The file or directory is corrupted and unreadable windows 11​

Windows 11 is Microsoft’s latest operating system, boasting a sleek interface, enhanced performance, and a plethora of new features. However, like any operating system, it is not immune to errors. One common and frustrating error that users may encounter is the message “The file or directory is corrupted and unreadable.” This error can prevent users from accessing important files, directories, or even cause system instability. In this article, we will delve into the causes, symptoms, and various solutions to this error in Windows 11.

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

1. Hard Drive Issues

Physical Damage: A hard drive can sustain physical damage due to various reasons such as drops, impacts, or exposure to extreme temperatures. Physical damage can lead to bad sectors on the drive, which can cause files and directories to become corrupted. For example, if a laptop is accidentally dropped, the hard drive’s platters may get scratched, resulting in data loss or corruption.

Logical Errors: Logical errors can occur due to improper shutdowns, software crashes, or malware infections. These errors can disrupt the file system structure, making files and directories unreadable. For instance, if a power outage occurs while Windows 11 is writing data to the hard drive, it can lead to file system corruption.

2. File System Corruption

NTFS or FAT32 Errors: Windows 11 primarily uses the NTFS (New Technology File System) format, although it also supports FAT32. Errors in the file system can occur due to various reasons, such as disk errors, improper disk management, or software conflicts. For example, if a disk defragmentation process is interrupted, it can lead to file system corruption.

Metadata Corruption: File system metadata contains information about files and directories, such as their location, size, and permissions. If the metadata becomes corrupted, Windows 11 may not be able to access the files or directories correctly. This can happen due to software bugs, malware attacks, or improper disk operations.

3. Malware Infections

Virus or Ransomware Attacks: Malware, such as viruses, worms, or ransomware, can infect a Windows 11 system and corrupt files and directories. Ransomware, in particular, encrypts files and demands a ransom for their decryption. Even if the ransom is paid, there is no guarantee that the files will be restored correctly. For example, the WannaCry ransomware attack in 2017 affected millions of computers worldwide, encrypting files and causing significant data loss.

Malicious Software Modifications: Some malware may modify system files or settings, leading to file and directory corruption. For instance, a Trojan horse may install itself on a system and modify the file system to hide its presence or to gain unauthorized access to user data.

4. Software Conflicts

Incompatible Applications: Installing incompatible applications can sometimes cause conflicts with the Windows 11 operating system, leading to file and directory corruption. For example, if an application tries to access a file or directory that is already in use by another program, it can result in data corruption.

Driver Issues: Outdated or incompatible device drivers can also cause problems in Windows 11. Drivers are software components that allow the operating system to communicate with hardware devices. If a driver is faulty, it can cause the system to crash or lead to file and directory corruption. For instance, an outdated graphics driver may cause the system to freeze or crash while accessing certain files or directories.

Symptoms of the Error

1. Inability to Access Files or Directories

When the “The file or directory is corrupted and unreadable” error occurs, users may be unable to open files or access directories. They may receive an error message stating that the file or directory cannot be found, or that access is denied. For example, if a user tries to open a document in a corrupted directory, they may receive an error message saying “The file cannot be accessed because it is corrupted or damaged.”

In some cases, users may be able to see the files or directories in File Explorer, but when they try to open them, they receive an error message. This can be frustrating, especially if the files are important and need to be accessed urgently.

2. System Crashes or Freezes

File and directory corruption can also cause the Windows 11 system to crash or freeze. This can happen when the operating system tries to access a corrupted file or directory, or when a software application crashes due to the corruption. For example, if a program tries to read a corrupted file, it may cause the system to freeze or crash.

System crashes and freezes can be a sign of a more serious problem, and it is important to address the issue as soon as possible to prevent further damage to the system.

3. Disk Error Messages

Windows 11 may display disk error messages when there is a problem with the hard drive or file system. These messages may indicate that there are bad sectors on the drive, or that the file system is corrupted. For example, users may receive a message saying “The disk check utility has detected errors on the disk. Please run the disk check utility to repair the errors.”

Disk error messages should not be ignored, as they can indicate a serious problem with the hard drive or file system. Running the disk check utility can help to identify and repair some of these errors.

