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How can I fix Windows cannot access the disk USB drive error?

It is only natural to start worrying when you encounter disk errors on Windows. Problems like these are usually accompanied by these messages:

“Windows detected a hard disk problem.”

“Back up your files immediately to prevent information loss, and then contact the computer manufacturer to determine if you need to repair or replace the disk.”

In general, these error messages warn you of impending, serious issues. These are some of the things that might happen next:

  • Your hard drive will start to fail, and it may die sooner.
  • Once your disk dies, all the data stored on the hard drive, including documents, programs, applications, files, videos, and photos, will be lost.
  • System files on your computer may get corrupted, rendering your OS unbootable.
  • Your PC may freeze. It will take a longer time for it to load, then eventually, it will stop responding.

There are several reasons why disk errors occur on Windows 10. In most cases, they happen because of a malware or virus infection, a power failure, corruption, bad sectors, a power surge, and physical damages, among others. Once this problem happens, you will have a difficult time accessing the internal or external hard drive connected to your computer. Moreover, the files in the affected hard drive will be vulnerable to corruption, which may lead to data loss.

Needless to say, disk errors are serious issues you need to address promptly. Now, you might ask, “How do I fix disk errors in Windows 10 without using any software?” Well, we’ll cover that in this post. We will also teach you how to make the process easier by using a reliable software program.

Method 1: Using Startup Repair

To take advantage of the Startup Repair feature, you need a Windows 10 installation disc. Once you have that, you can proceed to the steps below:

  1. Plug the bootable USB drive into your computer.
  2. Launch the system by pressing the power button.
  3. Remember to press the Boot Menu option key immediately as soon as your system starts. Usually, you can enter the Boot Menu by pressing F12 on your keyboard. However, the key varies. So, it is best that you consult your motherboard manual.
  4. Select the bootable USB drive by pressing the up/down keys on your keyboard.
  5. Once you’ve selected the bootable USB drive, hit Enter.
  6. When you get to the Windows setup screen, click Next, then select Repair your Computer.
  7. Follow this path:

Troubleshoot ->Advanced Option ->Startup Repair

Note: Startup Repair will begin fixing your system.

  1. After the repair process is complete, unplug your bootable USB drive.
  2. Restart your computer and let your system boot normally.

Method 2: Accessing Security and Maintenance

You can learn about the condition of your operating system by checking the Security and Maintenance section of the Control Panel. Once you get to its page, you will see all the existing hardware and software problems on your PC. If you can boot your computer normally, you can perform the steps below:

  1. On your keyboard, press Windows Key.
  2. Now, type “Control Panel” (no quotes), then hit Enter.
  3. Select Security and Maintenance.
  4. Inside the Security and Maintenance page, click Maintenance to expand its contents.
  5. Scroll down until you find Drive Status. You will be able to see existing hard drive issues here. Otherwise, the section will display a message saying, “All drives are working properly.”

Method 3: Using CHKDSK

One of the great things about Windows is it has a tool for fixing bad sectors and problematic system files that cause disk errors. By using the CHKDSK utility, you will be able to resolve most issues that cause your hard drive to become inaccessible. To begin, follow the steps below:

  1. Go to your taskbar, then click the Search icon.
  2. Inside the Search box, type “Command Prompt” (no quotes).
  3. From the results, right-click Command Prompt.
  4. Select Run as Administrator from the options.
  5. If prompted to give permission to the app, click Yes.
  6. Once Command Prompt is up, type “chkdsk X: /r /f” (no quotes).

Note: Remember to replace ‘X’ with the hard drive letter. Press Enter on your keyboard to begin the scan and repair process.

Wait until CHKDSK completes its job. Once the repair process is complete, reconnect the affected external hard drive. If you experienced the disk error on your internal hard drive, all you need to do is restart your system.

Pro Tip: Losing files and other important data can be frustrating. To ensure that your essential files won’t end up in bad sectors of your hard drive, we suggest that you use Auslogics Disk Defrag Pro. This tool uses four algorithms for intelligent and safe file placement. The best part is, Auslogics Disk Defrag Pro optimizes your drives’ performance. So, once the process is complete, you will notice shorter application startup times and a general improvement in the speed of your PC.

Method 4: Using a Windows PowerShell Command

Now, you might ask, “How do I fix a disk error with a manual command on Windows 10?” Well, you can access Windows PowerShell and use the Repair-Volume command. Here are the steps:

  1. Go to your taskbar, then right-click the Windows icon.
  2. Select Windows PowerShell (Admin) from the options.
  3. Once Windows PowerShell (Admin) is up, type “Repair-Volume C –Scan” (no quotes).

Note: Remember to replace “C” with the appropriate drive letter. If the affected drive is the C drive, then leave it as it is. By running this command, your system scans the hard drive volume for issues. Press Enter to proceed. If the results show errors, run the command in the next step.

  1. Type “Repair-Volume C –OfflineScanAndFix” (no quotes), then hit Enter.
  2. After running the commands above, restart your computer.
  3. Repeat Steps 1 to 2, then type “Repair-Volume C –Scan” (no quotes). Hit Enter to see if the errors have been fixed.

Which of the solutions helped you get rid of the issue permanently?

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