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Cannot copy files in or out of external HDD -- Cannot run Check Disk

Anonymous
2015-03-19T19:35:58+00:00

Hello everyone

So as the title says, I cannot take files either in or out of my external HDD. I can't pin point when this happened (though I suspect it was when my computer crashed and had to be turned off manually). All the files are intact on the Hard Drive and view-able. The hard drive is formatted to exFAT for use between my mac and pc so I don't know if this would make any difference.

When I try to run 'Check Disk' nothing happens, so I cancel it - this then leads to windows saying it cannot not access the hard drive or the hard drive is dirty. After a reboot, windows is able to then access the hard drive as it was before (being in a kind of weird read-only state) but 'check disk' will still not run.  

I have tried changing the drive letter but still get the same results. If anyone on here can help me I would be very grateful.

Thanks.

Windows for home | Windows 11 | Files, folders, and storage

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  1. Anonymous
    2015-03-20T10:55:37+00:00

    I think you need to resolve your chkdsk issue. I would do it like so:

    1. Keep tapping F8 during the early boot phase.
    2. Select Repair from the menu that looks like this one.
    3. Log on as Administrator if prompted.
    4. Select Repair when prompted.
    5. Select the Command Prompt from the menu that looks like this one.
    6. Identify the correct drive letter for your Windows installation. It could be a drive other than C: but it won't be X:. You do it by typing the commands

        dir C:\Win*

        dir D:\Win*

        dir E:\Win*

        until you find the Windows folder.

        I will call that drive "Q:".

    1. Type this command and press Enter:

        chkdsk  Q:  /R

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  2. Anonymous
    2015-03-20T10:30:58+00:00

    Take means both. 

    It's odd - I can COPY files from the hard drive to the desktop but I cannot MOVE them. for example, straight from the hard drive to the recycle bin.  

    And when I try to COPY or MOVE files from the computer to the hard drive I get this message --

    'An unexpected error is keeping you from copying the file. If you continue to receive this error, you can use the error code search for help with this problem. 

    Error 0x80071AC3: The operation could not be completed because the volume is dirty. Please run chkdsk and try again.'

    When I searched the error code people said to run check disk (as did the message) but as I said in my original post, check disk won't run. 

    And yes, it still happens in safe mode.

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  3. Anonymous
    2015-03-19T21:21:40+00:00

    Hello everyone

    So as the title says, I cannot take files either in or out of my external HDD.

    Does "take" mean "copy" or "move"?

    You need to report exactly what happens when you try.

    Does it happen in Safe Mode too?

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