Have you ever tried to access a file or folder on your Windows 10 computer only to be met with the frustrating “File or directory is corrupted and unreadable” error message? This error can occur for a variety of reasons, including hardware failure, software glitches, virus attacks, and more. Fortunately, there are a few steps you can take to try and fix this error and recover your data.

Below are some of the most effective methods for fixing the “File or directory is corrupted and unreadable” error on a Windows 10 computer:

1. Check Hard Drive for Errors

One common cause of this error is a corrupt hard drive. To check for errors, open File Explorer and right-click on the problematic drive, then select “Properties.” Click on the “Tools” tab and then click on “Check” under the “Error checking” section. Windows 10 will then scan for errors and fix any issues it finds.

2. Run System File Checker

The System File Checker (SFC) is a built-in tool in Windows 10 that checks and repairs corrupted system files. To run SFC, open Command Prompt as an administrator and type “sfc /scannow” without quotes. Wait for the process to complete, and any corrupted files should be fixed.

3. Use CHKDSK Utility

The CHKDSK utility is another tool that can help fix file or directory corruption errors. Open Command Prompt as an administrator and type “chkdsk [drive letter] /f /r” without quotes. Replace [drive letter] with the letter of the drive that’s giving you the error message. The utility will then scan the drive for errors and attempt to fix them.

4. Try Third-Party Recovery Software

If none of the above methods work, you can try using third-party recovery software like Recuva, EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard, or Stellar Data Recovery. These tools can scan your hard drive and recover any lost or corrupted files.

5. Reformat the Drive

If all else fails, you may need to reformat the drive. This erases all data, so make sure you have a backup before doing this. Open File Explorer, right-click on the problematic drive, and select “Format…” Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the process.