{"id":59965,"date":"2026-06-30T13:49:41","date_gmt":"2026-06-30T13:49:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/?p=59965"},"modified":"2026-06-30T13:49:41","modified_gmt":"2026-06-30T13:49:41","slug":"how-to-fix-the-disk-structure-is-corrupted-and-unreadable-error","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/disk-structure-corrupted-and-unreadable.html","title":{"rendered":"How to Fix the Disk Structure Is Corrupted and Unreadable Error"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Are you trying to mount the drive or boot your computer, but get the error &#8220;Disk structure is corrupted and unreadable&#8221;? This means that the file system is damaged; you won&#8217;t be able to use it as normal, but its contents (your files) could still be intact.<\/p>\r\n<p>We&#8217;ve analyzed hundreds of user cases over time and recreated this exact problem on our own devices. From that research, here\u2019s the most complete and effective guide on how to fix disk structure errors without losing your data.<\/p>\r\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"dos_and_donts_when_the_disk_structure_is_corrupted_and_unreadable\"><\/span>Do\u2019s and Don\u2019ts When the Disk Structure is Corrupted and Unreadable<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\r\n<p>When you encounter the error on your system drive or external hard drive, \u201cthe disk structure is corrupted and unreadable\u201d (or \u201cdisc structure is corrupted and unreadable\u201d), what you do next matters <b>a lot<\/b>, especially if you need the files on that drive. Read this section <b>fully<\/b> before proceeding.<\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li>&#x274c; <b>Do not<\/b> format the disk (yet). Formatting wipes everything on your drive; do it after backup or recovery, or if you don\u2019t need your files back (even if <a href=\"\/howto\/recover-external-hard-drive-without-formatting.html\">your drive asks to be formatted<\/a>).<\/li>\r\n\t<li>&#x274c; <b>Do not<\/b> perform repairs without backing up or recovering your data first. Repairs can also cause data loss indirectly.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>&#x2714; <b>Do<\/b> make a disk image. A disk image is a complete copy of your entire disk. In case anything goes wrong during the repair (or even recovery) attempt, your files are safe in the disk image. We show you how to do it as part of our <a href=\"#data-recovery\">recovery guide<\/a>.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>&#x2714; <b>Do<\/b> mount the drive on another PC or use bootable media if the affected disk is your system drive.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<p>If you want a clearer course of action, we prepared a menu of what you should do next, based on what you need from your drive:<\/p>\r\n<div class=\"table_wrapper table_heading\"><p><\/p>\r\n<table>\r\n<tbody>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>Scenario<\/td>\r\n<td>What to do<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>You don\u2019t need to recover any data from the affected disk.<\/td>\r\n<td>If you only want to fix your drive, and you don\u2019t need any of the data it contains, you can skip the recovery section and <a href=\"#disk-repairs\">jump straight to repairs<\/a>.<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>You want to recover your data.<\/td>\r\n<td>If you need to recover the files on your drive, start by <a href=\"#data-recovery\">backing up and recovering your data<\/a> <b>before you do anything else<\/b>. Otherwise, you risk losing your files during the repair attempt itself. Once your data is restored, you can <a href=\"#disk-repairs\">repair your drive<\/a>.<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>You want to recover your data, but you\u2019re not ready to attempt it yet.<\/td>\r\n<td>Although we recommend data recovery as soon as possible, you can delay the attempt and create an image backup instead. We show you one way to do it in the <a href=\"#data-recovery\">recovery section<\/a>. After backing up your data, you can <a href=\"#disk-repairs\">repair your drive<\/a>.<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>You\u2019re trying to recover your data, but the software can\u2019t detect your disk.<\/td>\r\n<td>Check the physical connections of your drive\u2013here\u2019s a quick <a href=\"#check-hardware\">troubleshooting guide<\/a>. Once your drive appears (at least in Disk Management), return to this menu. If it still doesn\u2019t, see our <a href=\"\/howto\/dead-hard-drive-recovery.html\">dead drive recovery guide<\/a>.<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/tbody>\r\n<\/table>\r\n<p><\/div>\r\n<p>Alternatively, you can just follow this guide as it\u2019s written. We designed it based on the safest pathway to resolution for this specific error, assuming that the files on your drive are important to you.<\/p>\r\n<div class=\"alert alert-warning\" role=\"alert\">&#x26a0;&#xfe0f; If you notice any signs of physical damage on your drive, skip this guide and contact a professional data recovery service instead (if you need your files). Attempting to repair or recover data from a damaged drive can result in permanent data loss. Then, replace the drive.<\/div>\r\n<h2 id=\"data-recovery\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"how_to_recover_data_from_a_drive_with_a_corrupted_structure\"><\/span>How to Recover Data From a Drive With a Corrupted Structure<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\r\n<p>If the files on the affected drive are important to you, <a href=\"\/hard-drive-data-recovery.html\">hard drive data recovery<\/a> <b>should be your first step<\/b> (even minor repair operations can cause permanent data loss on your drive). Since you can\u2019t access your files through File Explorer, you need to use data recovery software to directly scan your disk for the files.