Way3: Rebuild iTunes Library - Works for Windows and Mac; Way4: Using Time Machine to Recover iTunes Library File - Works for Mac Only; Way1: Ultimate Tool to Fix Corrupted iTunes Library. The first way and the best way to fix iTunes Library is to use Tenorshare TunesCare. This tool has the power to solve a wide range of iTunes errors.
I can imagine your astonishment when you click on a folder or a file and it doesn't open on your Windows 10 PC. Instead, you view a pop-up telling you that the file or folder is corrupt. Most users get some version of 'The file or directory is corrupted or unreadable' message. It's odd and concerning. That's why we shall help you fix that, and open corrupt Files and Folders on your Windows 10 PC.
- To do this click “File” select “open” open the folder to find the file. As you find it, right-click on the file select “Open with Microsoft Office Excel”. When the document is open go to “Save As” select Excel format next to the “Save As Type” option.
- Dec 14, 2017 RELATED: How to Repair Corrupted Windows System Files with the SFC and DISM Commands. In the case of corrupted system files (from an unexpected shutdown, bad update, or malware), you can always try something like Windows’ built in System File Checker. It scans your system for corrupted system files, and then replaces them with originals.
- Click the drop-down box next to 'Scan Mode', then click one of the following: Feeder - Select this option if your documents are fed into the scanner through a chute. Used for scanning multiple documents into one PDF. Flatbed - Pick this option if your scanner has a lid that you lift up to place the documents.
In the case of external hard drives or USB drives, you will see 'X: is not accessible' (where X is the respective drive letter) error followed by the same corrupt file message. The system will then bring up another pop-up that will ask you to format the drive saying, 'You need to format the disk in drive X: before you can use it.' You don't want to format it because you'll lose all files and folders on the drive.
Here are a few ways to fix corrupted folders and files in Windows 10. Follow them and make sure that never happens again.
Let's begin.
How Did the File or Folder That Got Corrupt
How to types a schwa on word for mac os. You should understand the primary causes of this unfortunate event. It will help you troubleshoot it better.
- The MFT or FAT partition containing the file or folder is corrupted
- Virus or malware problem
- Pen drive or other external drive was damaged physically
- Yanked out the external drive without safely removing it first
The solutions should work for both internal and external drives. How to crack your nose back into place setting. I will share more details where necessary.
Note: External drives damaged due to water, fire, or physical drops can't be recovered. You will have to take the drive to an data recovery expert, and the data recovery will depend on the condition of the drive.1. Scan for Virus, Other Threats
You can either run your favorite antivirus app or use the built-in Windows Defender (now, Microsoft Defender) that comes preinstalled on all Windows 10 computers. Windows Defender has come a long way and is among the most effective antivirus apps in the world right now.
Download, install, and run Malwarebytes now. Malware is not the same as a virus. You need both on your computer to protect your files and folders from getting corrupted. Finally, you should download and run the Safety Scanner app from Microsoft. Always download the latest version before running it. The portable app is not updated automatically.
Get Malware Bytes Also on Guiding TechHow to Create a Recovery Drive in Windows 10 and Why Would One Want to
Read More2. Check for System Errors
Open File Explorer (press Windows key + E keyboard shortcut) and right-click on the drive that's corrupted to select Properties.
Under the Tools tab, click on Check in the Error checking box.
Windows 10 will now check and fix common drive-related issues in the background.
3. Run Windows Memory Diagnostic Tool
Open My Scans Folder
Microsoft staff recommends running the Windows Memory Diagnostic tool to make sure its not a memory leak or similar issue with your computer. Search Control Panel in Windows search and open it. Then, go to System & Security > Administrative Tools. That will open a new window where you will double-click on Windows Memory Diagnostic Tool.
Click on 'Restart now and check for problems (recommended)' option from the pop-up that follows. Your PC will reboot automatically after that, so make sure you've saved your work before clicking on that option.
4. Run Check Disk Command
One of the most common solutions for the corrupted file and folder error is the Check Disk command. Search for Command Prompt in Windows search and open it with admin rights by selecting Run as administrator from the left pane. Close all other programs.
