Why Einzelne Dateien nicht lesbar

If individual files on a storage device such as a hard drive, USB flash drive, or SD card are unreadable, there can be various causes – from file corruption to file system problems to hardware failure. While other files on the same device can be opened without problems, certain files refuse access. This can be frustrating, especially if they involve important documents or photos.

1. File corruption

One of the most common causes is that the file is corrupted. This can happen due to a sudden power outage, a system crash during the write process, or improper removal of the media (e.g., removing a USB flash drive without "safely removing"). In such cases, the file may be missing part of its structure, making it impossible for programs to read correctly.

2. File system error

Another cause could be a file system error, for example, on NTFS, FAT32, or exFAT partitions. Individual sectors of the hard drive or flash drive may be corrupted, and the affected files are located there. Tools like CHKDSK (Windows) or fsck (Linux) usually help to check the file system and repair it if necessary.

3. Access rights or user problems

In rare cases, files may be unreadable because the user lacks permissions. This particularly applies to external drives that have been used on different operating systems or are encrypted. A file lock by another program or a lack of user permissions can also limit readability.

4. Antivirus programs or software conflicts

Sometimes an antivirus program blocks access to certain files because they appear suspicious. Software errors in certain file types (e.g., corrupted Office documents or image files) can also cause read errors.

5. Physical damage to the storage device

If a particular file repeatedly fails to read while others work, this could also indicate incipient data loss or hardware failure. Early warning signs include slow loading times, clicking hard drives, or suddenly disappearing folders. In this case, you should immediately create a backup and replace the media.

Conclusion

If individual files are unreadable, you should first check for file corruption and file system errors. Diagnostic and repair tools, as well as attempting file recovery with recovery software, are helpful. If the problem occurs repeatedly, you should check the storage device for defects and back it up early.