[Solved] USB/External Hard Drive Folder Access Denied in Windows 10/7
Quick Navigation:
- How to Fix "USB/External Hard Drive Folder Access Denied" Problem
- Method #1: Change the Ownership of the USB/External Hard Drive
- Method #2: Get Permission to Access to the External Hard Drive
- Method #3: Format USB/External Hard Drive
- How to Recover Trapped Data in External Hard Drive
- How to Format External Hard Drive to Fix "Destination Folder Access Denied"
- Method #4: Run CHKDSK to fix File System in USB/External Hard Drive
The "USB drive destination folder access denied" error message doesn't just appear out of nowhere, but is often a result of a specific reason. Factors such as incorrect drive letter assignment, file system corruption, or issues with the USB drive's formatting can contribute to this problem. Additionally, malware or viruses can also cause access denied errors, as can permissions issues or conflicts with other programs. Furthermore, hardware issues with the USB drive itself, such as a faulty controller or worn-out contacts, can also lead to this error.
- An improper connection to a USB drive or a damaged cable can cause a Windows system to freeze or crash. This can occur when the system is unable to properly read or write data to the USB device, leading to a system lockup or shutdown.
- BitLocker encryption of the external hard drive
- Damaged or corrupted file system
- The external hard drive is damaged due to a virus
- Denied permission to use the drive
The "file access denied external hard drive" error can be caused by various factors, including file system corruption, permissions issues, or conflicting software. To resolve this issue, you can try various methods, which will be covered in this article. By following the steps and tips provided, you should be able to fix the problem and access your external hard drive without any issues.
How to Fix "USB/External Hard Drive Folder Access Denied" Problem
There are four methods to fix the issue, and we'll explore each one in turn. If one method doesn't work, you can try the next one, and so on, until you find an effective solution among the four options highlighted in this article.
Method #1: Change the Ownership of the USB/External Hard Drive
To access an inaccessible USB/external drive, connect it to your Windows PC and follow these steps:
- Step 1: Click to open "This PC" and right-click on "inaccessible external hard drive". From here, select "Properties".
- Step 2: Navigate to "Security" and click "Advanced" to open the "Advanced Security Settings" window.
- Step 3: Click "Change permissions" and click "Edit" in the next window.
- Step 4: Check each box under the "Allow" column and click "OK" and then "Apply".
To fix the issue of not being able to connect to a wireless network on Windows 7, follow these steps: First, click on the Start button and select Control Panel. Then, click on Network and Internet, followed by Network and Sharing Center. Next, click on Manage network connections.
- Right-click on "inaccessible hard drive" and then click on "Properties".
- To edit the owner tab, navigate to the "Security" section and click "Advanced", then select "Edit" from the "Owner Tab".
- You can change the ownership of an account by clicking on the name under "username" or "Group", which will then grant you permission to access the previously inaccessible USB drive.
Method #2: Get Permission to Access to the External Hard Drive
If you encounter an "external hard drive folder access denied" error, it's likely due to a lack of permission to access the disk. In this case, you'll need to obtain the necessary permissions. Start by checking if the destination folder is encrypted, as this would prevent access. If it's not encrypted, you can easily obtain the required permission by following the necessary steps.
- Step 1: Go to "This PC" or "My Computer".
- Stet 2: Select and right-click the "inaccessible drive".
- Step 3: Left-click on "Properties" and then "Security" and "Change" from the list provided.
- Step 4: A new window titled "Permissions" for a new volume (E:) will popup. Click the "Add" tab and add a new user.
- Step 5: To give full control permission to a user, click "OK" to navigate to the permission settings, then select the user and check the box in the "Full Control" tab, finally click "OK" to confirm the changes.
If you're experiencing issues with saving changes or accessing a drive with "Full Control" on Windows 10, try restarting your computer to see if the drive is still available. If the problem persists, proceed with the next method.
Method #3: Format USB/External Hard Drive
Formatting an external hard drive can resolve issues with "destination folder access denied USB drive", but be aware that your data will be deleted and the drive will become fully functional. To protect your data, recover files from the external hard drive using a software like Deep Data Recovery, and then format the drive.
Deep Data Recovery is a reliable and 100% effective tool designed to recover files from various storage media, including RAW drives, external hard drives, USB drives, and hard disk/partitions. It works by scanning and recovering lost files, offering a comprehensive file recovery solution to help users get back their lost data.
How to Recover Trapped Data in External Hard Drive
Here are the simple steps to recover trapped data from an external hard drive with Deep Data Recovery Software: Download and install the software, connect the external hard drive, and follow the on-screen instructions to scan and recover your data. The software will automatically detect and recover your lost files, even if they are corrupted or fragmented, and save them to a safe location on your computer.
Step 1: Download and run the Deep Data Recovery tool, then launch the app from its main window. By default, all supported file types will be selected, so unselect those you don't need. Once you've made your selections, click the "Next" button to initiate the external hard drive recovery process.
Step 2: Select the location where you want to scan the trapped files, which is the USB/External drive, and click "Scan".
Step 3: After scanning, the result window will pop up. Select the files you want to recover and click "Recover" to save them on your computer. This will restore the trapped data from your USB/external drive.
After completing the recovery process, the final step is to format the external hard drive. To do this, follow these steps:
How to Format External Hard Drive to Fix "Destination Folder Access Denied"
- Step 1: Right-click "Start" to open Disk Management and select "Disk Management".
- Step 2: Right-click the "inaccessible disk" and then select "Format". Next, click the "NTFS" and click the "OK" button.
- Step 3: Restart your computer to complete the process. This should format your external hard drive and restore its functionality.
Method #4: Run CHKDSK to fix File System in USB/External Hard Drive
If the three methods above do not work, you can try to fix the file system with CHKDSK, which is suitable for "destination folder access denied external hard drive Windows 10" error code, by following these easy steps:
- Step 1: Right-click on the hard drive partition that has the "destination folder access denied external hard drive" error and select "Properties".
- Step 2: Select "Tools" and then "Check Now". Note that you can also run the CHKDSK process from the command prompt.
- Step 3: Restart your PC and try to open the external hard drive again. This should resolve the issue.
We've explored four methods to resolve the "destination folder access denied external hard drive" error code, and one of them should work for you. Just remember to safeguard your data from being deleted.
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