after each use to avoid corrupting caused by improper operation
• Always back up important files on your USB drive
• Be sure to recover data before formatting your USB drive to avoid data loss

FAQs About The File Or Directory Is Corrupted and Unreadable

It doesn't matter if you have further questions about solving the error of 'the file or directory is corrupted and unreadable' error. Follow this part and find desired answer to the listed questions below:

1. Why the file or directory is corrupted and unreadable?

Here is a list of possible reasons that could cause file or directory corrupted and unreadable on your device:

• MFT or FAT file system corruption.
• Virus or malware attack.
• Physical damage on storage devices
• Unplug or eject storage device improperly.

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

The 'File or directory is corrupted or unreadable' error is defined as a fundamental error that occurs when the target file is unopenable or inaccessible due to file system corruption. And the main reason for file system corruption of target files or storage device is malware or virus infection.

In a word, when the file directory is corrupted or unreadable on a storage device, you won't be able to open or access the saved files or content inside the device.

3. What can I do if the file or directory is corrupted and unreadable on USB?

When you are with file or directory corrupted and unreadable error on USB drive, you can either revert to the above solutions on this page or try the listed methods for help:

• Restart the computer.
• Cleanup virus and malware.
• Check file system error with EaseUS Partition Master or CHKDSK command.
• Format the target drive, fix the file system corruption error.

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