<\/p>\r\n<p>For this guide, we\u2019ll be using a program called <a href=\"\/data-recovery-software.html\">Disk Drill<\/a>. It\u2019s very easy to use, even for beginners, and it has a feature called <b>Byte-to-byte backup<\/b> that can generate a complete copy of your drive and save it as an image file (which you can scan with the data recovery feature later). This is a great way to secure your data even before recovery, especially if you\u2019re trying to <a href=\"\/howto\/crashed-hard-drive-recovery.html\">restore files from crashed hard drives<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n<div class=\"alert alert-success\" role=\"alert\">You can download Disk Drill for free and use a lot of its functionality for no cost; you can scan your drive as much as you want, preview any found files and their contents, and use the <b>S.M.A.R.T. Monitoring<\/b> feature, which can tell you about your drive\u2019s health status in real time. Finally, you can recover up to 100 MB of data for free\u2013which should be enough for a lot of documents, photos, and even small video clips.<\/div>\r\n<ol>\r\n\t<li>If you\u2019re recovering data from an external drive, securely connect it to your PC with the appropriate cable.<\/li>\r\n\t<li><a href=\"\/download.html\">Download<\/a> and install Disk Drill from the CleverFiles website, and make sure to grant it the necessary permissions.<br \/>\r\n<img class=\"border-blue border-radius-10 aligncenter wp-image-59985 size-full\" src=\"\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Disk-Drill-Download-Page.png\" alt=\"CleverFiles Disk Drill download page\" width=\"1174\" height=\"743\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Disk-Drill-Download-Page.png 1174w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Disk-Drill-Download-Page-300x190.png 300w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Disk-Drill-Download-Page-500x316.png 500w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Disk-Drill-Download-Page-768x486.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1174px) 100vw, 1174px\" \/><\/li>\r\n\t<li>If you want to skip creating a backup, proceed to step 6. To create an image backup (recommended), click <b>Byte-to-byte backup<\/b> on the left sidebar. Then, select your drive from the list and click <b>Create backup<\/b>.<br \/>\r\n<img class=\"border-blue border-radius-10 aligncenter wp-image-59983 size-full\" src=\"\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Disk-Drill-Backup-Corrupted-Drive.png\" alt=\"Disk Drill Byte-to-byte backup menu\" width=\"1366\" height=\"768\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Disk-Drill-Backup-Corrupted-Drive.png 1366w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Disk-Drill-Backup-Corrupted-Drive-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Disk-Drill-Backup-Corrupted-Drive-500x281.png 500w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Disk-Drill-Backup-Corrupted-Drive-768x432.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1366px) 100vw, 1366px\" \/><\/li>\r\n\t<li>Choose a folder to save the backup file, but make sure it\u2019s on a different drive than the one you\u2019re trying to recover (which should have enough free space for the image). Then, click <b>OK<\/b>.<br \/>\r\n<img class=\"border-blue border-radius-10 aligncenter wp-image-59984 size-full\" src=\"\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Disk-Drill-Backup-Dialog-Menu.png\" alt=\"choose location for byte-to-byte backup\" width=\"1366\" height=\"768\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Disk-Drill-Backup-Dialog-Menu.png 1366w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Disk-Drill-Backup-Dialog-Menu-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Disk-Drill-Backup-Dialog-Menu-500x281.png 500w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Disk-Drill-Backup-Dialog-Menu-768x432.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1366px) 100vw, 1366px\" \/><\/li>\r\n\t<li>Wait for Disk Drill to finish creating the backup, and note the colored squares appearing on-screen; these indicate sectors on your drive, which should give you an indication of its condition. Once the backup is created, click the <b>home button<\/b> to return to Disk Drill\u2019s main interface. Then, click <b>Storage devices<\/b> in the left sidebar.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>If you didn\u2019t create a backup file, select your drive and click <b>Search for lost data<\/b>. If you did, click <b>Attach disk image<\/b> at the bottom of the window to add it. Then, select the disk image and click <b>Search for lost data<\/b>.<br \/>\r\n<img class=\"border-blue border-radius-10 aligncenter wp-image-59986 size-full\" src=\"\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Disk-Drill-Scan-Corrupted-Disk.png\" alt=\"Disk Drill drive scan menu\" width=\"1366\" height=\"768\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Disk-Drill-Scan-Corrupted-Disk.png 1366w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Disk-Drill-Scan-Corrupted-Disk-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Disk-Drill-Scan-Corrupted-Disk-500x281.png 500w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Disk-Drill-Scan-Corrupted-Disk-768x432.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1366px) 100vw, 1366px\" \/><\/li>\r\n\t<li>You may be prompted to select a scan type\u2013choose <b>Universal scan<\/b> the first time you run Disk Drill. If you manage to restore lost videos, but they appear unplayable or show errors, run the scan again with <b>Advanced camera recovery<\/b>. If this prompt doesn\u2019t appear at all for you, you can just proceed to step 8.<br \/>\r\n<img class=\"border-blue border-radius-10 aligncenter wp-image-59987 size-full\" src=\"\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Disk-Drill-Scan-Types.png\" alt=\"Disk Drill scan type prompt\" width=\"1366\" height=\"768\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Disk-Drill-Scan-Types.png 1366w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Disk-Drill-Scan-Types-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Disk-Drill-Scan-Types-500x281.png 500w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Disk-Drill-Scan-Types-768x432.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1366px) 100vw, 1366px\" \/><\/li>\r\n\t<li>Wait for Disk Drill to finish scanning your drive. If you want to immediately restore all the files Disk Drill found, click <b>Recover All<\/b> and proceed to step 9. Otherwise, click <b>Review found items<\/b> (recommended so you can preview your files).