Type the check disk command, as shown below, in the Command Prompt. Replace the letter 'x' with the drive letter that's corrupted. Works for both internal and external drives.
The process will take some time. After it completes, check if you can access the corrupted file/folder. Are you still getting 'The file or directory is corrupted or unreadable' message?
Do you see a message stating that the volume is in use by another process and schedule the scan? If you do, then type Y and hit Enter to confirm scan schedule and reboot your computer. So it will start the scan while your computer is in the boot process.
Also on Guiding TechHow to Permanently Delete Hard Drive Data with Eraser
Read More5. Format and Recover Data
This solution applies to those who use external hard disks or flash drives and get the 'The file or directory is corrupted or unreadable' error with an option to format it. As noted earlier, formatting the drive will delete all data on the drive.
The first thing you need to do is take a backup of the data on a different drive. There are a number of data recovery apps available in the market. We have covered Recuva and EaseUS, two of the most popular ones.
Check if that works and you are able to open the file/folder. If not, then go ahead and format the drive. You will also find the format option when you right-click on the drive letter. However, try your best to recover the files before formatting your drive.
6. How to Prevent Data Loss
It doesn't matter where your data sits, internal drive or external, there is always a potential of loss due to a variety of reasons. One of the best ways to protect your data is by taking automatic backups locally or on cloud storage. You can use OneDrive, Google Drive, or Dropbox. You can always use an external drive for taking backups, but even that will be prone to errors and physical damage. Still, some backup option is always better than none.
Prevention Is Better Than Cure
The best way is to take a cloud backup, so you don't face this problem ever again. If you are already facing it, you can either try troubleshooting it or using a file recovery software like EaseUS or Recuva to recover lost data. However, recovery is dependent on several factors like whether the data was written over, were the files corrupt beyond repair, and so on. For now, learn from this mistake so you don't find yourself in a similar mess again.
Next up:Restoring your computer to a previous point in time may or may not work. Also, it can help with several Windows errors. Click on the link below to learn the difference between restore and reset functions and how to perform them.
The above article may contain affiliate links which help support Guiding Tech. However, it does not affect our editorial integrity. The content remains unbiased and authentic.Read NextWhat Is the Difference Between Restore and Reset in Windows 10Also See#backup #folder
Did You Know
Microsoft Edge was initially code-named Project Spartan.
More in Windows
3 Best Fixes for Android MicroSD Card Not Showing up on PC
El Capitan’s Disk Utility is a handy tool for troubleshooting and repairing your hard drive (whether you’re noticing that your Mac has slowed considerably or you have problems opening files and applications). You can find it in the Utilities folder within the Applications folder. From Launchpad, click the Utilities folder and then click the Disk Utility icon.
In the left column of the Disk Utility window, you can see
- The physical hard drives in your system (the actual hardware)
- The volumes (the data stored on the hard drives)
You can always tell a volume, because it’s indented below the physical drive entry.
- Any CD or DVD loaded on your Mac
- External USB or Thunderbolt hard drives
- USB flash drives
- Flash drives (like thumb drives) are external hardware devices that you can add to your Mac for additional storage room or as secure places to back up your data.
Here, you see one internal hard drive (the 1TB SATA entry, which is selected) and one USB external hard drive (the Toshiba entry). The hard drive has three volumes (Wolfgang, Ludwig, and Johann), and the USB drive has one volume (Time Machine).
Disk Utility also fixes incorrect file permissions automatically. Files with corrupt or incorrect permissions can
- Make your Mac lock up
- Make applications act goofy (or refuse to run)
- Cause strange behavior within a Finder window or System Preferences
Using Disk Utility to repair your hard drive carries a couple of caveats:
- You can’t repair the boot disk or the boot volume if OS X won’t run. This statement makes sense because Disk Utility is launched from your boot volume. (The boot volume is usually your Mac’s internal hard drive, where El Capitan is installed.) If OS X isn’t booting completely or is locking up, you can’t launch Disk Utility.
