An annoying Windows error message, with a simple fix. After copying some corrupted files onto my external Seagate hard drive I realized I could not delete them. I kept getting the error message, “Cannot read from the source file or disk” when I tried removing them. Finally I found the solution to my dilemma, “chkdsk”:
chkdsk [volume:][[Path] FileName] [/f] [/v] [/r] [/x] [/i] [/c] [/l[:size]]
By running the command:
chkdsk /f E:
I was able to “fix” the damaged files enough so I could delete them. Since I didn’t care about saving the files, I was not concerned about features of chkdsk which might have helped with that, but from what I understand, chkdsk can help you recover damaged files.
12 users commented in " Cannot read from the source file or disk "
Follow-up comment rss or Leave a Trackbackhi dear . please help me for messeage . and solution , CANNOT copy file : connot read from the source file or disk. thanks
The command you should try first is check disk. Type ?chkdsk /f C:? at the DOS prompt. It will search the C: drive for any files which are damaged and attempt to repair them.
I?m getting this error with a file that is on the network. how do I remove it? Thanks
Not sure if chkdsk will work on a network file. I have never had to use it on a LAN.
did you have to reboot after running chkdsk first before deleting the folder?
I dont think so. But the last time I did this was a couple months ago, so I dont quite remember.
Ok this is great and all but I have this problem occuring with a CD?Itried running the chkdsk /f (cd-rom drive) with the disk installed but it says ?the file system is RAW and chkdsk dosen?t work on RAW??not that it does much good it wouldn?t be able to fix it either?.any other way around this annoying error?
This won?t work on a CD because a CD is read-only. The command is designed to run on drives that can be modified. I think that CD is defective.
I was running out of ideas on how to fix this problem on my Sandisk Flashdrive and came across this site! The solution worked like a charm! Thanks so much!!!!!!!!!
Searched through all solutions, still doesn?t work. Then i came across this solution and it worked:) The unknown file came back to normal and i was able to delete it! Thank you so much
:):):):):):):)
Chkdsk /f did not work for me. I still get the message cannot read from source disk or file whenever I try to delete an empty folder. What funny is that when I hover over the folder in explorer, you know how the OS underlines the folder name as a link. The underline is several characters longer than the folder name it self. Don’t know if the means anything. Unable to delete this folder is such a problem because Norton Ghost cannot backup the drive because it gags when it gets to this folder. Can anyone help.
try downloading Unlocker from http://ccollomb.free.fr/unlocker/ After you intall it right click on what you try to delete and choose Unlocker. Then choose the action on left drop down list.
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