How to Fix File Recovered But Corrupted in Windows 11/10

Why can files be corrupted after recovery back to original drive?

Files can become corrupted after being recovered back to the original drive for several reasons, including:

⇒ Drive overwriting: If the original drive where the files are being recovered has new data written to it, the recovery process may overwrite existing sectors or clusters, causing corruption. This is especially true if the original data has been partially overwritten before the recovery process.

⇒ File system inconsistencies: When files are deleted or lost, the file system can become fragmented or inconsistent. If you attempt to recover files to the same drive, the recovery software may struggle to place the files back in their original locations, resulting in incomplete or corrupted files.

⇒ Incorrect file allocation: When a file is deleted, the space it occupied is marked as available, but the data itself often remains on the drive until it's overwritten. If files are recovered to the same location without taking care of the proper allocation, it can lead to data corruption if the original space was reused or overwritten during recovery.

⇒ Drive formatting during recovery: In some cases, the drive may be formatted during the recovery process (either intentionally or by mistake), which can overwrite the original file system and result in corruption or loss of data.

⇒ Incompatibility with recovery software: If the recovery software isn't fully compatible with the original drive's file system or structure, it may not restore the files properly, causing corruption or incomplete recovery.

How to fix file recovered but corruptedWindows 11 or 10

When recovering files in Windows 10 or 11, sometimes the files may become corrupted. Don't worry—there are several ways to fix these corrupted files and restore them to their usable state. In this guide, we'll cover some common methods to help you repair your files.

Fix 1. Use built-in file repair tools

Windows 10 and 11 come with built-in utilities that might help repair a corrupted file, depending on the type of corruption.

For system files: Use SFC (System File Checker)

If system files are the problem, the SFC tool might be able to fix them.

Step 1. Press Windows + X and select Command Prompt (Admin) or Windows Terminal (Admin).

Step 2. Type the following command and press Enter:

sfc /scannow

Wait for the process to finish and follow any on-screen instructions.

For disk issues: Use CHKDSK

Corruption could be due to issues with the hard drive. You can use the CHKDSK tool to check and fix any disk errors.

Step 1. Open Command Prompt as an administrator.

Step 2. Type the following command and press Enter:

chkdsk C: /f /r

(Replace C: with the drive letter of the disk where the file is stored.)

If prompted, restart your computer to allow CHKDSK to run.

For data backup: Use Windows Backup and Restore

If the file was previously backed up using Windows Backup, you can use this feature to restore a working version of the file.

Step 1. Open Control Panel, click on System and Security and select Backup and Restore.

Step 2. Tap on Restore my files.

Step 3. Click Browse for files to choose the available backup file, then click Next.

Step 4. Choose a new place or restore the file to its original location and click "Restore".

Fix 2. Use specialized file repair software

There are several third-party tools available to repair corrupted files, especially if they are specific types (e.g., images, videos, or documents).

For Office Documents (Word, Excel, etc.):

1. Open the file in the appropriate Office app.

2. If it fails to open, go to File > Open, select the corrupted file, and choose Open and Repair.

For Images:

Use a tool like JPEG Repair or Stellar Repair for Photo to fix corrupted images.

For Videos:

Use VLC Media Player to repair damaged video files:

1. Open VLC, click Media > Convert/Save.

2. Add your corrupted video file and select Convert.

3. Choose a suitable format and click Start.

For ZIP Files:

Use WinRAR to attempt to repair corrupted ZIP archives:

Open WinRAR, select the corrupted file, and click Tools > Repair Archive.

Fix 3. Use data recovery software

If the file corruption was caused by a failed recovery attempt or disk issue, specialized data recovery software might help. Fortunately, AOMEI Partition Assistant for Recovery offers a solution for recovering not only lost files but also files that have been recovered but are still corrupted. AOMEI Partition Assistant for Recovery is a powerful data recovery tool designed to help users restore data from damaged, deleted, or corrupted files. With its user-friendly interface and advanced recovery algorithms, it simplifies the process of retrieving lost or damaged files, offering peace of mind when faced with data loss.

# Key features of AOMEI Partition Assistant for Recovery for corrupted file recovery

1. Comprehensive data recovery

AOMEI Partition Assistant for Recovery supports the recovery of a wide variety of file types, including lost documents, photos, videos, and more. Even if a file was partially recovered and became corrupted in the process, AOMEI can attempt to retrieve the original, uncorrupted version.

2. Advanced file repair technology

AOMEI Partition Assistant for Recovery incorporates advanced file repair technology to attempt to restore corrupted files to their original state. It helps to repair errors caused by system crashes, file corruption, or partial recovery attempts.

3. Support for various storage devices

AOMEI Partition Assistant for Recovery works across multiple storage devices, including external hard drives, SSDs, USB flash drives, and memory cards. It ensures you can recover your files from almost any device, even those prone to corruption.

4. File preview feature

Before committing to a recovery, AOMEI Partition Assistant for Recovery allows users to preview their corrupted files to check the extent of the damage. This preview function ensures that only the files worth recovering are selected, saving time and effort.

Step 1. Install and launch AOMEI Partition Assistant for Recovery. Choose the exact partition or disk where your data lost and click Scan.

Step 2. Then, the recovery tool start to scan and search. lt will execute the “Quickly Scan" first for finding your deleted data fast, and then execute the “Deep Scan" for searching other lost data.

Step 3. Once the scan is completed, all deleted files, recycle bins and other missing files will be displayed. Please select the file you would like to recover and then click "Recover".

Step 4. Then, select a folder path to save your recovered photos.

Step 5. Wait patiently for this process of recovering ends.

Conclusion

Although file corruption can be a difficult problem, it is frequently resolvable with the correct tools and procedures. Start by utilizing specialist third-party software, executing built-in Windows repair tools, or looking for backups. Additionally, always periodically backup your information to prevent data loss for future protection.