<br \/>\r\n<img class=\"border-blue border-radius-10 aligncenter wp-image-59989 size-full\" src=\"\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Disk-Drill-Completed-Disk-Scan.png\" alt=\"Disk Drill scan completion screen, with the option to recover all data or review found items\" width=\"1366\" height=\"768\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Disk-Drill-Completed-Disk-Scan.png 1366w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Disk-Drill-Completed-Disk-Scan-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Disk-Drill-Completed-Disk-Scan-500x281.png 500w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Disk-Drill-Completed-Disk-Scan-768x432.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1366px) 100vw, 1366px\" \/><\/li>\r\n\t<li>In Disk Drill\u2019s file browsing page, you\u2019ll see up to 3 recovery categories that you can expand. <b>Existing<\/b> contains files that weren\u2019t deleted or lost from the drive, which is usually the case for corrupted drives. <b>Reconstructed<\/b> and <b>Deleted or lost<\/b> contain missing files that were restored using their metadata or raw file signatures. Start with <b>Existing<\/b>, then move on to the other two categories only if your files don\u2019t appear.<br \/>\r\n<img class=\"border-blue border-radius-10 aligncenter wp-image-59990 size-full\" src=\"\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Disk-Drill-Recovery-Categories.png\" alt=\"Disk Drill file browser and recovery categories\" width=\"1366\" height=\"768\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Disk-Drill-Recovery-Categories.png 1366w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Disk-Drill-Recovery-Categories-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Disk-Drill-Recovery-Categories-500x281.png 500w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Disk-Drill-Recovery-Categories-768x432.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1366px) 100vw, 1366px\" \/><\/li>\r\n\t<li>If you only want to restore specific files or file types, use the filters in the left sidebar and the search bar in the top right corner to narrow down the scan results. Once you locate your files, make sure to click them once to preview them (and make sure they work).<br \/>\r\n<img class=\"border-blue border-radius-10 aligncenter wp-image-59991 size-full\" src=\"\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Disk-Drill-Search-Preview.png\" alt=\"Disk Drill search bar, data filters, and preview display\" width=\"1366\" height=\"768\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Disk-Drill-Search-Preview.png 1366w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Disk-Drill-Search-Preview-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Disk-Drill-Search-Preview-500x281.png 500w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Disk-Drill-Search-Preview-768x432.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1366px) 100vw, 1366px\" \/><\/li>\r\n\t<li>Select the files you want to restore. Then, click <b>Recover<\/b>.<br \/>\r\n<img class=\"border-blue border-radius-10 aligncenter wp-image-59992 size-full\" src=\"\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Disk-Drill-File-Selection.png\" alt=\"Disk Drill file selection boxes and Recover button\" width=\"1366\" height=\"768\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Disk-Drill-File-Selection.png 1366w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Disk-Drill-File-Selection-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Disk-Drill-File-Selection-500x281.png 500w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Disk-Drill-File-Selection-768x432.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1366px) 100vw, 1366px\" \/><\/li>\r\n\t<li>Finally, choose a location on a <b>completely different drive<\/b> (e.g., if you\u2019re recovering data from a pen drive or an external hard drive, you can save the files to your PC). Then, click <b>Next<\/b> to proceed with the recovery process.<br \/>\r\n<img class=\"border-blue border-radius-10 aligncenter wp-image-59993 size-full\" src=\"\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Disk-Drill-Recovery-Dialog.png\" alt=\"Disk Drill recovery folder selection menu\" width=\"1366\" height=\"768\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Disk-Drill-Recovery-Dialog.png 1366w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Disk-Drill-Recovery-Dialog-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Disk-Drill-Recovery-Dialog-500x281.png 500w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Disk-Drill-Recovery-Dialog-768x432.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1366px) 100vw, 1366px\" \/><\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<p>Once your data is secure, you can safely proceed with the next section, which is fixing the drive. Data loss is an inherent risk at this stage, so make sure that your recovered or backed-up files are safe on a different device and working properly.<\/p>\r\n<h2 id=\"disk-repairs\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"how_to_fix_the_disk_structure_is_corrupted_and_unreadable_error\"><\/span>How to Fix the \u201cDisk Structure Is Corrupted and Unreadable\u201d Error<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\r\n<p>In this section, we\u2019ll cover 5 different \u201cdisk structure is corrupted and unreadable\u201d fixes. We start you off on the simplest and least intrusive methods first, so we recommend attempting them in order.<\/p>\r\n<h3 class=\"title_sc_bg\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"method_1_check_cables_ports_enclosure_and_power\"><\/span><span class=\"title_shortcode_bg\">Method 1:<\/span> <span id=\"check-hardware\">Check Cables, Ports, Enclosure, and Power<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\r\n<p>Hardware instability is an extremely common and, fortunately, easily fixable cause for the disk structure corruption error. Issues can range from power issues to dusty ports, and the solution can be as simple as changing your cable. This method is a great place to start before diving into more complex solutions.<\/p>\r\n<div class=\"alert alert-info\" role=\"alert\">&#x1f4a1; Check Device Management (found in the Start Menu) before and after each troubleshooting tip to see if the error goes away.<\/div>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li><b>Check your connections.<\/b> Make sure that your cables are securely connected to the appropriate ports, and that there is no debris in the way (e.g., lint, caked dust, etc.).