HDD External Hard Drive Corrupted and Unreadable

[IZUKANJI]

HDD External Hard Drive Corrupted and Unreadable, What should I do?

 

[notsosmartypants]

It says "the type of the file system is NTFS. unable to determine volume version and state. CHKDSK aborted.

Please Help!!!

 

[Yssa Balagtas]

HDD External Hard Drive Corrupted and Unreadable, What should I do?

If you are under Windows operating system, go to Start > All Programs > Accessories, right-click on Command Prompt and select Run as administrator. In cmd window that appears type this:
chkdsk x: /f
(where x = drive letter associated with your external hard drive, and before x: and after x: there is a space)
and press Enter.
Command chkdsk (check disk) will correct errors and your external hard drive will be accessible again.

Thanks for saving my HDD, im not a techy person so your advise really saves me and my HDD.

 

[Yssa Balagtas]

sir themrvladek, i already tried chkdsk x: f/ or r/ but errors says

Windows cannot recover master file table. CHKDSK aborted.

Do you know what solution about that?[/q

I encountered the same but if you will read carefully the instructions x: is the name of your HDD so is your HDD file name is H: or G: then change x: with h: or g:

 

[grosbc03]

Thank you for your help. I had a similar problem. I ran the CHKDSK. After doing that I received the message stating "drive is not accessible. access is denied.". Any ideas of how to fix this problem.

Thank you

 

[themrvladek]

HDD External Hard Drive Corrupted and Unreadable, What should I do?

If you are under Windows operating system, go to Start > All Programs > Accessories, right-click on Command Prompt and select Run as administrator. In cmd window that appears type this:
chkdsk x: /f
(where x = drive letter associated with your external hard drive, and before x: and after x: there is a space)
and press Enter.
Command chkdsk (check disk) will correct errors and your external hard drive will be accessible again.

I am having the same trouble with my Iomega ego. But i'm on a mac...do you have any solutions for Macs?

 

[themrvladek]

Dear raisondart,
Unfortunately, all my knowledge about computer operating systems is Windows, and Mac is totally unknown to me...
Sincerely,
themrvladek

 

[themrvladek]

sir themrvladek, i already tried chkdsk x: f/ or r/ but errors says

Windows cannot recover master file table. CHKDSK aborted.

Do you know what solution about that?

If the damage to Master File Table (MFT) is serious, you have to use third party software, like Active Uneraser for DOS or Active File Recovery for Windows to access and save your files to another drive, and then reformat the drive.
More safer way is to look for help in professional service.

 

[themrvladek]

Performing CHKDSK sometimes cannot be done, and message appeares:
"Windows cannot recover master file table. CHKDSK aborted."
In that case the damage to Master File Table (MFT) could be serious, and you have to use third party software, like Active Uneraser for DOS or Active File Recovery for Windows to access and save your files to another drive, and then reformat the drive.
More safer way is to look for help in professional service.

 

[themrvladek]

hey, i tried doing chkdsk in cmd prompt, but the error says

The type of file system is NTFS.
Unable to determine volume version and state. CHKDSK aborted.

Now what should i do.
error says

H:/ is not accessible.
The file or directory is corrupted or unreadable.

Probably there are corrupted files on drive. You could try to recover drive, but you'll be lucky if recovery programs can even get your files back. One of the best file recovery software (and free!) is Parted Magic.
More safer way is to look for help in professional service.

 

[themrvladek]

If chkdsk cannot perform its task, then usually appears one of three messages:

1) "Drive is not accessible. Access is denied."
It seems you have no permission (administrator privileges) on your computer to perform chkdsk. There are two ways to get permission before you run chkdsk next time:
The first method: Click Start and in the Search field type: cmd then right-click the Command Prompt icon (cmd.exe) and click Run as administrator, and then type: chkdsk <your external HDD letter:> /f (press Enter).
The other way to get permission to do chkdsk is by enabling the 'super admin account': Click Start and in the Search field type: cmd then right-click the Command Prompt icon (cmd.exe) and click Run as administrator, and type: net user administrator /active:yes (press Enter). The system should return you with the following message: The command completed successfully. Exit the Command Prompt. Click the Start icon, and log off from the current account and in the Account window you should now see the Administrator account. Log in Administrator, open Command Prompt, and perform chkdsk <your external HDD letter:> /f (press Enter). Note: If you want to turn off the Admin account, in Command Prompt type: net user administrator /active:no (press Enter).

2) "Unable to determine volume version and state. CHKDSK aborted."
Probably there are corrupted files on drive. You could try to recover drive, but you'll be lucky if recovery programs can even get your files back. One of the best file recovery software (and free!) is Parted Magic.
More safer way is to look for help in professional service.

