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Windows error 1393 (0x571)—also shown in some situations as 0x80070571—means Windows cannot read enough of a disk or volume’s structure to open it normally. To fix “the disk structure is corrupted and unreadable,” protect any files you still need first, then check the connection and use CHKDSK only when the data is backed up or recovered. Do not format the drive or run DiskPart’s clean command while you still need its files.
What does “the disk structure is corrupted and unreadable” mean?
Microsoft defines Win32 error 1393 (0x571), ERROR_DISK_CORRUPT, with the message “The disk structure is corrupted and unreadable.” The message means Windows cannot interpret enough of the disk or volume structure to provide normal access. The HRESULT-style code 0x80070571 can appear as a wrapped form of that same Win32 error.
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The affected device could be an internal hard drive or SSD, an external drive, a USB storage device, an SD card, or a virtual disk. The wording alone does not reveal whether the cause is logical file-system damage, a connection problem, or failing hardware. A volume’s file-system metadata can be damaged even when the drive still appears in Windows; conversely, a drive that disconnects or makes unusual noises may have a physical problem that CHKDSK cannot repair.
Microsoft describes CHKDSK as a utility that “checks the file system and file system metadata of a volume for logical and physical errors.” That description covers both the metadata that organizes folders and files and the underlying sectors that store them. CHKDSK can correct some logical inconsistencies, but it cannot make an unreliable USB bridge, failing controller, or deteriorating media healthy. The same message can therefore require very different treatment depending on whether the device remains stable.
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What should I do first to protect files?
If you need the files—game saves, captures, project files, or anything else—stop writing new data to the affected device. Recovery is the priority; restoring the drive for reuse comes later. Every new write can overwrite information that a recovery program might otherwise reconstruct.
- Do not accept a Windows prompt to format the disk. Formatting prepares a volume for use; it is not a file-recovery method.
- Do not delete the volume or run DiskPart
clean. Microsoft documentscleanas removing all partition or volume formatting. It is a destructive disk-management command, not a repair step. - Avoid saving recovered files back to the affected disk. Use a different, healthy drive with enough free space.
- Do not repeatedly retry a failed copy. If reads cause the device to vanish or stall, repeated attempts can add stress without producing a usable backup.
- If the device clicks repeatedly, drops offline, or keeps disconnecting, stop repeated reads. These symptoms can indicate hardware trouble. If the files are valuable, consider professional data recovery rather than repeatedly scanning or repairing the disk.
For a drive that remains stable, a read-oriented recovery program or a sector-by-sector image to healthy storage can reduce the risk of changing the original while trying to retrieve files. A recovery workflow can read sectors and reconstruct folder information and file pointers before the volume is formatted. Work from the image or recovered copy whenever the software supports it. Results depend on the condition of the device and the damage; no recovery method can promise that every file will be restored.
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How do I check the connection and identify the right disk?
For removable storage, rule out a loose connection or faulty port before changing the disk. A bad cable or USB enclosure can produce the same access message as damaged metadata. If Windows can see the device but cannot open its volume, identify the correct disk and volume letter carefully; do not use DiskPart commands that modify partitions.
- Disconnect and reconnect removable storage. Try a known-good USB port and cable, and avoid an unpowered hub while troubleshooting. If possible, connect the device to another computer to see whether the same access error follows it. Moving the device is a diagnostic step, not a repair.
- Check Disk Management. Right-click Start and select Disk Management. Look for the affected disk and note whether Windows shows a volume, a drive letter, an unallocated area, or a prompt to initialize or format. Do not initialize or format a disk that may contain needed files.
- Confirm the drive letter. If the volume appears in Disk Management with a letter, use that letter in later commands. If no letter appears, do not guess one; first determine whether the volume is present and whether assigning a letter is appropriate for the situation.
- Use DiskPart only to inspect if needed. Open Terminal or Command Prompt as administrator, enter
diskpart, then uselist diskandlist volumeto identify devices. Match capacity and volume details before selecting anything. DiskPart commands operate on the currently selected object, so verify the disk number and volume letter every time. Do not runclean,format, or partition-changing commands during identification.
A bare SATA drive can be attached to another computer with a SATA-to-USB hard drive adapter. That accessory only provides a connection; it does not repair corruption or guarantee recovery. It can be useful when the original computer’s port or enclosure is suspect, but it is not a substitute for imaging or professional recovery. If the device is unstable or the data is important, additional connections and power cycles may not be worth the risk.
