External hard drive - "The file or directory is corrupted andunreadable"

[Robert Colgan]

I've got a 320 GB external hard drive that I've had for about a year,
but the other day when I tried to access it I got the following error
message:

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

Anyone know the cause of this or a way to fix it? Is the hard drive
shot? Any chance of getting my data back?

Thanks,
Robert
(Sorry if this isn't the best place to post this, but I'm putting it
here in hopes that many people will see it.)

 

[Robert Colgan]

I've got a 320 GB external hard drive that I've had for about a year,
but the other day when I tried to access it I got the following error
message:

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

Anyone know the cause of this or a way to fix it? Is the hard drive
shot? Any chance of getting my data back?

Thanks,
Robert
(Sorry if this isn't the best place to post this, but I'm putting it
here in hopes that many people will see it.)

(Note: Running chkdsk /r on it now.)

 

[Colin Barnhorst]

It is probably just as it says, a corrupt file or directory. That is not
the hard drive. However, to check the integrity of the hard drive, download
the hard drive manufacturer's test software and run it.

 

[Anna]

(Robert later adds...)

(Note: Running chkdsk /r on it now.)

It is probably just as it says, a corrupt file or directory. That is not
the hard drive. However, to check the integrity of the hard drive,
download the hard drive manufacturer's test software and run it.

Robert:
Colin's advice is sound. Just one thing...

Hopefully the HDD diagnostic utility you download from the drive's
manufacturer will work with a USB-connected device (I'm assuming that when
you refer to an external hard drive it's connected via a USB interface). But
some of those diagnostic utilities will not detect a USB-connected HDD, so
in that case it's necessary (if possible) to install the drive as an
internal HDD in one's PC for the purposes of checking it out with the
diagnostic utility.

It's also a good idea to do so in case the problem is with the external
enclosure and not the HDD itself, although based upon your description of
the problem it doesn't sound like that's the problem.

Hopefully the chkdsk /r process will correct matters and return the drive to
a functional state. If it does not, also try the sfc /scannow process, see -
http://www.updatexp.com/scannow-sfc.html
Anna

 

[Robert Colgan]

(Robert later adds...)




Robert:
Colin's advice is sound. Just one thing...

Hopefully the HDD diagnostic utility you download from the drive's
manufacturer will work with a USB-connected device (I'm assuming that when
you refer to an external hard drive it's connected via a USB interface). But
some of those diagnostic utilities will not detect a USB-connected HDD, so
in that case it's necessary (if possible) to install the drive as an
internal HDD in one's PC for the purposes of checking it out with the
diagnostic utility.

It's also a good idea to do so in case the problem is with the external
enclosure and not the HDD itself, although based upon your description of
the problem it doesn't sound like that's the problem.

Hopefully the chkdsk /r process will correct matters and return the drive to
a functional state. If it does not, also try the sfc /scannow process, see -http://www.updatexp.com/scannow-sfc.html
Anna

Thanks everyone. Chkdsk /r fixed that problem, but now for some reason
my computers won't automatically recognize the drive, instead showing
the found new hardware wizard, which finds no drivers, and the drive
won't show up. Any ideas on this?

 

[Colin Barnhorst]

I have seen this usb utility recommended a couple of times as a means of
fixing this complaint. It has a trial version.
http://www.usbinfo20.com/. I have not had occasion to use it myself so I
cannot make a recommendation.