3) "Windows cannot recover master file table. CHKDSK aborted."
If the damage to Master File Table (MFT) is serious, you have to use third party software, like Active Uneraser for DOS or Active File Recovery for Windows to access and save your files to another drive, and then reformat the drive.
More safer way is to look for help in professional service.

 

[themrvladek]

Thank you for your help. I had a similar problem. I ran the CHKDSK. After doing that I received the message stating "drive is not accessible. access is denied.". Any ideas of how to fix this problem.

Thank you

It seems you have no permission (administrator privileges) on your computer to perform chkdsk. There are two ways to get permission before you run chkdsk next time:
The first method: Click Start and in the Search field type: cmd then right-click the Command Prompt icon (cmd.exe) and click Run as administrator, and then type: chkdsk <your external HDD letter:> /f (press Enter).
The other way to get permission to do chkdsk is by enabling the 'super admin account': Click Start and in the Search field type: cmd then right-click the Command Prompt icon (cmd.exe) and click Run as administrator, and type: net user administrator /active:yes (press Enter). The system should return you with the following message: The command completed successfully. Exit the Command Prompt. Click the Start icon, and log off from the current account and in the Account window you should now see the Administrator account. Log in Administrator, open Command Prompt, and perform chkdsk <your external HDD letter:> /f (press Enter). Note: If you want to turn off the Admin account, in Command Prompt type: net user administrator /active:no (press Enter).

 

[themrvladek]

Hi i have tried the chkdsk and it just says access denied. anything else i can try before i take it to a computer shop. Im having the same file is corrupted or unreadable message.

It seems you have no permission (administrator privileges) on your computer to perform chkdsk. There are two ways to get permission before you run chkdsk next time:
The first method: Click Start and in the Search field type: cmd then right-click the Command Prompt icon (cmd.exe) and click Run as administrator, and then type: chkdsk <your external HDD letter:> /f (press Enter).
The other way to get permission to do chkdsk is by enabling the 'super admin account': Click Start and in the Search field type: cmd then right-click the Command Prompt icon (cmd.exe) and click Run as administrator, and type: net user administrator /active:yes (press Enter). The system should return you with the following message: The command completed successfully. Exit the Command Prompt. Click the Start icon, and log off from the current account and in the Account window you should now see the Administrator account. Log in Administrator, open Command Prompt, and perform chkdsk <your external HDD letter:> /f (press Enter). Note: If you want to turn off the Admin account, in Command Prompt type: net user administrator /active:no (press Enter).
Or, there are corrupted files on drive. You could try to recover drive, but you'll be lucky if recovery programs can even get your files back. One of the best file recovery software (and free!) is Parted Magic.
In that case more safer way is to look for help in professional service.

 

[themrvladek]

hey, i tried doing chkdsk in cmd prompt, but the error says

The type of file system is NTFS.
Unable to determine volume version and state. CHKDSK aborted.

Now what should i do.
error says

H:/ is not accessible.
The file or directory is corrupted or unreadable.

Probably there are corrupted files on drive. You could try to recover drive, but you'll be lucky if recovery programs can even get your files back. One of the best file recovery software (and free!) is Parted Magic.
More safer way is to look for help in professional service.

 

[genz]

It is not better to apply first a data recovery software, because that software cannot access inaccessible disk. Prior to use that software it's needed to format hard drive, which means losing data. So, data recovery software is the last option. Really, better is to perform chkdsk as I described above. After all, data recovery software cannot make a miracle, and many of files on formatted disk can be permanently lost, depending on the file format and the ability of data recovery software. Such the best professional software – which is not freeware – could recover from 180 to 200 file formats only, with no 100 percent guarantee to fully recover all the files. E.g. ParetoLogic Data Recovery Pro, or EASEUS Data Recovery Wizard, can recover almost any file. Note: "almost". What about those files that cannont be recovered? That's why data recovery software is the last step. Better is the first step would be chkdsk x: /f and second step chkdsk x: /r (fully correct files, clusters, and sectors on a inaccessible drive). Formatting disk and later recovery data is really the last chance.

Thanks a bunch themrvladek. You own the internet.

This is not true. Do not take this advice. Let me explain.

When you lose access to your files, many things could have happened. Firstly, your directory structure could be corrupted. This is a list of files and their relationships stored on a portion of the drive when you first format your computer. It has simple information like "This folder is inside 'User' folder and 'User' folder is on the root 'Dell' partition" and metadata, such and when the item was last accessed. Most importantly, it stores "pointers". Pointers store the files location on the drive, specifically, where it starts and where it ends. When you format, the first thing that happens is that that data is deleted to make way for a fresh blank disk. Your data stays, but pointers are removed. When you quick format, literally nothing else is done but the removing of this vital data.

