I am reorganising my archive photographs and I tried to copy a very large folder containing many subfolders with over 8,000 photos from one external hard disk to another.

The folder became corrupted on transfer and I can’t open it, (message: “the file or directory is corrupted or unreadable”), and I can’t delete it, (Message: “cannot delete…the directory is not empty”)

When I click 'properties' on the corrupt file it shows nil memory), but in fact the external hard disk, which was previously empty, shows a usage of 9 GB’s which is the size of the file I was trying to transfer.

I still have the original file in tact on the old hard disk and just want to delete the corrupted file to free up the space.

Any ideas on how I can remove this corrupt file anyone?

Any ideas on how I can remove this corrupt file anyone?

If the other external disk was/is empty except for the corrupt files, i would try to reformat it (try quick format first)

I had a locked file on my desktop that I couldnt get rid of once, no matter what I tried. Someone on here told me to try 'Unlocker', it did the trick.

Give it a go...http://ccollomb.free.fr/unlocker/

reformatting should be just fine.

if you can't do that for some reason, search the disk for those files, I am sure they just ended up in some temporary hidden folder. JDiskReport can show you where they are, for example.

"chkdsk" from a command prompt

Can I piggy back with a similar problem. Can't get a downloaded Adobe 8 reader to work and it stops in mid un-install. Would love to get it out and replace it with another download.

I have downloaded Adobe again but somehow they talk to each other and the error in the first download doesn't get cured by the subsequent download. Repair doesn't work.

"Out drat file" instruction would be much appreciated.

Edited February 16, 200818 yr by ProThaiExpat

OK I fixed it

In an attempt to try and reformat the disk (didn't know how), I highlighted it and then right clicked on properties/ Tools/Error Checking. I ticked the two options which were "automatically fix file system errors" and "scan for and attempt recovery of bad sectors".

The resultant process took about 30 minutes and had 5 phases.

When finished I could open the folder and all the sub folders. Some of the photos were corrupted, so I deleted the whole folder with no problem.

As a matter of interest, can someone explain to me how to reformat a disk in case I need to do it in the future?

Thanks

Mobi, word of advice if you have lots of bad sectors the HD may be on its way out...

ProThaiExpat, try to just roll back the system to before the Adobe install, that's the best way to get it out of your system. Only feasible if the first Adobe 8 install was a recent one, obviously.

Look in Programs->Accessories->System Tools->System Restore and follow the instructions.

Mobi, word of advice if you have lots of bad sectors the HD may be on its way out...

ProThaiExpat, try to just roll back the system to before the Adobe install, that's the best way to get it out of your system. Only feasible if the first Adobe 8 install was a recent one, obviously.

Look in Programs->Accessories->System Tools->System Restore and follow the instructions.

Before reformatting anything, I would have a try with "HDD Regenerator", it works (worked) fine often and does NOT kill the data !

To check the drive quickly and efficiently, use HDTune ...

Edited February 17, 200818 yr by MengWan

As a matter of interest, can someone explain to me how to reformat a disk in case I need to do it in the future?

Thanks

On desk top right mouse click on MyComputer then select "explore" from drop down menu.

When the window pops up right mouse click on the drive you wish to fromat then select "format" from the drop down menu that appears.

Careful because everything on drive you format will be lost.