Fix The File Or Directory Is Corrupted And Unreadable In Not Accessible

 

The error "The file or directory is corrupted and unreadable" usually indicates file system corruption, 

commonly on USB drives, external hard disks, SD cards, or even internal drives. Here’s 

how to fix it and recover your data if possible:

Step 1: Identify the Drive

Note the drive letter (e.g., E:) that's showing the error.

🔧 Step 2: Run CHKDSK to Repair File System

Open Command Prompt as Administrator:

Press Win + X → Click Command Prompt (Admin) or Windows PowerShell (Admin).

Run CHKDSK Command:

c

Copy

Edit

chkdsk E: /f /r /x

Replace E: with your drive letter.

/f = Fixes errors.

/r = Locates bad sectors and recovers readable info.

/x = Forces dismount of the drive if needed.

Wait for the scan to complete.

This can take time depending on the size and health of the drive.

🔁 Step 3: Restart the Computer

After CHKDSK finishes, restart your PC and check if the drive is now accessible.

🧪 Step 4: Try Accessing Again

Open File Explorer and see if the drive is accessible.

If it works, back up your data immediately.

🛠️ Step 5: Use Data Recovery (If Still Unreadable)

If CHKDSK fails or doesn’t fix the issue:

Option A: Use Free Software

Recuva (by CCleaner)

PhotoRec/TestDisk (open source)

EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard (limited free version)

Option B: Use Disk Management to Check Drive Health

Press Win + X → Click Disk Management.

Look for your drive:

If it's shown as RAW, it means the file system is unrecognized.

❗ Last Resort: Reformat the Drive

Warning: This will erase all data. Only do this if recovery is impossible or unnecessary.

Right-click the drive in File Explorer → Click Format.

Choose:

File system: NTFS or exFAT

Quick format (or uncheck for a full scan)

Cmd -----   chkdsk /f n: 

N is Drive