Now if you want to make a full drive recovery, your software will have to read each individual bit of your HDD and try to find the beginning and end of each and every file by reading this now formless mass of 1s and 0s on your drive, because YOU deleted the very store of information that keeps this. Usually, a Data Recovery program will comb your directory structure looking for errors and discrepancies. So will chkdsk. 5/10 Chkdsk will find a fault and fix your directory structure, but if some of the opening lines are gone, chkdsk will not know you even have a directory structure and the only thing that will be able to recover that partition is a data recovery program, so please do not format your disk AT ANY TIME if you lose a drive. Using testdisk in concert with a partition recovery program and chkdsk is the best way.

I have recovered a total of 17 drives in my life. Trust me I know what I'm talking about.

 

[themrvladek]

It is not better to apply first a data recovery software, because that software cannot access inaccessible disk. Prior to use that software it's needed to format hard drive, which means losing data. So, data recovery software is the last option. Really, better is to perform chkdsk as I described above. After all, data recovery software cannot make a miracle, and many of files on formatted disk can be permanently lost, depending on the file format and the ability of data recovery software. Such the best professional software – which is not freeware – could recover from 180 to 200 file formats only, with no 100 percent guarantee to fully recover all the files. E.g. ParetoLogic Data Recovery Pro, or EASEUS Data Recovery Wizard, can recover almost any file. Note: "almost". What about those files that cannont be recovered? That's why data recovery software is the last step. Better is the first step would be chkdsk x: /f and second step chkdsk x: /r (fully correct files, clusters, and sectors on a inaccessible drive). Formatting disk and later recovery data is really the last chance.

Thanks a bunch themrvladek. You own the internet.

This is not true. Do not take this advice. Let me explain.

When you lose access to your files, many things could have happened. Firstly, your directory structure could be corrupted. This is a list of files and their relationships stored on a portion of the drive when you first format your computer. It has simple information like "This folder is inside 'User' folder and 'User' folder is on the root 'Dell' partition" and metadata, such and when the item was last accessed. Most importantly, it stores "pointers". Pointers store the files location on the drive, specifically, where it starts and where it ends. When you format, the first thing that happens is that that data is deleted to make way for a fresh blank disk. Your data stays, but pointers are removed. When you quick format, literally nothing else is done but the removing of this vital data.

Now if you want to make a full drive recovery, your software will have to read each individual bit of your HDD and try to find the beginning and end of each and every file by reading this now formless mass of 1s and 0s on your drive, because YOU deleted the very store of information that keeps this. Usually, a Data Recovery program will comb your directory structure looking for errors and discrepancies. So will chkdsk. 5/10 Chkdsk will find a fault and fix your directory structure, but if some of the opening lines are gone, chkdsk will not know you even have a directory structure and the only thing that will be able to recover that partition is a data recovery program, so please do not format your disk AT ANY TIME if you lose a drive. Using testdisk in concert with a partition recovery program and chkdsk is the best way.

I have recovered a total of 17 drives in my life. Trust me I know what I'm talking about.

Daer genz,
I told, "... format hard drive, which means losing data"

 

[themrvladek]

Thank you for your help. I had a similar problem. I ran the CHKDSK. After doing that I received the message stating "drive is not accessible. access is denied.". Any ideas of how to fix this problem.

Thank you

Probably, you have no permission (administrator privileges) on your computer to perform chkdsk.
Click Start and in the Search field type: cmd then right-click the Command Prompt icon (cmd.exe) and click Run as administrator, and then type: chkdsk <your external HDD letter:> /f (press Enter).
Or, enablie 'super admin account': Click Start and in the Search field type: cmd then right-click the Command Prompt icon (cmd.exe) and click Run as administrator, then type: net user administrator /active:yes (press Enter). The system should return you with the following message: The command completed successfully. Exit the Command Prompt. Click the Start, and log off from the current account, and in the Account window you should now see the Administrator account. Log in Administrator, open Command Prompt, and perform chkdsk <your external HDD letter:> /f (press Enter). Note: If you want to turn off the Admin account, in Command Prompt type: net user administrator /active:no (press Enter).

 

[themrvladek]

Thank you for your help. I had a similar problem. I ran the CHKDSK. After doing that I received the message stating "drive is not accessible. access is denied.". Any ideas of how to fix this problem.

Thank you

It seems you have no permission (administrator privileges) on your computer to perform chkdsk.
Click Start and in the Search field type: cmd then right-click the Command Prompt icon (cmd.exe) and click Run as administrator, and then type: chkdsk <your external HDD letter:> /f (press Enter).
The other way to get permission is by enabling 'super admin account': Click Start and in the Search field type: cmd then right-click the Command Prompt icon (cmd.exe) and click Run as administrator, and type: net user administrator /active:yes (press Enter). The system should return you with the following message: The command completed successfully. Exit the Command Prompt. Click the Start icon, and log off from the current account and in the Account window you should now see the Administrator account. Log in Administrator, open Command Prompt, and perform chkdsk <your external HDD letter:> /f (press Enter).

