July 27, 2024

Unburdening your Windows 10 system from the shackles of corrupted files can be a daunting task, but fear not! This article unveils a simple yet effective guide on how to bid farewell to those pesky digital gremlins, restoring your computer’s health and performance. So, let’s dive in and discover the art of deleting corrupted files in Windows 10.

Recently, Fortect has become increasingly popular as a reliable and efficient way to address a wide range of PC issues. It's particularly favored for its user-friendly approach to diagnosing and fixing problems that can hinder a computer's performance, from system errors and malware to registry issues.

  1. Download and Install: Download Fortect from its official website by clicking here, and install it on your PC.
  2. Run a Scan and Review Results: Launch Fortect, conduct a system scan to identify issues, and review the scan results which detail the problems affecting your PC's performance.
  3. Repair and Optimize: Use Fortect's repair feature to fix the identified issues. For comprehensive repair options, consider subscribing to a premium plan. After repairing, the tool also aids in optimizing your PC for improved performance.
Use the built-in Windows System File Checker (SFC) tool: Open Command Prompt as an administrator and type “sfc /scannow” to scan and repair damaged system files. This can help resolve issues causing file damage.

Delete Files as an Administrator

To delete corrupted files in Windows 10 as an administrator, follow these steps:

1. Press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box.
2. Type “cmd” and press Ctrl + Shift + Enter to open the Command Prompt as an administrator.
3. In the Command Prompt window, navigate to the location of the corrupted file by using the “cd” command, e.g., `cd C:\Path\To\Corrupted\File`.
4. Once in the correct directory, use the “del” command followed by the name of the corrupted file to delete it, e.g., `del CorruptedFile.txt`.
5. If you encounter an error while deleting the file, try using the “takeown” command followed by the “icacls” command to take ownership and grant full permissions to the file, e.g., `takeown /f CorruptedFile.txt` followed by `icacls CorruptedFile.txt /grant administrators:F`.
6. After executing the above commands, try deleting the file again using the “del” command.
7. If the file still cannot be deleted, you may need to use a third-party file management application or boot into Safe Mode to delete it.

Remember to exercise caution when deleting files as an administrator, as deleting system files or files belonging to other users can cause issues with your computer.

To delete damaged files in Windows 10, try running the built-in System File Checker (SFC) utility to scan and repair corrupted system files.

Close Windows Explorer to Delete Files

To delete corrupted files in Windows 10, follow these steps:

1. Close Windows Explorer by pressing the Ctrl + Shift + Esc buttons to open the Task Manager.
2. In the Task Manager, go to the “Processes” tab and locate “Windows Explorer”.
3. Right-click on “Windows Explorer” and select “End task” to close it.

4. Once Windows Explorer is closed, navigate to the location of the corrupted file.
5. Right-click on the file and select “Delete” to remove it.

See also  Repair Corrupted Disk Using DiskPart in Windows 10

If you encounter any errors or the file is unreadable, you can try the following solutions:

1. Restart your PC and try deleting the file again.
2. Use a file recovery or file management application to fix the corrupted file.
3. Access the file from Safe Mode or use the Command Prompt to force delete the folder.
4. If you’re using an admin account, try switching to the administrator account.
5. Check if the file is locked or in use by another program, and close that program before deleting the file.

Remember to empty your recycling bin afterwards to permanently delete the file.

If a damaged file cannot be repaired, simply deleting it is often the best course of action to prevent further issues or errors on your Windows 10 system.

Force Delete Files Using CMD

To force delete corrupted files in Windows 10 using CMD, follow these steps:

1. Open the Command Prompt as an administrator. You can do this by pressing the Windows key + X and selecting “Command Prompt (Admin)” from the menu.

2. Navigate to the directory where the corrupted file is located. Use the “cd” command to change directories. For example, if the file is on your desktop, type: cd C:\Users\YourUsername\Desktop

3. Once you’re in the correct directory, use the del command followed by the file name and extension to delete the file. For example, if the file is called “corrupted.docx”, type: del corrupted.docx

4. If you encounter an error message like “Cannot delete file: Access is denied” or “The file is corrupted and unreadable”, you can use the /f parameter to force delete the file. For example, type: del /f corrupted.docx

5. After executing the command, check if the file has been successfully deleted. If not, you may need to use a third-party file recovery tool or seek further assistance to fix the issue.

python
import os

def delete_damaged_files(directory):
for root, dirs, files in os.walk(directory):
for file in files:
file_path = os.path.join(root, file)
try:
# Attempt to open the file in read mode to check for any errors
with open(file_path, "r"):
pass
except (IOError, OSError):
# If an error occurs, the file is considered damaged and deleted
os.remove(file_path)
print(f"Deleted damaged file: {file_path}")

# Example usage: deleting damaged files in a specific directory
directory_path = "C:/path/to/your/directory"
delete_damaged_files(directory_path)

This code uses the `os` module in Python to recursively walk through a directory and its subdirectories. It checks each file by attempting to open it in read mode. If an error occurs during the file opening process, it is considered damaged and subsequently deleted using the `os.remove()` function.

Please note that this code is just a sample and may need modification based on your specific requirements or error handling preferences.

