topic Re: the file or directory is corrupted and unreadable in AutoCAD Forum

the file or directory is corrupted and unreadable

cwendling26 — Thu, 05 Dec 2019 18:24:05 GMT

My AutoCAD stopped working one recent morning. I tried to start the program and got the error "the file or directory is corrupted and unreadable". I tried uninstalling everything and re-installing, but the same problem persists. Please help!

Re: the file or directory is corrupted and unreadable

Alfred.NESWADBA — Thu, 05 Dec 2019 19:51:04 GMT

Hi,

can you please show a screenshot from that message (and the screen in that state)?

For me it is not clear if you have one defect file or AutoCAD has issues with reading it's program files.

- alfred -

Re: the file or directory is corrupted and unreadable

s.borello — Thu, 05 Dec 2019 19:59:23 GMT

Did you do anything recently to your PC that may have caused this?

Re: the file or directory is corrupted and unreadable

cwendling26 — Fri, 06 Dec 2019 00:32:36 GMT

It happens when I try to open any files, or even just start autocad on its
own

Re: the file or directory is corrupted and unreadable

Alfred.NESWADBA — Fri, 06 Dec 2019 00:33:53 GMT

Hi,

can you please show a screenshot from that message (and the screen in that state)?

- alfred -

Re: the file or directory is corrupted and unreadable

cwendling26 — Fri, 06 Dec 2019 00:58:29 GMT

it happens when I try to open .dwg files, but also just trying to start autocad itself.

Re: the file or directory is corrupted and unreadable

Alfred.NESWADBA — Fri, 06 Dec 2019 01:01:10 GMT

Hi,

ok, does that directory exist (can you use your Windows Explorer to go into that folder)?

If yes, does the file ACAD.EXE exist in that folder? And how many files do you have in that folder?

Can you create a new textfile inside that folder?

- alfred -

Re: the file or directory is corrupted and unreadable

cwendling26 — Fri, 06 Dec 2019 01:01:15 GMT

Re: the file or directory is corrupted and unreadable

cwendling26 — Fri, 06 Dec 2019 01:05:36 GMT

Here is file location, 742 items, cannot create new textfile

Re: the file or directory is corrupted and unreadable

Alfred.NESWADBA — Fri, 06 Dec 2019 01:08:46 GMT

Hi,

does an ACAD.EXE file exist inside that folder?

If yes:

what happens when you double-click this file?
what happens if you right-click that file and use option "start as administrator" in the context menu?

- alfred -

Re: the file or directory is corrupted and unreadable

pendean — Fri, 06 Dec 2019 01:48:55 GMT

You need to remove and reinstall 2018: you may even have a bigger problem developing, by chance is your computer starting to freeze at weird moments these days too?

Re: the file or directory is corrupted and unreadable

cwendling26 — Fri, 06 Dec 2019 01:59:36 GMT

i've uninstalled, using microsoft's troubleshoot uninstaller also. deleted
all remaining files that i could fine and cleared everything the best i
could before reinstalling. the same error comes up again after all of this.

i've had my PC crash a few times out of the blue and shut off over the past
few weeks.. oh no...

Re: the file or directory is corrupted and unreadable

Alfred.NESWADBA — Fri, 06 Dec 2019 02:04:13 GMT

Hi,

have you tried my last questions?

- alfred -

Re: the file or directory is corrupted and unreadable

cwendling26 — Fri, 06 Dec 2019 02:09:36 GMT

same error message when i click on acad.exe "file or directory is corrupted
and unreadable"

different error message when I right click run as administrator (see
attached)

[image: Untitled3.png]
[image: Untitled4.png]

Re: the file or directory is corrupted and unreadable

cwendling26 — Fri, 06 Dec 2019 02:11:35 GMT

also maybe worth mentioning: recap and revit were starting up fine

Re: the file or directory is corrupted and unreadable

Alfred.NESWADBA — Fri, 06 Dec 2019 02:13:37 GMT

Hi,

>> different error message when I right click run as administrator

Sorry, no images arrived here (please do not use your mail system to answer, instead use your Internet Browser to reply, there you can add images).

- alfred -

Re: the file or directory is corrupted and unreadable

pendean — Fri, 06 Dec 2019 02:20:17 GMT

>>>...i've had my PC crash a few times out of the blue and shut off over the past few weeks.. oh no……<<<

You have a damaged sector on your harddrive and possibly overheating I suspect, you'll see more random freezes of your computer as the days go by.

You want to backup your system ASAP then take it to a repair shop real soon.

Good luck.

Re: the file or directory is corrupted and unreadable

cwendling26 — Fri, 06 Dec 2019 02:39:42 GMT

Re: the file or directory is corrupted and unreadable

Alfred.NESWADBA — Fri, 06 Dec 2019 02:44:59 GMT

Hi,

I guess @pendean is correct, your harddisk seems to have issues.

Create a new backup (do not overwrite your last one, just to make sure that files, that maybe already corrupt, do not overwrite the good ones).

Then you can run checks on your disk.

- alfred -

Re: the file or directory is corrupted and unreadable

lopezmariaa1010 — Fri, 07 Jan 2022 10:26:09 GMT

I think you should first check the connection between your drive and PC to fix the unreadable error. Let’s check out the below easy fixes to overcome the file or directory is corrupted and unreadable issue:

Connect the USB flash drive to another USB port
Try to simply connect your USB flash drive to another computer
Replace a USB cable.

I hope, this fix may help you to solve the unreadable error. Good luck…