Which repair option should I use?
Compare each action on four questions: Does it preserve the original data? Does it change the volume? Does it address logical metadata, physical sectors, or neither? How long and how heavily will it read the device? A read-oriented scan is the lowest-change option. /f changes metadata, /r adds a lengthy sector pass, and formatting or clean are destructive reuse steps.
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| Action | What it does | Data and change risk | When to use it |
|---|---|---|---|
chkdsk X: /scan |
Runs an online scan on an NTFS volume. | Scan rather than the repair operation; it does not request the same metadata fixes as /f. |
First check for an online NTFS volume, especially when access is impaired but files are already protected. |
chkdsk X: /f |
Fixes logical file-system errors. | Changes file-system metadata and requires the volume to be locked. | After needed files are backed up or recovered, when logical repair is appropriate. |
chkdsk X: /r |
Locates bad sectors and attempts to recover readable information; includes /f. |
Performs a more extensive scan. It can take a long time, especially on large hard drives, and is not a substitute for imaging a failing disk. | Only when data is protected and a physical-sector check is justified. |
| Format the volume | Prepares the volume for reuse. | Destructive to existing file-system access and not a recovery method. | After required files have been recovered and you have decided to reuse the disk. |
DiskPart clean |
Removes partition or volume formatting from the selected disk. | Destructive; can remove access to all volumes on the selected disk. | Not a fix for this error. Do not use it when you need data from the disk. |
How do I run CHKDSK safely?
Use an administrator account: Microsoft says CHKDSK requires membership in the local Administrators group or equivalent. Replace X: below with the verified letter of the affected volume. If the files are not backed up or recovered, stop before running a repair switch.
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- Open Start, search for Command Prompt or Terminal, right-click it, and choose Run as administrator.
- Enter
chkdsk X: /scan, replacingX:with the correct volume letter, then press Enter. - Read the result. This is an online scan for NTFS; it does not guarantee that the disk’s hardware is healthy or that every possible metadata issue has been checked.
An online scan is useful when the volume is mounted and stable enough to inspect without taking it offline. It is not a universal command for every file system or virtual-disk arrangement, and it does not create a backup.
2. Repair logical errors after protecting the files
- In the elevated command window, enter
chkdsk X: /fwith the verified letter. - If Windows says the volume is in use and cannot be locked, close applications using it and retry if appropriate. For a busy volume that cannot be locked, Windows may offer to schedule the check for the next restart. Accept only if the data is protected and you intend to let CHKDSK make repairs.
- Allow the operation to finish without disconnecting the device or powering off the computer. The time varies with the volume and the errors found.
The /f switch fixes logical file-system errors; it is not merely a report. Because it must lock the volume, a system or data volume in active use may require a restart. Scheduling it does not make the operation safer for an unbacked-up disk, so make the recovery decision first.
3. Use a bad-sector scan only when justified
- Once the data is safe, enter
chkdsk X: /rif a physical-sector check is warranted. - Keep the computer powered and the drive connected until the scan finishes. A full scan can take a long time, particularly on a large HDD.
- Do not repeatedly run
/ron a drive that is clicking, disappearing, or otherwise showing signs of failure. Prioritize imaging or recovery instead.
Microsoft says /r locates bad sectors and recovers readable information, and that it includes the behavior of /f. It therefore combines a metadata repair with a much more extensive read. A long runtime is expected on large hard drives; stopping and restarting repeatedly is not a recovery strategy for a failing device.
The scan and repair behavior depends on the file system and volume state. The /scan guidance here is specifically for an online NTFS volume; do not assume that the same command or repair path applies identically to every file system or virtual-disk setup.
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What if CHKDSK reports errors or the disk is still inaccessible?
A report that errors were fixed can restore access, but it is not proof that the storage hardware is healthy. If Windows still cannot open the volume, or if the issue returns, stop escalating through repeated repair attempts until you have considered whether the data is secure and the device is stable.
- CHKDSK cannot lock the volume: Close open files and programs using it. Windows may offer to schedule a check at restart; proceed only after protecting needed data.
- CHKDSK reports uncorrectable errors: Avoid treating repeated scans as a cure. Recover or image important data if possible, then consider replacement or professional help.
- The drive disappears or reconnects repeatedly: Check the cable, port, and connection on another computer if doing so is safe. Persistent disconnections can point to a hardware or connection issue rather than a file-system-only problem.
