Error Message: The File or Directory Is Corrupt...

SYMPTOMS 

When you attempt to open, delete or rename a file or folder using Windows NT Ex...When you attempt to open, delete or rename a file or folder using Windows NT Explorer, File Manager or a command prompt, you may receive one of the following error messages:

• :\ is not accessible
  The file or directory is corrupt and non-readable.The file or directory is corrupt and non-readable. The file or directory \ is corrupt and unreadable.
  Please Run the Chkdsk utility.

CAUSE 

This behavior can occur if the file, folder or file system index (Master File Table [MFT] or File Allocation Table [FAT]) is damaged.

RESOLUTION 

WARNING: When Chkdsk detects problems with the file system and attempts to repair the damage, data loss can occur. Microsoft does not recommend running Chkdsk with the /f command-line switch unless you have a full backup of your hard disk.Attempt to repair the damaged file, folder or file system index using Chkdsk. To do so, follow these steps:

1) Click Start, and then click Run.

2) In the Open box, type chkdsk /f :, where is the letter of the drive on which the damaged file, folder or file system index exists.

3)  Click OK.

NOTE: If the hard disk is large, Chkdsk may take several minutes to several hours to complete.

MORE INFORMATION 

Chkdsk saves each repaired file in the root folder as a File.chk file, and each repaired folder in the root folder as a Found. folder, where is a number.

For information about how to use Chkdsk, click Start, click Help, click the Index tab, type "chkdsk" (without quotation marks), and then double- click the "Chkdsk Command" topic.

For more information, please see the following articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

ARTICLE-ID: 156571  (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/156571/EN-US/ )  

 

ARTICLE-ID: ID: 160963  (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/160963/EN-US/ )  

TITLE : CHKNTFS.EXE: What You Can Use It For

 

ARTICLE-ID: 161801  (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/161801/EN-US/ )  

TITLE : Chkdsk reports an erroneous Event ID 41

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APPLIES TO

• Microsoft Windows 2000 Server
• Microsoft Windows 2000 Advanced Server
• Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional Edition
• Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 3.5
• Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 3.51
• Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 4.0 Developer Edition
• Microsoft Windows NT Server 3.5
• Microsoft Windows NT Server 3.51
• Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0 Standard Edition
• Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0 Enterprise Edition