"file or directory is corrupted and unreadable"

stots · 01-25-2009, 11:47 PM

Hi, when I plug my external hard drive into my laptop and try to access the files, I keep getting this message, "file or directory is corrupted and unreadable". I'm not sure if it is the same problem as referred to in the "lost" hard drive thread, but I tried using testdisk anyway. I was only able to get to part "B. Select which drive to analyse, choose “Proceed” and <Enter>." The drive I'm having trouble with is not there. I can locate the drive through My Computer and Device Manager, I just can't access the files. Is there any way to save my hard drive, or at least the files?

**raptor_pa** · 01-26-2009, 01:03 AM

This sounds like a logical or file error.
Testdisk may not have seen the drive since it is an external. If you have access to a desktop, remove the drive from teh enclosure and connect it internally to the ports of the desktop. Most recovery software works best on drives connected directly to the PC. If testdisk still fails then try r-studio or getdataback to recover the files to a new drive. Both programs are downloadable as demos that will show you what they will be able to recover. Pick the one that does the best job and then you can buy the license to actually recover. ( I beleive r-studio for NTFS is $49.00 and getdataback is $79.00 ) then zero write the hard drive with killdisk or d-ban repartition and reformat. Don't trust the drive initially to all your important data, there still may be a physical issue causing the corruption.

stots · 01-26-2009, 06:12 AM

I don't have a desktop..Is this my only option?

**raptor_pa** · 01-26-2009, 07:33 AM

You could try R-Studio or getdataback in the USB configuration and see if it is found, but doing recoveries on a drive still in the USB housing is not the best practice. USB is a universal bus, designed to be used for all kinds of devices, unlike the IDE or SATA bus. Direct connection eliminates that one more step of communication translation. Does a friend have a desktop you could use for the recovery? Do you have any idea what the make and model of the hard disk inside the external housing is?

stots · 01-26-2009, 09:44 AM

Unfortunately, I'm away at school so everyone I know only has a laptop. I'm using a Maxtor OneTouch 4 Mini. Periodically it has started to tick, and when it does, the drive is not being detected in my computer.

**raptor_pa** · 01-26-2009, 04:01 PM

Stop using this drive immediately. This drive is starting to fail physically. Your best bet is to grab as much as you can while the drive is spinning. Very soon it will fail, and after that point you are looking at $1000 or more to recover the data.

stots · 01-26-2009, 06:48 PM

The two programs were not able to detect my drive. However, I did an error check within the drive and got a message that everything is working properly now. I can access all my files and everything seems to be fine, but I'm going to move my files just in case.
Thank you for your help!

**raptor_pa** · 01-26-2009, 06:57 PM

Good idea, the ticking noise is generally a problem with the heads trying to calibrate....

01-25-2009, 11:47 PM	#1 (permalink)
stots Registered User Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 4 OS: vista	"file or directory is corrupted and unreadable" Hi, when I plug my external hard drive into my laptop and try to access the files, I keep getting this message, "file or directory is corrupted and unreadable". I'm not sure if it is the same problem as referred to in the "lost" hard drive thread, but I tried using testdisk anyway. I was only able to get to part "B. Select which drive to analyse, choose “Proceed” and <Enter>." The drive I'm having trouble with is not there. I can locate the drive through My Computer and Device Manager, I just can't access the files. Is there any way to save my hard drive, or at least the files?

01-26-2009, 01:03 AM	#2 (permalink)
raptor_pa Mod Hardware Team Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Central PA Posts: 4,768 OS: XP	Re: "file or directory is corrupted and unreadable" This sounds like a logical or file error. Testdisk may not have seen the drive since it is an external. If you have access to a desktop, remove the drive from teh enclosure and connect it internally to the ports of the desktop. Most recovery software works best on drives connected directly to the PC. If testdisk still fails then try r-studio or getdataback to recover the files to a new drive. Both programs are downloadable as demos that will show you what they will be able to recover. Pick the one that does the best job and then you can buy the license to actually recover. ( I beleive r-studio for NTFS is $49.00 and getdataback is $79.00 ) then zero write the hard drive with killdisk or d-ban repartition and reformat. Don't trust the drive initially to all your important data, there still may be a physical issue causing the corruption. __________________

01-26-2009, 06:12 AM	#3 (permalink)
stots Registered User Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 4 OS: vista	Re: "file or directory is corrupted and unreadable" I don't have a desktop..Is this my only option?

01-26-2009, 07:33 AM	#4 (permalink)
raptor_pa Mod Hardware Team Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Central PA Posts: 4,768 OS: XP	Re: "file or directory is corrupted and unreadable" You could try R-Studio or getdataback in the USB configuration and see if it is found, but doing recoveries on a drive still in the USB housing is not the best practice. USB is a universal bus, designed to be used for all kinds of devices, unlike the IDE or SATA bus. Direct connection eliminates that one more step of communication translation. Does a friend have a desktop you could use for the recovery? Do you have any idea what the make and model of the hard disk inside the external housing is? __________________

01-26-2009, 09:44 AM	#5 (permalink)
stots Registered User Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 4 OS: vista	Re: "file or directory is corrupted and unreadable" Unfortunately, I'm away at school so everyone I know only has a laptop. I'm using a Maxtor OneTouch 4 Mini. Periodically it has started to tick, and when it does, the drive is not being detected in my computer.

01-26-2009, 04:01 PM	#6 (permalink)
raptor_pa Mod Hardware Team Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Central PA Posts: 4,768 OS: XP	Re: "file or directory is corrupted and unreadable" Stop using this drive immediately. This drive is starting to fail physically. Your best bet is to grab as much as you can while the drive is spinning. Very soon it will fail, and after that point you are looking at $1000 or more to recover the data. __________________

01-26-2009, 06:48 PM	#7 (permalink)
stots Registered User Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 4 OS: vista	Re: "file or directory is corrupted and unreadable" The two programs were not able to detect my drive. However, I did an error check within the drive and got a message that everything is working properly now. I can access all my files and everything seems to be fine, but I'm going to move my files just in case. Thank you for your help!

01-26-2009, 06:57 PM	#8 (permalink)
raptor_pa Mod Hardware Team Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Central PA Posts: 4,768 OS: XP	Re: "file or directory is corrupted and unreadable" Good idea, the ticking noise is generally a problem with the heads trying to calibrate.... __________________