<\/li>\r\n\t<li><b>Change ports.<\/b> Test different ports on your PC to check if your drive behaves differently. Pay attention to the color of the port in particular; blue ports are usually better for resource-intensive drives.<\/li>\r\n\t<li><b>Swap accessories.<\/b> Accessories degrade over time or may suffer wear and tear that goes unnoticed. Try replacing your accessories and check if the same problem occurs.<\/li>\r\n\t<li><b>Connect to another PC.<\/b> If the above troubleshooting steps fail, try connecting your drive to another PC if you have one\u2013this is a surefire way to tell if your drive is really the problem.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<div class=\"alert alert-warning\" role=\"alert\">&#x26a0;&#xfe0f; <a href=\"\/howto\/how-to-fix-a-broken-usb-stick.html\">Fixing a broken USB stick<\/a> or hard drive physically should only be limited to the above troubleshooting steps. If you notice damage on the device itself, contact a professional data recovery service instead.<\/div>\r\n<h3 class=\"title_sc_bg\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"method_2_run_chkdsk\"><\/span><span class=\"title_shortcode_bg\">Method 2:<\/span> Run CHKDSK<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\r\n<p>CHKDSK is a built-in Windows tool that you can run as a (single) command in Command Prompt. CHKDSK is particularly effective for this error; it can <a href=\"\/howto\/repair-corrupted-external-hard-drive.html\">repair a corrupted drive<\/a> and its disk structure by rebuilding the Master File Table or MFT (which is what Windows needs to mount and read your drive) and locking away bad sectors.<\/p>\r\n<div class=\"alert alert-warning\" role=\"alert\">&#x26a0;&#xfe0f; Due to how CHKDSK works in practice, partial or full data loss is an extremely common side effect. This is why we strongly recommend recovering your data or creating an image backup first\u2013see the <a href=\"#data-recovery\">data recovery<\/a> section for more info.<\/div>\r\n<ol>\r\n\t<li>Open the <b>Start Menu<\/b> and use the search bar to find <b>Command Prompt<\/b>. Then, hover over the program and click <b>Run as administrator<\/b>.<br \/>\r\n<img class=\"border-blue border-radius-10 aligncenter wp-image-59995 size-full\" src=\"\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Start-Run-CMD-Admin.png\" alt=\"Running Command Prompt as Administrator from the Start Menu\" width=\"897\" height=\"768\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Start-Run-CMD-Admin.png 897w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Start-Run-CMD-Admin-300x257.png 300w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Start-Run-CMD-Admin-500x428.png 500w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Start-Run-CMD-Admin-768x658.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 897px) 100vw, 897px\" \/><\/li>\r\n\t<li>Once Command Prompt is ready for input, run the following command, <b>modified with your own drive letter<\/b> (which you can find in File Explorer\u2019s sidebar or in Disk Management):\r\n\r\n\r\n<pre>chkdsk D: \/f<\/pre>\r\n<img class=\"border-blue border-radius-10 aligncenter wp-image-59998 size-full\" src=\"\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/CMD-CHKDSK-F-Command.png\" alt=\"Running chkdsk \/f command on the D drive\" width=\"630\" height=\"400\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/CMD-CHKDSK-F-Command.png 630w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/CMD-CHKDSK-F-Command-300x190.png 300w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/CMD-CHKDSK-F-Command-500x317.png 500w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 630px) 100vw, 630px\" \/><\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<h3 class=\"title_sc_bg\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"method_3_rebuild_the_partition_table_with_testdisk\"><\/span><span class=\"title_shortcode_bg\">Method 3:<\/span> Rebuild the Partition Table with TestDisk<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\r\n<p>The \u201cDisk structure is corrupted and unreadable\u201d is often rooted in a corrupted partition table, which is what your PC uses to understand the drive\u2019s file system structure. <a href=\"\/howto\/testdisk-review.html\" >TestDisk<\/a>, which is a completely free and open-source tool, is capable of rebuilding new partition tables and overwriting corrupted ones.<\/p>\r\n<div class=\"alert alert-success\" role=\"alert\">&#x1f4a1; Since TestDisk can restore partitions, that makes it particularly effective for a \u201cdisk structure is corrupted and unreadable\u201d fix for RAW drives.<\/div>\r\n<p>The only problem with TestDisk is that it lacks a modern user interface; it looks like Command Prompt, but you only navigate using your <b>arrow keys<\/b> and the <b>Enter<\/b> key. You don\u2019t need to know any commands. And while somewhat outdated, the app officially supports Windows 10 and Windows 11 PCs. Here\u2019s how to use it:<\/p>\r\n<ol>\r\n\t<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cgsecurity.org\/wiki\/TestDisk_Download\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Download<\/a> TestDisk from CGSecurity\u2019s website. Then, run TestDisk (no need to install it).<br \/>\r\n<img class=\"border-blue border-radius-10 aligncenter wp-image-59999 size-full\" src=\"\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/TestDisk-Download-Page.png\" alt=\"Downloading TestDisk from the CGSecurity website\" width=\"1185\" height=\"749\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/TestDisk-Download-Page.png 1185w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/TestDisk-Download-Page-300x190.png 300w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/TestDisk-Download-Page-500x316.png 500w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/TestDisk-Download-Page-768x485.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1185px) 100vw, 1185px\" \/><\/li>\r\n\t<li>In TestDisk\u2019s main menu, use your keyboard\u2019s arrow keys to select <b>Create<\/b>. Then, press the <b>Enter<\/b> key. This is how most of your interaction with TestDisk will go.