To repair your boot hard drive if OS X isn’t running, you need to boot your Mac from El Capitan’s Recovery HD volume. Hold down the Option key immediately after you hear the start up chord to display the Mac OS X boot menu, and choose the Recovery HD volume. When the Recovery window appears, run Disk Utility. Because you’ve booted the system from the Recovery HD volume, you can repair problems with your start-up hard drive.
Select your boot hard drive or volume in the sidebar at the left, and the First Aid button should be enabled.
Setup Files Corrupted Windows 10
- You can’t repair CDs and DVDs. Because CDs and DVDs are read-only media, they can’t be repaired (at least not by Disk Utility).
Here are a few ways to fix corrupted folders and files in Windows 10. Follow them and make sure that never happens again.
Let's begin.
How Did the File or Folder That Got Corrupt
How to types a schwa on word for mac os. You should understand the primary causes of this unfortunate event. It will help you troubleshoot it better.
- The MFT or FAT partition containing the file or folder is corrupted
- Virus or malware problem
- Pen drive or other external drive was damaged physically
- Yanked out the external drive without safely removing it first
The solutions should work for both internal and external drives. How to crack your nose back into place setting. I will share more details where necessary.
Note: External drives damaged due to water, fire, or physical drops can't be recovered. You will have to take the drive to an data recovery expert, and the data recovery will depend on the condition of the drive.1. Scan for Virus, Other Threats
You can either run your favorite antivirus app or use the built-in Windows Defender (now, Microsoft Defender) that comes preinstalled on all Windows 10 computers. Windows Defender has come a long way and is among the most effective antivirus apps in the world right now.
Download, install, and run Malwarebytes now. Malware is not the same as a virus. You need both on your computer to protect your files and folders from getting corrupted. Finally, you should download and run the Safety Scanner app from Microsoft. Always download the latest version before running it. The portable app is not updated automatically.
Get Malware Bytes Also on Guiding TechHow to Create a Recovery Drive in Windows 10 and Why Would One Want to
Read More2. Check for System Errors
Open File Explorer (press Windows key + E keyboard shortcut) and right-click on the drive that's corrupted to select Properties.
Under the Tools tab, click on Check in the Error checking box.
Windows 10 will now check and fix common drive-related issues in the background.
3. Run Windows Memory Diagnostic Tool
Open My Scans Folder
Microsoft staff recommends running the Windows Memory Diagnostic tool to make sure its not a memory leak or similar issue with your computer. Search Control Panel in Windows search and open it. Then, go to System & Security > Administrative Tools. That will open a new window where you will double-click on Windows Memory Diagnostic Tool.
Click on 'Restart now and check for problems (recommended)' option from the pop-up that follows. Your PC will reboot automatically after that, so make sure you've saved your work before clicking on that option.
4. Run Check Disk Command
One of the most common solutions for the corrupted file and folder error is the Check Disk command. Search for Command Prompt in Windows search and open it with admin rights by selecting Run as administrator from the left pane. Close all other programs.
Type the check disk command, as shown below, in the Command Prompt. Replace the letter 'x' with the drive letter that's corrupted. Works for both internal and external drives.
The process will take some time. After it completes, check if you can access the corrupted file/folder. Are you still getting 'The file or directory is corrupted or unreadable' message?
Do you see a message stating that the volume is in use by another process and schedule the scan? If you do, then type Y and hit Enter to confirm scan schedule and reboot your computer. So it will start the scan while your computer is in the boot process.
Also on Guiding TechHow to Permanently Delete Hard Drive Data with Eraser
Read More5. Format and Recover Data
This solution applies to those who use external hard disks or flash drives and get the 'The file or directory is corrupted or unreadable' error with an option to format it. As noted earlier, formatting the drive will delete all data on the drive.
The first thing you need to do is take a backup of the data on a different drive. There are a number of data recovery apps available in the market. We have covered Recuva and EaseUS, two of the most popular ones.
Check if that works and you are able to open the file/folder. If not, then go ahead and format the drive. You will also find the format option when you right-click on the drive letter. However, try your best to recover the files before formatting your drive.
6. How to Prevent Data Loss
It doesn't matter where your data sits, internal drive or external, there is always a potential of loss due to a variety of reasons. One of the best ways to protect your data is by taking automatic backups locally or on cloud storage. You can use OneDrive, Google Drive, or Dropbox. You can always use an external drive for taking backups, but even that will be prone to errors and physical damage. Still, some backup option is always better than none.
