But, in addition, there is also the possibility that it is a physical error of the hard drive that stores the data. In the case of physical hard drives, it is likely that days before losing access to the file we are looking for, we have had another type of problem when starting the computer and trying to open files located on the same drive. Mechanical hard drives, HDDs, have a durability superior to that offered by SSDs, and, unlike the latter, there is always the possibility of signs of exhaustion if it begins to fail, which will give us enough time to do a copy of the data, something that, unfortunately, does not usually happen with SSDs, as they are digital storage units and not a disk itself, like HDDs.
How to repair a corrupt file or folder
If we find that we have a file or folder that is corrupt, we can use some solutions that we can find within the Windows 10 and Windows 11 tools, since both versions share the same tools.
Check if the system has errors
The first thing we are going to do is try to check if the system could contain errors that could be the cause of the corruption of files or folders. To do this we open the File Explorer (Windows + E). Later we select the unit that can be found damaged and click on it with the right button. A contextual menu will appear where we will select the option “Properties”.
Within the “Tools” tab, click on the checkbox “Find out” in the “Error checking” section. In this way Windows 10 will take care of checking if there are file system errors inside the unit.
Run Windows Defender
The file or folder may be corrupted by a virus or malware. To solve it, we can try using an antivirus such as Windows Defender or any other that we have installed on our computer. To do this we can write “Windows security” in the start menu search engine. Once executed, we can select Virus and threat protection and perform a “Quick scan” to check if we are facing a virus problem in the files that prevents us from executing it.
Use the memory diagnostic tool
Another option that we have available within the Microsoft operating system is the Windows Memory Diagnostic tool. Through it we can make sure that the problem of file or folder corruption is not due to a RAM memory failure Of the device. To run it we type “Windows memory diagnostic” in the search box next to the Start menu.
Next, a window will appear to check if there are problems with the memory of the equipment. We choose the first option “Restart now and check for problems (Recommended)”making sure to save any work we were doing before and close the programs we have running.
Check the integrity of the hard drive
Windows has a tool to fix corrupted files and folders such as the chkdsk command that is run from the command prompt. To do this we must write cmd in the Start menu search box and launch the Command Prompt as administrator. Once opened we will write the following command:
chkdsk /fc:
By using the /f switch, the system will automatically detect and repair bad sectors. If it can’t, it will try to move the information on them to other sectors in order to regain access to files that we don’t have access to at the moment, although unfortunately, sometimes it is not possible. In the event that the damaged unit was not C but another unit, we will change the letter to the one corresponding to said unit and press Enter. This tool works for both external and internal storage drives.
Repair damaged files
Windows 10 has its own tool to repair files, such as the sfc /scannow command. This command will take care of analyzing the unit to check if there are damaged or corrupt files that it can repair. To launch it, we must open the command prompt as administrator, typing cmd in the Start menu search box. Once open we write the following command and press Enter.
sfc /scannow
Once executed, the process will take a few minutes to carry out, informing us at all times on the screen about the percentage carried out. Subsequently, it will notify us of the results obtained and if any problem has been solved. If, unfortunately, you have not been able to solve the problems that you have detected, we will have to try other options and it is possible that we will never be able to recover them, since this tool is one of the best available to recover damaged or corrupted files. We can accompany this command of the unit that we want to analyze followed by 2 points.
Recopy the file
If we have the option of having access to the corrupt file, the easiest solution is to copy it back, as long as the original file can be opened and has not suffered any mishap, that is, it has not suffered the same problem as the file that we are trying to open If this is not the case, the first thing we must do is use all the native Microsoft tools to fix the bad sectors where the damaged files are located in order to recover access and have access to its content again.
Recover file from backup
If we have become accustomed to making backup copies, the method that surely does not fail is to access the backup, either in the cloud or on an external hard drive, provided that, if it is the latter, this is not damaged. If, unfortunately, we do not have a backup and we do not want this problem to repeat itself, we can activate the File History function, a function of Windows 10 and Windows 11 that automatically takes care of making a backup copy of all files new ones, which we modify and delete in case we need to recover them.
Repair a Word, Excel or PowerPoint file
If our needs are more specific and what we need is to recover a Word document, an Excel spreadsheet or a PowerPoint presentation that may have been damaged by a virus, or corrupted for any reason, there is no need to resort to any of the methods we have shown above. Well, yes we can appeal, but as long as the tool that Microsoft makes available to us does not solve the problem. Both Word, Excel and PowerPoint include a tool natively that allows us to recover damaged files, so it is the first option that we should try if our needs involve recovering a document of this type.
To recover a damaged file from one of the applications that are part of Office, first of all, we must open the application associated with the file, be it Word, Excel or PowerPoint. Next, click on the File menu, click on Open and then on Browse this PC. We go to the path where the file is located and select it with a mouse click. Next, click on the down arrow next to the Open button to select the Open and repair option. If Word, Excel, or PowerPoint is able to repair the file, it will open automatically.
Using the native Office tool is the first thing we should try to recover files created with this application, since if we use other methods, it is likely that we will end up breaking the file and it will be completely unrecoverable using this or other recovery methods. of files such as the applications that we show you below.
Third-party programs to repair files
If with the different tools that Windows has we cannot solve the problem with corrupt files, we can use some third-party applications that will help us to do so.
Wondershare Data Recovery
It is a deleted file recovery software that can also be used to recover damaged files. It stands out for being compatible with more than 500 types of files. Once executed we must select the type of file we want to recover (audio, videos, images, office…), as well as choose the location and identify the path or folder where the corrupt file is located. All that remains is to click on the Start button to start scanning and it will show us all the results so that we can choose the one we need to recover.
Wondershare Data Recovery is a paid tool, but it has a free trial version that we can download from
Repair Toolbox
It is a suite with 22 damaged file recovery utilities, each one different for each type of file. It supports all types of formats such as Word, Excel, OneNote, PowerPoint, Photoshop, Outlook, PDF, ZIP, RAR, among others. It is very easy to use since we will only have to select the damaged or corrupt file, give it a name and click on Repair.
Repair Toolbox is a paid application that has support for the different types of supported file formats
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