<br \/>\r\n<img class=\"border-blue border-radius-10 aligncenter wp-image-60001 size-full\" src=\"\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/TestDisk-Initial-Menu.png\" alt=\"TestDisk log creation screen\" width=\"845\" height=\"549\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/TestDisk-Initial-Menu.png 845w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/TestDisk-Initial-Menu-300x195.png 300w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/TestDisk-Initial-Menu-500x325.png 500w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/TestDisk-Initial-Menu-768x499.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 845px) 100vw, 845px\" \/><\/li>\r\n\t<li>Use your arrow keys again to choose the correct disk from the list. Then, select <b>Proceed<\/b> and press <b>Enter<\/b>.<br \/>\r\n<img class=\"border-blue border-radius-10 aligncenter wp-image-60002 size-full\" src=\"\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/TestDisk-Disk-Selection-Menu.png\" alt=\"Selecting a disk to scan with TestDisk\" width=\"852\" height=\"550\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/TestDisk-Disk-Selection-Menu.png 852w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/TestDisk-Disk-Selection-Menu-300x194.png 300w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/TestDisk-Disk-Selection-Menu-500x323.png 500w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/TestDisk-Disk-Selection-Menu-768x496.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 852px) 100vw, 852px\" \/><\/li>\r\n\t<li>Select your drive\u2019s partition table type. Alternatively, go with TestDisk\u2019s automatic selection, which is usually correct. Then, press <b>Enter<\/b>.<br \/>\r\n<img class=\"border-blue border-radius-10 aligncenter wp-image-60003 size-full\" src=\"\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/TestDisk-Partition-Table-Types.png\" alt=\"Selecting the drive's partition table type in TestDisk\" width=\"838\" height=\"547\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/TestDisk-Partition-Table-Types.png 838w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/TestDisk-Partition-Table-Types-300x196.png 300w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/TestDisk-Partition-Table-Types-500x326.png 500w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/TestDisk-Partition-Table-Types-768x501.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 838px) 100vw, 838px\" \/><\/li>\r\n\t<li>Select the <b>Analyse<\/b> option and press <b>Enter<\/b>.<br \/>\r\n<img class=\"border-blue border-radius-10 aligncenter wp-image-60005 size-full\" src=\"\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/TestDisk-Tools-Menu.png\" alt=\"Choosing the Analyse tool in TestDisk\" width=\"855\" height=\"560\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/TestDisk-Tools-Menu.png 855w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/TestDisk-Tools-Menu-300x196.png 300w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/TestDisk-Tools-Menu-500x327.png 500w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/TestDisk-Tools-Menu-768x503.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 855px) 100vw, 855px\" \/><\/li>\r\n\t<li>Then, choose <b>Quick Search<\/b> and press <b>Enter<\/b> to begin the partition scan.<br \/>\r\n<img class=\"border-blue border-radius-10 aligncenter wp-image-60006 size-full\" src=\"\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/TestDisk-Quick-Search-Tool.png\" alt=\"Running a Quick Search on a disk in TestDisk\" width=\"849\" height=\"553\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/TestDisk-Quick-Search-Tool.png 849w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/TestDisk-Quick-Search-Tool-300x195.png 300w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/TestDisk-Quick-Search-Tool-500x326.png 500w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/TestDisk-Quick-Search-Tool-768x500.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 849px) 100vw, 849px\" \/><\/li>\r\n\t<li>TestDisk will display any partitions it found. Use your arrow keys to select the partition you want to rebuild and press <b>Enter<\/b>. Note that you can use the <b>P<\/b> key to view the selected partition\u2019s files and make sure it\u2019s the right one.<br \/>\r\n<img class=\"border-blue border-radius-10 aligncenter wp-image-60028 size-full\" src=\"\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/TestDisk-Found-Partitions.png\" alt=\"TestDisk displaying found partitions\" width=\"843\" height=\"553\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/TestDisk-Found-Partitions.png 843w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/TestDisk-Found-Partitions-300x197.png 300w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/TestDisk-Found-Partitions-500x328.png 500w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/TestDisk-Found-Partitions-768x504.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 843px) 100vw, 843px\" \/><\/li>\r\n\t<li>Finally, select the <b>Write<\/b> option and press <b>Enter<\/b> to allow TestDisk to proceed with rebuilding the partition. If you didn\u2019t find the right partition during the initial scan, you can try using the <b>Deeper Search<\/b> option.<br \/>\r\n<img class=\"border-blue border-radius-10 aligncenter wp-image-60029 size-full\" src=\"\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/TestDisk-Write-Partition.png\" alt=\"Writing the found partition to the disk using TestDisk\" width=\"847\" height=\"553\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/TestDisk-Write-Partition.png 847w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/TestDisk-Write-Partition-300x196.png 300w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/TestDisk-Write-Partition-500x326.png 500w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/TestDisk-Write-Partition-768x501.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 847px) 100vw, 847px\" \/><\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<p>Once TestDisk is done writing the partition to your drive, restart your computer <b>without disconnecting your drive<\/b> to avoid potential errors or complications. Then, check if you can mount and read your drive properly.<\/p>\r\n<div class=\"alert alert-success\" role=\"alert\">&#x1f4a1; Aside from external devices, you can also use TestDisk to repair your system drive by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cgsecurity.org\/wiki\/TestDisk_Livecd\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">running it from a boot environment<\/a>.