Solutions to the “The File or Directory is Corrupted and Unreadable” Error

1. Run CHKDSK Utility

The CHKDSK (Check Disk) utility is a built-in Windows tool that can be used to check the integrity of the hard drive and file system. It can detect and repair errors such as bad sectors, file system corruption, and metadata errors. To run CHKDSK in Windows 11:

Open the Command Prompt as an administrator. You can do this by pressing the Windows key + X and selecting “Command Prompt (Admin)” from the menu.

In the Command Prompt window, type “chkdsk C: /f /r” (replace “C:” with the drive letter of the affected drive if it is different) and press Enter. The “/f” parameter tells CHKDSK to fix any errors it finds, and the “/r” parameter tells it to locate bad sectors and recover readable information.

You may be prompted to schedule the disk check to run the next time the system restarts. Type “Y” and press Enter to schedule the disk check.

Restart the computer, and CHKDSK will run automatically. The process may take some time, depending on the size of the drive and the number of errors it finds.

2. Use System File Checker (SFC)

The System File Checker (SFC) is another built-in Windows tool that can be used to scan for and repair corrupted system files. It can help to fix problems that may be causing file and directory corruption. To run SFC in Windows 11:

Open the Command Prompt as an administrator.

In the Command Prompt window, type “sfc /scannow” and press Enter.

SFC will scan the system for corrupted files and attempt to repair them. The process may take some time, depending on the size of the system and the number of corrupted files it finds.

If SFC finds any corrupted files that it cannot repair, it may provide a log file with more information about the problem. You can view the log file at “%windir%\Logs\CBS\CBS.log” to get more details.

3. Restore from a Backup

If you have a recent backup of the affected files or directories, you can restore them from the backup. This is the best way to recover lost or corrupted data. There are several backup solutions available for Windows 11. such as Windows Backup, third-party backup software, or cloud backup services.

To restore files from a Windows Backup:

Open the Settings app in Windows 11 by pressing the Windows key + I.

Click on “Update & Security” and then select “Backup” from the left-hand menu.

Under “Looking for an older backup?”, click on “Go to Backup and Restore (Windows 7)”.

In the Backup and Restore (Windows 7) window, click on “Restore my files” and follow the on-screen instructions to select the files or directories you want to restore and the location where you want to restore them.

4. Scan for Malware

If you suspect that malware is causing the file and directory corruption, you should scan your system for malware using a reliable antivirus or anti-malware program. There are many free and paid antivirus programs available for Windows 11. such as Windows Defender, Malwarebytes, or Avast.

To scan your system with Windows Defender:

Open the Windows Security app by pressing the Windows key + I and selecting “Update & Security” and then “Windows Security”.

Click on “Virus & threat protection” and then select “Quick scan” or “Full scan” depending on your needs.

If Windows Defender detects any malware, it will attempt to remove it. You may need to restart your computer to complete the removal process.

5. Update or Reinstall Drivers

If the file and directory corruption is caused by outdated or incompatible device drivers, you should update or reinstall the drivers. You can update drivers in Windows 11 in several ways:

Open the Device Manager by pressing the Windows key + X and selecting “Device Manager” from the menu.

Locate the device with the outdated or incompatible driver, right-click on it, and select “Update driver”.

Follow the on-screen instructions to update the driver. If Windows cannot find the latest driver, you can visit the manufacturer’s website to download and install the latest driver manually.

If updating the driver does not solve the problem, you can try reinstalling the driver. To do this, right-click on the device in Device Manager and select “Uninstall device”. Then, restart your computer, and Windows will automatically reinstall the driver.

6. Perform a System Restore

If the file and directory corruption occurred recently, you can perform a system restore to restore your Windows 11 system to a previous state when it was working properly. System Restore creates restore points at regular intervals, which can be used to restore the system settings, programs, and files to a previous state.

To perform a system restore in Windows 11:

Open the System Properties window. You can do this by pressing the Windows key + R, typing “sysdm.cpl” in the Run dialog box, and pressing Enter.

In the System Properties window, click on the “System Protection” tab.

Click on “System Restore” and follow the on-screen instructions to select a restore point and start the system restore process.

Note that performing a system restore will not affect your personal files, but it may uninstall recently installed programs and change system settings.