If a virus or other foreign software program can access and infiltrate the file, then the system may lock itself and prevent you from accessing the file. If this works, it’s unlikely that you’ll have the same problem twice.Īt other times, the cause could be down to a malicious software program, otherwise known as a virus. Usually, closing the file or folder down and then re-opening can reboot the software.
A defect or bug in the software is a common cause and is thankfully only temporary. There’s a variety of reasons why this can happen. The file or directory is corrupted and unreadable. Do you want to recover the contents of this document?
Corruption can happen quickly and unexpectedly, leaving the user unable to open or access the file and data. What are corrupted files and how can I repair them?Ĭorrupted files are computer files that have suddenly become inoperable or unusable.