<\/div>\r\n<h3 class=\"title_sc_bg\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"method_4_use_sfcdism\"><\/span><span class=\"title_shortcode_bg\">Method 4:<\/span> Use SFC\/DISM<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\r\n<p>The System File Checker (SFC) and the Deployment Image Servicing and Management (DISM) are another set of built-in Windows tools that can fix corrupted drives. DISM ensures the integrity of the packages that the SFC needs to restore corrupted or missing system files.<\/p>\r\n<p>This method is most effective for drives that got corrupted by a BSOD (blue screen of death) or after a janky Windows update.<\/p>\r\n<div class=\"alert alert-info\" role=\"alert\">&#x1f4a1; This method requires a stable internet connection to allow DISM to download the files that the SFC needs.<\/div>\r\n<ol>\r\n\t<li>Use the Start Menu to run Command Prompt <b>as Administrator<\/b>.<br \/>\r\n<img class=\"border-blue border-radius-10 aligncenter wp-image-59995 size-full\" src=\"\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Start-Run-CMD-Admin.png\" alt=\"Running Command Prompt as Administrator from the Start Menu\" width=\"897\" height=\"768\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Start-Run-CMD-Admin.png 897w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Start-Run-CMD-Admin-300x257.png 300w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Start-Run-CMD-Admin-500x428.png 500w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Start-Run-CMD-Admin-768x658.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 897px) 100vw, 897px\" \/><\/li>\r\n\t<li>Run this command to use the DISM tool:\r\n\r\n\r\n<pre>DISM \/Online \/Cleanup-Image \/RestoreHealth<\/pre>\r\n<img class=\"border-blue border-radius-10 aligncenter wp-image-60031 size-full\" src=\"\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/CMD-DISM-Restore-Health.png\" alt=\"Running the Restore Health command with the DISM system tool\" width=\"736\" height=\"495\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/CMD-DISM-Restore-Health.png 736w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/CMD-DISM-Restore-Health-300x202.png 300w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/CMD-DISM-Restore-Health-500x336.png 500w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 736px) 100vw, 736px\" \/><\/li>\r\n\t<li>Once you see a log that says \u201cThe operation completed successfully\u201d, and Command Prompt is accepting new input, run the SFC command next:\r\n\r\n\r\n<pre>sfc \/scannow<\/pre>\r\n<img class=\"border-blue border-radius-10 aligncenter wp-image-60032 size-full\" src=\"\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/CMD-SFC-Scannow-Tool.png\" alt=\"Running the scannow command with the SFC tool in Command Prompt\" width=\"744\" height=\"498\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/CMD-SFC-Scannow-Tool.png 744w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/CMD-SFC-Scannow-Tool-300x201.png 300w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/CMD-SFC-Scannow-Tool-500x335.png 500w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 744px) 100vw, 744px\" \/><\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<p>Once the SFC scan is done (you see \u201cVerification 100% complete\u201d), make sure to reboot your computer <b>without disconnecting your drive<\/b>. Rebooting allows Windows to finalize repairs done by the SFC tool, and disconnecting your drive can result in corruption.<\/p>\r\n<h3 class=\"title_sc_bg\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"method_5_try_formatting_the_drive\"><\/span><span class=\"title_shortcode_bg\">Method 5:<\/span> Try Formatting the Drive<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\r\n<p>Formatting a drive recreates a completely fresh file system with new metadata, wiping existing data in the process. This means that any instances of corruption or conflict will be instantly wiped out\u2013along with all of your files.<\/p>\r\n<p>With all that considered, formatting should be your last resort or the ideal next step <i><b>after recovering your data<\/b><\/i> or creating a backup of your disk. As long as you secure your data, this method is the most effective \u201cthe disk structure is corrupted and unreadable\u201d solution.<\/p>\r\n<div class=\"alert alert-warning\" role=\"alert\">&#x26a0;&#xfe0f; The formatting dialog window always provides an option to enable <b>quick format<\/b> use. If not enabled, a full format will be run. We recommend using a quick format instead of a <b>full format<\/b>, because the former leaves your data intact enough for <a href=\"\/howto\/recover-formatted-hdd.html\">potential formatted HDD recovery<\/a> and wears down your drive less.<\/div>\r\n<ol>\r\n\t<li>Make sure your drive is securely connected to your computer.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Using the Start Menu, locate and run <b>Disk Management<\/b>.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Right-click your corrupted drive and select <b>Format\u2026<\/b> from the context menu.<br \/>\r\n<img class=\"border-blue border-radius-10 aligncenter wp-image-60034 size-full\" src=\"\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Disk-Management-Format-Drive.png\" alt=\"Formatting a drive in Disk Management via the right-click menu\" width=\"891\" height=\"712\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Disk-Management-Format-Drive.png 891w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Disk-Management-Format-Drive-300x240.png 300w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Disk-Management-Format-Drive-500x400.png 500w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Disk-Management-Format-Drive-768x614.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 891px) 100vw, 891px\" \/><\/li>\r\n\t<li>Choose a name and select a file system for your drive (we recommend <b>ExFAT<\/b> for maximum compatibility). Then, check the box beside <b>Perform a quick format<\/b> if you don\u2019t want to perform a full format of your drive. Click <b>OK<\/b> to proceed.