Prevention Is Better Than Cure
The best way is to take a cloud backup, so you don't face this problem ever again. If you are already facing it, you can either try troubleshooting it or using a file recovery software like EaseUS or Recuva to recover lost data. However, recovery is dependent on several factors like whether the data was written over, were the files corrupt beyond repair, and so on. For now, learn from this mistake so you don't find yourself in a similar mess again.
Next up:Restoring your computer to a previous point in time may or may not work. Also, it can help with several Windows errors. Click on the link below to learn the difference between restore and reset functions and how to perform them.
The above article may contain affiliate links which help support Guiding Tech. However, it does not affect our editorial integrity. The content remains unbiased and authentic.Read NextWhat Is the Difference Between Restore and Reset in Windows 10Also See#backup #folder
Did You Know
Microsoft Edge was initially code-named Project Spartan.
More in Windows
3 Best Fixes for Android MicroSD Card Not Showing up on PC
El Capitan’s Disk Utility is a handy tool for troubleshooting and repairing your hard drive (whether you’re noticing that your Mac has slowed considerably or you have problems opening files and applications). You can find it in the Utilities folder within the Applications folder. From Launchpad, click the Utilities folder and then click the Disk Utility icon.
In the left column of the Disk Utility window, you can see
- The physical hard drives in your system (the actual hardware)
- The volumes (the data stored on the hard drives)
You can always tell a volume, because it’s indented below the physical drive entry.
- Any CD or DVD loaded on your Mac
- External USB or Thunderbolt hard drives
- USB flash drives
- Flash drives (like thumb drives) are external hardware devices that you can add to your Mac for additional storage room or as secure places to back up your data.
Here, you see one internal hard drive (the 1TB SATA entry, which is selected) and one USB external hard drive (the Toshiba entry). The hard drive has three volumes (Wolfgang, Ludwig, and Johann), and the USB drive has one volume (Time Machine).
Disk Utility also fixes incorrect file permissions automatically. Files with corrupt or incorrect permissions can
- Make your Mac lock up
- Make applications act goofy (or refuse to run)
- Cause strange behavior within a Finder window or System Preferences
Using Disk Utility to repair your hard drive carries a couple of caveats:
- You can’t repair the boot disk or the boot volume if OS X won’t run. This statement makes sense because Disk Utility is launched from your boot volume. (The boot volume is usually your Mac’s internal hard drive, where El Capitan is installed.) If OS X isn’t booting completely or is locking up, you can’t launch Disk Utility.
To repair your boot hard drive if OS X isn’t running, you need to boot your Mac from El Capitan’s Recovery HD volume. Hold down the Option key immediately after you hear the start up chord to display the Mac OS X boot menu, and choose the Recovery HD volume. When the Recovery window appears, run Disk Utility. Because you’ve booted the system from the Recovery HD volume, you can repair problems with your start-up hard drive.
Select your boot hard drive or volume in the sidebar at the left, and the First Aid button should be enabled.
Setup Files Corrupted Windows 10
- You can’t repair CDs and DVDs. Because CDs and DVDs are read-only media, they can’t be repaired (at least not by Disk Utility).
Mac Way To Scan Folder For Corrupted Files Pc
If your Mac is having trouble reading a CD or DVD, wipe the disc with a soft cloth to remove dust, oil, and fingerprints. If that technique fails, invest in a disc-cleaning contrivance of some sort. Look for a CD/DVD cleaning kit.
If OS X El Capitan is running fine, and you need to repair a disk or volume, follow these steps:
- Save all open documents, and quit all running applications.
- Click the Spotlight search icon on the Finder menu bar, type Disk Utility, and press Return. (From within Launchpad, click the Utilities folder and then click the Disk Utility icon.)
- In the list on the left side of the Disk Utility window, click the disk or volume that you want to check.
- Click the First Aid button and then click Run to confirm.
If Disk Utility does indeed find errors, they’ll be fixed automatically. Would you expect anything less from our favorite operating system?