- The check finishes but Windows still reports corruption: The result does not rule out every metadata problem. A Microsoft legacy NTFS article describes a Windows 2000-era case involving damaged
$UsnJrnlor$LogFilerecords that CHKDSK did not fully validate. Its specialized journal-repair commands are not a general Windows 10 or Windows 11 fix.
Keep the original device unchanged while deciding what to do next if the files have not been secured. A clean result can coexist with inaccessible data when the damaged structures are outside what that particular check validated. This is another reason not to interpret “no errors found” as a health certificate.
If the files are already recovered and the disk is stable, formatting may make a logically damaged volume usable again. If formatting fails, the device continues to disconnect, or diagnostics indicate physical errors, replace the device or seek professional recovery. A format cannot be relied on to repair failing media.
When does an Azure virtual machine need a different repair?
A boot error on an Azure virtual machine is a separate case from an inaccessible USB or desktop data drive. Microsoft notes that a Generation 1 VM may have a corrupted disk structure or an inactive boot partition; Generation 2 UEFI VMs do not use an active partition.
The documented offline-repair approach is to attach the affected system disk to a repair VM, identify the Windows and boot partitions, mark the boot partition active when appropriate, run chkdsk <drive-letter>: /f, then rebuild the VM. Follow the Azure-specific procedure for the VM rather than applying desktop instructions blindly. If a recent VM backup is available, restoring it is also an option. Do not mark a partition active on a Generation 2 UEFI VM, which uses a different boot design.
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Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Frequently Asked Questions
Can CHKDSK delete files?
CHKDSK’s repair options change file-system metadata, so a repair can affect how damaged files or folders are represented; it should not be treated as a risk-free recovery tool. If the only copy of important data is on the disk, recover or image it before using /f or /r.
Does this error mean my SSD is dead?
No. The message identifies an access or structure problem, not a confirmed hardware diagnosis. If the error is accompanied by repeated disconnects or unusual noises from a hard drive, treat the device as potentially unstable and prioritize your files.
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A recurring error can mean the underlying cause remains, including an unstable connection or storage hardware problem. Repeated repair scans are not a reliable way to distinguish those causes; protect the data and assess the device before continuing.
Can I recover files if Windows says I need to format the disk?
Often, recovery should be attempted before formatting because the prompt does not mean the files are already gone. Cancel the prompt, avoid writing to the disk, and recover needed files to a different healthy device before deciding whether to format.
What does error 0x80070571 mean?
It is a wrapped form of Windows error 1393 (0x571), whose message is “The disk structure is corrupted and unreadable.” It indicates that Windows cannot interpret enough of the disk or volume structure for normal access; it does not by itself identify logical corruption or physical failure.
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Should I run chkdsk /r first on a corrupted USB drive?
Not when the USB drive contains the only copy of important files or is disconnecting. Protect the data with read-oriented recovery or an image first. After the data is safe, /r can check for bad sectors and includes /f, but it may take a long time and cannot repair failing hardware.
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Is formatting a corrupted disk a fix?
Formatting can prepare a volume for reuse after needed files have been recovered, but it is not a recovery method and can destroy the remaining file-system access. If formatting fails or the device remains unstable, replacement or professional recovery is more appropriate.
Can I use DiskPart clean to repair the structure?
No. Microsoft defines clean as removing all partition or volume formatting from the selected disk. Use DiskPart only to identify disks and volumes while data is at risk, and verify the selected object before any command.
How long will CHKDSK take?
A scan time depends on the volume, errors, and device speed. The /r operation performs a full bad-sector pass and can take a long time, especially on a large HDD. Do not use repeated long scans as a substitute for imaging a drive that is failing.
What if CHKDSK says it fixed errors but the disk is still unreadable?
A successful repair message does not prove that every metadata structure or the hardware is healthy. Preserve the data, review connection stability, and consider recovery or replacement. A legacy Microsoft case involving damaged $UsnJrnl or $LogFile records also shows why a clean CHKDSK result is not universally conclusive.
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Protect the files first: cancel format prompts, avoid DiskPart clean, and recover or image important data to another healthy device. Then verify the cable, port, disk number, and volume letter. For a stable online NTFS volume, start with chkdsk X: /scan; after backup or recovery, use /f for logical repair and reserve /r for a justified bad-sector check. Format only when recovery is complete. If the drive clicks, disappears, reports uncorrectable errors, or keeps failing, stop repeated repairs and replace it or use professional recovery. Azure Generation 1 boot disks require the separate offline active-partition procedure.
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