<br \/>\r\n<img class=\"border-blue border-radius-10 aligncenter wp-image-60035 size-full\" src=\"\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Disk-Management-Format-Dialog.png\" alt=\"Formatting dialog window in Disk Management\" width=\"895\" height=\"715\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Disk-Management-Format-Dialog.png 895w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Disk-Management-Format-Dialog-300x240.png 300w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Disk-Management-Format-Dialog-500x399.png 500w, https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Disk-Management-Format-Dialog-768x614.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 895px) 100vw, 895px\" \/><\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<p>Note that we used Disk Management for the guide because it works for drives that don\u2019t appear in File Explorer. However, if yours does, you can right-click your drive in the sidebar and select <b>Format<\/b> instead.<\/p>\r\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"faq\"><\/span>FAQ<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\r\n<div><section itemscope=\"\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/FAQPage\">\r\n<div style=\"border-bottom: 0px solid rgb(213, 217, 217);\" class=\"panel panel-default faq-block\" itemprop=\"mainEntity\" itemscope=\"\" itemtype=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/Question\" role=\"tablist\">\r\n            <div class=\"panel-heading\" role=\"tab\" id=\"headingfaq1\">\r\n                <div class=\"panel-title\" itemprop=\"name\">\r\n                    <a class=\"toggle-link transition-all collapsed\" role=\"button\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse-item-faq1\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"collapse-item-faq1\"><h3 class=\"panel-title\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"how_to_prevent_the_disk_structure_is_corrupted_and_unreadable_error_from_happening_again\"><\/span>How to prevent the \u201cdisk structure is corrupted and unreadable\u201d error from happening again?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>                   \r\n                    \t<svg class=\"transition-all panel-toggle\" width=\"16px\" height=\"16px\" viewBox=\"0 0 16 16\" version=\"1.1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" xmlns:xlink=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xlink\">\r\n                            <g stroke=\"none\" stroke-width=\"1\" fill=\"none\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\">\r\n                                <path d=\"M7,7 L7,0 L9,0 L9,7 L16,7 L16,9 L9,9 L9,16 L7,16 L7,9 L0,9 L0,7 L7,7 Z\" fill=\"#000000\"><\/path>\r\n                            <\/g>\r\n                        <\/svg>\r\n                   <\/a>\r\n                <\/div>\r\n            <\/div>\r\n            <div id=\"collapse-item-faq1\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" role=\"tabpanel\" aria-labelledby=\"headingfaq1\" aria-expanded=\"false\" style=\"\">\r\n              <div class=\"panel-body\" itemprop=\"acceptedAnswer\" itemscope=\"\" itemtype=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/Answer\">\r\n<div itemprop=\"text\">\r\n                <p>Here are several tips to avoid a \u201cdisk structure is corrupted and unreadable\u201d USB error:<\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li>A<b>lways safely remove external devices.<\/b> Use the <b>Safely Eject<\/b> feature on your PC whenever disconnecting a drive\u2013don\u2019t just yank it out. If it fails to eject, you can shut down your PC and disconnect it when the power is completely gone.<\/li>\r\n\t<li><b>Avoid improper shutdown of your PC.<\/b> Improper shutdowns can corrupt both your system drive and any external storage devices connected to your PC. Stick with the standard procedure (<b>Start &gt; Power icon &gt; Shut down<\/b>).<\/li>\r\n\t<li><b>Scan files for malware before saving.<\/b> Scan files with programs like Windows Defender, Malwarebytes, and ClamWin to prevent malware from corrupting your drive.<\/li>\r\n\t<li><b>Monitor your drive\u2019s health.<\/b> Use apps like CrystalDiskInfo or Disk Drill\u2019s S.M.A.R.T. tool (both free) to help you identify any potential health issues on your drive before corruption occurs.<\/li>\r\n\t<li><b>Avoid using power hubs (or invest in a good one).<\/b> External drives require constant, sufficient power to operate properly; if your power hub fails to provide enough resources or suddenly disconnects during a read\/write process, corruption soon follows.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<p><\/p>\r\n<\/div>\r\n                <div class=\"clearfix\"><\/div>\r\n              <\/div>\r\n            <\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<div style=\"border-bottom: 0px solid rgb(213, 217, 217);\" class=\"panel panel-default faq-block\" itemprop=\"mainEntity\" itemscope=\"\" itemtype=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/Question\" role=\"tablist\">\r\n            <div class=\"panel-heading\" role=\"tab\" id=\"headingfaq2\">\r\n                <div class=\"panel-title\" itemprop=\"name\">\r\n                    <a class=\"toggle-link transition-all collapsed\" role=\"button\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse-item-faq2\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"collapse-item-faq2\"><h3 class=\"panel-title\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"chkdsk_says_unable_to_determine_volume_version_and_state_what_does_that_imply\"><\/span>CHKDSK says Unable to determine volume version and state. What does that imply?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>                   \r\n                    \t<svg class=\"transition-all panel-toggle\" width=\"16px\" height=\"16px\" viewBox=\"0 0 16 16\" version=\"1.1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" xmlns:xlink=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xlink\">\r\n                            <g stroke=\"none\" stroke-width=\"1\" fill=\"none\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\">\r\n                                <path d=\"M7,7 L7,0 L9,0 L9,7 L16,7 L16,9 L9,9 L9,16 L7,16 L7,9 L0,9 L0,7 L7,7 Z\" fill=\"#000000\"><\/path>\r\n                            <\/g>\r\n                        <\/svg>\r\n                   <\/a>\r\n                <\/div>\r\n            <\/div>\r\n            <div id=\"collapse-item-faq2\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" role=\"tabpanel\" aria-labelledby=\"headingfaq2\" aria-expanded=\"false\" style=\"\">\r\n              <div class=\"panel-body\" itemprop=\"acceptedAnswer\" itemscope=\"\" itemtype=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/Answer\">\r\n<div itemprop=\"text\">\r\n                <p>If CHKDSK reports that it&#8217;s unable to determine the volume version and state, it means that it can\u2019t properly access the file system or its metadata, so it doesn\u2019t even have a \u201cmodel\u201d for the repair operation. Follow these steps:<\/p>\r\n<ol>\r\n\t<li>Recover your data or create an image backup ASAP (if the files on your drive are important).