Recover Corrupted Files and Accidentally Deleted Data

If you’re facing issues with corrupted files or accidentally deleting important data on your Windows 10 computer, here are some steps to help you recover them:

1. Start by checking the Recycle Bin: Often, deleted files can be found here. Right-click on the Recycle Bin icon on your desktop and select “Open” to view its contents. If you find the files you need, right-click on them and choose “Restore”.

2. Use a data recovery software: If the files are not in the Recycle Bin, you can try using a reliable data recovery software like MiniTool Partition Wizard. Download and install the software, then follow the provided instructions to scan your hard drive and recover the corrupted or deleted files.

3. Access previous versions of files: Windows 10 has a feature called “Previous Versions” that allows you to recover older versions of files. Right-click on the folder where the file was located, select “Properties”, and go to the “Previous Versions” tab. From there, you can select a previous version of the file and restore it.

4. Utilize the Command Prompt: If the above methods don’t work, you can try using the Command Prompt to recover your files. Open the Command Prompt as an administrator by typing “cmd” in the Windows search bar, right-clicking on “Command Prompt”, and selecting “Run as administrator”. Use the command “chkdsk /f” followed by the drive letter of your hard drive to fix any errors and recover corrupted files.

Remember to back up your important files regularly to avoid data loss in the future.

Recover Deleted Files in Windows

To recover deleted files in Windows 10, follow these steps:

1. Open the File Explorer by pressing Windows key + E.
2. Navigate to the folder where the deleted file was located.
3. Right-click on the folder and select “Restore previous versions” from the context menu.
4. A list of available previous versions will appear. Select the version from before the file was deleted.
5. Click on the “Restore” button to recover the file to its original location.

If the above method doesn’t work or if you’re trying to delete corrupted files, you can use the Command Prompt. Here’s how:

1. Open the Command Prompt as an administrator. Press Windows key + X and select “Command Prompt (Admin)”.
2. Type `del /f /q ` and press Enter. Replace `` with the path of the corrupted file.
3. If the file is in a folder, use the `rd /s /q ` command to force delete the entire folder.

Remember to be cautious when using the Command Prompt, as it can permanently delete files.

Delete Corrupted Files with Admin Rights

To delete corrupted files in Windows 10 with admin rights, follow these steps:

1. Open the File Explorer by pressing Windows + E.
2. Navigate to the location of the corrupted file or folder.
3. Right-click on the corrupted file or folder and select “Properties.”
4. In the Properties window, go to the “Security” tab.
5. Click on the “Advanced” button.
6. In the Advanced Security Settings, click on the “Change” link next to the owner’s name.
7. Enter the name of your administrator account and click “Check Names” to verify.
8. Click “OK” to close the Select User or Group window.
9. Check the box that says “Replace owner on subcontainers and objects.”
10. Click “Apply” and then “OK” to close the Properties window.
11. Now, right-click on the corrupted file or folder again and select “Delete.”
12. If prompted, click “Continue” or enter your administrator password to confirm the deletion.

Delete Corrupted Files in Safe Mode

To delete corrupted files in Safe Mode on Windows 10, follow these steps:

1. Restart your computer and press the F8 key repeatedly before the Windows logo appears.
2. Select “Safe Mode” from the Advanced Boot Options menu.
3. Once in Safe Mode, open File Explorer and navigate to the location of the corrupted file or folder.
4. Right-click on the file or folder and select “Delete” from the context menu.
5. If you encounter an error message stating that the file or folder cannot be deleted, try using the command-line interpreter. Open the Command Prompt as an administrator and use the `del` command followed by the file or folder’s path.
6. If the file or folder still cannot be deleted, you can use third-party software like MiniTool Partition Wizard or force delete it using Terminal commands.

Remember to exercise caution when deleting files, as deleting essential system files may cause errors or instability.

Permanently Delete Corrupted Files Using MiniTool Partition Wizard

To permanently delete corrupted files in Windows 10, you can use MiniTool Partition Wizard. Follow these steps:

1. Launch MiniTool Partition Wizard on your PC.
2. Select the partition containing the corrupted files.
3. Right-click on the partition and choose “Delete” from the context menu.
4. Confirm the deletion by clicking “Yes”.
5. MiniTool Partition Wizard will start deleting the corrupted files.
6. Once the process is complete, the corrupted files will be permanently removed from your computer.

Remember, this method can only delete corrupted files, not fix them. If you want to fix corrupted files, you may need to use other solutions or seek professional help. It’s also important to note that deleting files permanently cannot be undone, so make sure you have a backup if needed.

Repair Disk Errors and Delete Corrupted Files

To repair disk errors and delete corrupted files in Windows 10, follow these steps:

1. Open the Control Panel by searching for it in the Start menu.
2. Click on “System and Security” and then “Security and Maintenance.”
3. Under the “Maintenance” section, click on “Check for performance issues.”
4. In the new window, click on “File Explorer Options” and then “Scan for and attempt recovery of bad sectors.”
5. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the disk error repair process.

To delete corrupted files:

1. Open File Explorer by pressing the Windows key + E.
2. Navigate to the folder or directory where the corrupted file is located.
3. Select the corrupted file(s) you want to delete.
4. Right-click on the selected file(s) and choose “Delete” from the context menu.
5. If you encounter any errors, try using the command-line interpreter (Terminal) to force delete the folder or file. Use the command `del /f /q [path]` to delete the corrupted file or folder.

Remember to empty your recycling bin after deleting files to permanently remove them from your computer.

Was this article helpful?
YesNo