 

[themrvladek]

Thank you for your help. I had a similar problem. I ran the CHKDSK. After doing that I received the message stating "drive is not accessible. access is denied.". Any ideas of how to fix this problem.

Thank you

Maybe only reason is that you have no permission (administrator privileges) on your computer to perform chkdsk.
So, click Start and in the Search field type: cmd then right-click the Command Prompt icon (cmd.exe) and click Run as administrator, and then type: chkdsk <your external HDD letter:> /f (press Enter).
Or, yo can enable the 'super admin account': Click Start and in the Search field type: cmd then right-click the Command Prompt icon (cmd.exe) and click Run as administrator, and type: net user administrator /active:yes (press Enter). The system should return you with the following message: The command completed successfully. Exit the Command Prompt. Click the Start icon, and log off from the current account and in the Account window you should now see the Administrator account. Log in Administrator, open Command Prompt, and perform chkdsk <your external HDD letter:> /f (press Enter)

 

[themrvladek]

It says "the type of the file system is NTFS. unable to determine volume version and state. CHKDSK aborted.

Please Help!!!

Maybe there are corrupted files on drive. You could try to recover drive, but you'll be lucky if recovery programs can even get your files back. One of the best file recovery software (and free!) is Parted Magic.
More safer way is to look for help in professional service.

 

[themrvladek]

Thank you for your help. I had a similar problem. I ran the CHKDSK. After doing that I received the message stating "drive is not accessible. access is denied.". Any ideas of how to fix this problem.

Thank you

Try to get permission (administrator privileges) to perform chkdsk:
Click Start and in the Search field type: cmd then right-click the Command Prompt icon (cmd.exe) and click Run as administrator, and then type: chkdsk <your external HDD letter:> /f (press Enter).
Or, you can enable 'super admin account': Click Start and in the Search field type: cmd then right-click the Command Prompt icon (cmd.exe) and click Run as administrator, and type: net user administrator /active:yes (press Enter). The system should return you with the following message: The command completed successfully. Exit the Command Prompt. Click the Start icon, and log off from the current account and in the Account window you should now see the Administrator account. Log in Administrator, open Command Prompt, and perform chkdsk <your external HDD letter:> /f (press Enter).

 

[themrvladek]

Thank you for your help. I had a similar problem. I ran the CHKDSK. After doing that I received the message stating "drive is not accessible. access is denied.". Any ideas of how to fix this problem.

Thank you

Message, "Drive is not accessible. Access is denied." means that you have no permission (administrator privileges) to perform chkdsk.
Click Start and in the Search field type: cmd then right-click the Command Prompt icon (cmd.exe) and click Run as administrator, and then type: chkdsk <your external HDD letter:> /f (press Enter).
Or. enable 'super admin account': Click Start and in the Search field type: cmd then right-click the Command Prompt icon (cmd.exe) and click Run as administrator, and type: net user administrator /active:yes (press Enter). The system should return you with the following message: The command completed successfully. Exit the Command Prompt. Click the Start icon, and log off from the current account and in the Account window you should now see the Administrator account. Log in Administrator, open Command Prompt, and perform chkdsk <your external HDD letter:> /f (press Enter). Note: If you want to turn off the Admin account, in Command Prompt type: net user administrator /active:no (press Enter).

 

[themrvladek]

sir themrvladek, i already tried chkdsk x: f/ or r/ but errors says

Windows cannot recover master file table. CHKDSK aborted.

Do you know what solution about that?[/q

I encountered the same but if you will read carefully the instructions x: is the name of your HDD so is your HDD file name is H: or G: then change x: with h: or g:

"Windows cannot recover master file table. CHKDSK aborted." means that the damage to Master File Table (MFT) could be very serious, so you have to use third party software, like Active Uneraser for DOS or Active File Recovery for Windows to access and save your files to another drive, and then reformat the drive.
More safer way is to look for help in professional service.

 

[themrvladek]

Notice:
I apologize to all whom I answered with a delay.
The reason was the breakdown on my computer that even after the repairation isn't working completely fine, so it is possible that I answered several times the same question.
Thank you.
Sincerely,
themrvladek

 

[themrvladek]

themrvaladek: I am a teacher and had all my work on a harddrive that today said 'corruped and unreadable' I nearly cried! I had backed up some but not all of the recent stuff. I frantically searched the web and came across your advice and it worked!!!! I am SO grateful!!!! And i have now backed up all my harddrive.
It now works fine but do you think i should use it or buy a replacement??

No worry, you can use it.

 

[mrkcid]

IZUKANJI I'm running Windows 8.1 with a Western Digital 2.0 terabit external hard drive . Followed your instructions; up and running again. Thank you much. Keep it coming . Peace.