<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Once your files are secure, format your drive. If it fails during the format, replace it.<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<p><\/p>\r\n<\/div>\r\n                <div class=\"clearfix\"><\/div>\r\n              <\/div>\r\n            <\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<div style=\"border-bottom: 01px solid rgb(213, 217, 217);\" class=\"panel panel-default faq-block\" itemprop=\"mainEntity\" itemscope=\"\" itemtype=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/Question\" role=\"tablist\">\r\n            <div class=\"panel-heading\" role=\"tab\" id=\"headingfaq3\">\r\n                <div class=\"panel-title\" itemprop=\"name\">\r\n                    <a class=\"toggle-link transition-all collapsed\" role=\"button\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse-item-faq3\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"collapse-item-faq3\"><h3 class=\"panel-title\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"if_the_disk_structure_is_corrupted_error_disappears_after_a_repair_is_it_safe_to_keep_using_the_drive\"><\/span>If the \u201cdisk structure is corrupted\u201d error disappears after a repair, is it safe to keep using the drive?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>                   \r\n                    \t<svg class=\"transition-all panel-toggle\" width=\"16px\" height=\"16px\" viewBox=\"0 0 16 16\" version=\"1.1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" xmlns:xlink=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xlink\">\r\n                            <g stroke=\"none\" stroke-width=\"1\" fill=\"none\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\">\r\n                                <path d=\"M7,7 L7,0 L9,0 L9,7 L16,7 L16,9 L9,9 L9,16 L7,16 L7,9 L0,9 L0,7 L7,7 Z\" fill=\"#000000\"><\/path>\r\n                            <\/g>\r\n                        <\/svg>\r\n                   <\/a>\r\n                <\/div>\r\n            <\/div>\r\n            <div id=\"collapse-item-faq3\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" role=\"tabpanel\" aria-labelledby=\"headingfaq3\" aria-expanded=\"false\" style=\"\">\r\n              <div class=\"panel-body\" itemprop=\"acceptedAnswer\" itemscope=\"\" itemtype=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/Answer\">\r\n<div itemprop=\"text\">\r\n                <p>Yes, as long as you don\u2019t hear any clicking or grinding noises or notice other forms of physical damage, your drive is safe to use after repair. We still recommend backing up any new saved data regularly (e.g., via RAID) because drives with a history of corruption are usually more vulnerable throughout the rest of their lifecycle.<\/p>\r\n<\/div>\r\n                <div class=\"clearfix\"><\/div>\r\n              <\/div>\r\n            <\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/section><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Are you trying to mount the drive or boot your computer, but get the error &#8220;Disk structure is corrupted and unreadable&#8221;? This means that the file system is damaged; you won&#8217;t be able to use it as normal, but its&#8230;","protected":false},"author":7896,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1753],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-59965","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-hard-drive-data-recovery-tips"},"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v26.3 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>The Disk Structure Is Corrupted and Unreadable: Fix Guide<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Did &quot;The disk structure is corrupted and unreadable&quot; error appear while trying to use your drive? Here&#039;s how to fix it without losing data.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/disk-structure-corrupted-and-unreadable.html\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"The Disk Structure Is Corrupted and Unreadable: Fix Guide\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Did &quot;The disk structure is corrupted and unreadable&quot; error appear while trying to use your drive? Here&#039;s how to fix it without losing data.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/disk-structure-corrupted-and-unreadable.html\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Data recovery tips. Recover deleted files on Mac, Windows.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/og-cleverfiles.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1200\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"630\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Alejandro Santos\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:title\" content=\"The Disk Structure Is Corrupted and Unreadable: Fix Guide\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:description\" content=\"Did &quot;The disk structure is corrupted and unreadable&quot; error appear while trying to use your drive? Here&#039;s how to fix it without losing data.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Disk-Drill-Download-Page.png\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@Cleverfiles\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@Cleverfiles\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Alejandro Santos\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"18 minutes\" \/>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"The Disk Structure Is Corrupted and Unreadable: Fix Guide","description":"Did \"The disk structure is corrupted and unreadable\" error appear while trying to use your drive? 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