File Shredder Not Deleting Corrupted Files! How to Force Delete Them?

When the file shredder not deleting corrupted files or folders, you can force delete them. Read to learn how to force delete corrupted files or folders when you can’t delete them.

Posted by @Irene December 17, 2024 Updated By @Irene December 16, 2024

User case: I can't delete corrupted files and folders!

 

Hello, while I was looking at my temp folder, a folder was not being deleted. And the Windows file shredder seems impossible to delete those corrupted files and folders with Error 0x80070570: The file or directory is corrupted or unreadable message. Here is what I think caused these corrupted files: The temp folder is actually located in my USB, and in some cases I have to unplug the USB after my laptop shuts down without ejecting the USB. Maybe this what caused the corrupted data. Also, if these files were here before, can someone tell me on how to delete them? I'm afraid it could corrupt the entire USB drive.

- Question from Microsoft Community

A corrupted file is a damaged computer file that cannot be opened or displays errors when you try to access it. Such files can pose significant risks, including crashing your hard drive or causing the loss of valuable data. For this reason, it’s essential to remove corrupted files from your system.

In Windows computers, several issues can prevent you from deleting a corrupted file or folder, including:

● The file is in use by an active program. ● The computer was improperly shut down. ● Disk errors on the hard drive, USB drive, or external storage. ● Corruption in the hard drive or external memory device. ● Virus or malware infections.

This guide shares the steps to delete corrupted files or folders on Windows 11, 10, 8/8.1, and 7. You can try methods such as deleting files in Safe Mode, using Command Prompt (CMD), or repairing disk errors.

What to do if file shredder not deleting corrupted files?

Don't worry if the Windows file shredder can't delete corrupted files and folders. In this part, we would like to share some practical methods or the best tool to help you fix the issue.

Method 1. Use a safe and handy tool to force delete corrupted files

AOMEI Partition Assistant is a user-friendly and secure file shredder compatible with Windows 11, 10, 8, 7, and the latest Windows 11. Beyond being a powerful partition management tool, it also offers the capability to securely and effectively delete corrupted files or folders from your PC. With just four simple steps, you can permanently remove corrupted files or folders using this professional software. Here’s how:

AOMEI Partition Assistant

The Best Windows Disk Partition Manager and PC Optimizer

Warning: The "Shred files" feature will empty the folders or files, and once they are deleted, it will be very difficult to recover them, even with data recovery software. Please ensure you really want to permanently delete the corrupted folders or files before proceeding.

Step 1. Install and run AOMEI Partition Assistant.

In the main console, click "Wipe" and select "Shred Files".

Step 2. Add files or folders.

In the small window, click "Add Files" or "Add Folder" to choose the file or folder you want to delete forcibly.

Step 3. Choose shredding methods.

Choose "Write Zero" as the shredding method. 

Step 4. Confirm the note.

 Click the "Shred" button and you will be mentioned a confirmation note, click "Yes".

Besides, you can also use this tool to delete large files effortlessly. If all the files on your hard drive are useless, wiping the entire hard drive may be a more effective way to delete corrupted files Windows 10.

Method 2. Restart your computer and use an administrator account

If you can't delete corrupted files or folders, you can also restart your computer and delete the files with an administrator account.

Step 1. Close all open programs.

Step 2. Restart your computer and log in with an administrator account. If you're not using an admin account, you might not have the necessary permissions to delete certain files. You can also click here to enable administrator account on Windows computers.

Step 3. Locate the corrupted file. Delete it or move it to the Recycle Bin.

Method 3. Delete corrupted files or folders with CMD

Command Prompt, also called CMD or "cmd.exe," is a command-line tool in Windows operating systems. It allows users to perform various tasks, such as force deleting files, checking the hard drive, formatting disk partitions, and more. The steps are as follows.

Step 1. Open Command Prompt.

 Press "Windows + S" at the same time, input "cmd" and run CMD as administrator.

Step 2. Type the order.

In the new window, type "del /f /q /a the file directory"and hit "Enter" key.

β˜…Notes:
/f: Force delete the folders or files
/q: Quirt mode. Turn off the delete affirmation.
/a: Delete archived files and folders.
the file directory: The location of corrupted folders. For example, you might input "C:\Users\Lovejeet\Desktop\infected.txt".

Please note that when you delete corrupted folders or files using CMD, they will not be sent to the Recycle Bin. As a result, you won’t be able to recover them directly like other files.

Method 4. Force delete corrupted files and folders in Safe Mode

Safe mode starts the computer without a limited set of files and drivers. Running Windows in safe mode enables to unlock the files, so you can delete them. Here shows you the steps:

Step 1. Restart your Windows 10.

 Click StartSettingsUpdate & SecurityRecovery. And select Restart now under Advanced Startup to enter the Windows recovery environment.

Step 2. Navigate to Startup Settings.

Click TroubleshootAdvanced optionsStartup Settings> Restart.

Step 3. Boot into Safe Mode.

In the Startup Settings window, you can press F4 or F5 to boot into safe mode in Windows 10.

Step 4. Find the corrupted file or folder and delete it in Windows 10 safe mode.

Step 5. Restart Windows 10 and your computer will exit safe mode automatically. Then find the corrupted file or folder either on the desktop or in your File Explorer. Then, press the Delete or Shift+Delete keys to delete it.

Conclusion

This guide offers several helpful approaches to address the problem of file shredder not deleting corrupted files on Windows computers. You can use powerful tools like AOMEI Partition Assistant, restarting your computer with an administrator account, using the Command Prompt, or deleting files in Safe Mode. By following these methods, you can safely and effectively remove corrupted files and folders, ensuring your system remains in optimal condition. Please be cautious when using advanced tools or commands to avoid any unintended data loss. Once you find you lost any lost data, you can choose to use a reliable data recovery tool to restore it.