Windows 10: Unable to Delete Protected Files from Repurposed External Drive

Good Morning, I’ve repurposed the storage from a non-functional laptop as an external drive. However, I’m unable to delete certain protected files, such as Windows system files and old user profiles. Since this drive is now purely for external storage, these files are no longer needed. I’ve tried deleting them manually but couldn’t bypass the restrictions. Formatting the drive isn’t an option because I need to retain some files that I cannot move elsewhere due to limited storage on my temporary replacement laptop and the lack of alternative storage solutions. Could someone please advise on

:)

 

How to gain access to write protected external hard drive

1. Check the physical switch. Some external hard drives have a physical switch that can be used to enable or disable write protection. Check the drive for a small switch that may be labeled "Write Protect" or "Lock." If the switch is in the "Write Protect" position, move it to the "Unlock" position.
   
2. Remove the write protection tab. Some external hard drives have a small tab that can be used to enable or disable write protection. This tab is usually located on the side of the drive. If there is a tab, remove it.
   
3. Format the drive. If the drive is formatted as a read-only format, you will need to format it as a writable format. To do this, connect the drive to your computer and open File Explorer. Right-click on the drive and select "Format." In the Format dialog box, select "NTFS" as the file system and click "Start."
   
4. Use a data recovery tool. If the drive is damaged or corrupted, you may need to use a data recovery tool to gain access to the data. There are many data recovery tools available, such as Recuva and Disk Drill. These tools can scan the drive for lost or deleted files and recover them.
   

If you are unable to gain access to the drive using any of these methods, you may need to contact the manufacturer of the drive for assistance.

Here are some additional tips for gaining access to a write protected external hard drive:

• Make sure that the drive is properly connected to your computer.
  
• Try connecting the drive to a different port on your computer.
  
• Try restarting your computer.
  
• Try updating the drivers for your hard drive.
  
• If you are using a USB drive, try formatting it as a FAT32 drive.
  
• If you are using a FireWire drive, try formatting it as a NTFS drive.
  

If you are still unable to gain access to the drive, you may need to contact the manufacturer of the drive for assistance.

 

CANNOT DELETE A CORRUPTED FILE ON MY EXTERNAL HARD DRIVE ON WINDOWS 10

Hi Leenus,

Hard drive and other external memory storage can be corrupted on account of bad sectors which are no longer accessible or writable due to permanent damage. Your device or hard drive could also be infected by some type of malware. These are some of the possible
causes why you are experiencing the error "ERROR 0x80070570: The file or directory is corrupted or unreadable". To address this concern, we suggest performing the following troubleshooting methods:

Method 1

Check and repair disk errors or corrupted file system. This process can fix "The file or directory is corrupted and unreadable" error caused by bad sectors, virus infection or file system corruption. To do so, follow these steps:

• Back up all of the files on the hard drive (except for the corrupted file).
• Using Search, type CMD.
• From the search results, right-click on Command Prompt and then choose Run as administrator.
• On the Command Prompt window, type chkdsk /f h: (h stands for your hard drive) and then hit the Enter key.
• Delete the corrupted file and check if you'll experience the same error.

Method 2

Format the hard drive. You can manually format the hard drive to permanently remove "The file or directory is corrupted and unreadable" error. These are the steps on how to format an external drive:

• Plug the hard drive into your computer.
• Back up all of the files on the hard drive (except for the corrupted file).
• Open File Explorer and then click This PC.
• Click the external hard drive's name, click on Manage tab and then click on Format.
  
• Click Start and then click OK.

Keep us updated with the result.

 

External Hard Drive

Hi John,

We suggest that you try the troubleshooting steps below:

• Open your External Hard Drive file in File Explorer.
• Type the name of the file you want to search on the search box and click Enter.

The file will show up in Search Results and you will be able to move it to the correct folder.

Let us know if you need further help.