How to fix corrupted files after an unexpected power outage

After a sudden power outage, It is normal for error messages to appear when trying to open files and programs that were running.Has this happened to you? In this post, we'll discuss how to fix corrupted files after an unexpected power outage using various recovery tools.

Why are files corrupted after a sudden power outage?

 

Before explaining how to fix corrupted files after an unexpected power outage, it's helpful to understand what it means when a file is corrupted. When a computer shuts down abruptly (such as during a blackout), Background processes do not have time to properly save dataThis leaves fragments of incomplete data and corrupted metadata that the operating system and applications cannot interpret.

So, when you try to open the file you left unedited, you see warnings like "The file is corrupt and cannot be opened" or "Unknown file format." The power outage prevented the system from finishing writing the file or saving the changes temporarily stored in RAM. In fact, Even operating system files could be corrupted by a power outage., causing startup problems during system boot.

Fortunately, there are several ways to recover and fix corrupted files after an unexpected power outage. You can use the following tools integrated into the operating system, and run repair commands from CMD or command prompt. In addition, some third-party applications They are very effective in restoring lost files and repairing corrupted ones.

How to fix corrupted files after an unexpected power outage

Suppose there was a power outage while you were working on a text, audio, or video editing project. After turning your computer back on and Try to open the file, it does not run normallyInstead, an error message appears with some possible causes and solutions. What can you do?

• The first thing is to try to repair the file using the autosave options from the editing program itself.
• Applications like Word and Photoshop automatically save copies of files in editing so you can restore them later.
• Simply save the recovered file and give it a new name to have it available again.
• You can also try open the file with another compatible editor, which might correct minor bugs.

And if you can't find the file anywhere to open it, try running the application you were using to edit it. Look in the Recent documents o File recoveryIf you find a file with a date and time close to the blackout, open it and save it with a different name.

Use file recovery software

Si The blackout caught you moving files to an external drive, it's possible that the process didn't complete correctly. Sometimes, these interruptions cause complete loss of files like documents, photos, videos, and more, disappearing from both the computer and the external storage drive. What can you do in these cases to fix corrupted files after a power outage?

There are specialized programs capable of repair and restore damaged files, very useful for recovering lost images, documents, and videos. Among the most recommended options are:

• Received, recovery software for Windows ideal for restore deleted files or repair damaged onesIt is very intuitive and powerful, capable of scanning different file systems to recover data.
• Disk Drill is another effective tool for restore and fix corrupt files after an unexpected power outage. This software is available for Windows and Mac, with a basic free version and a more powerful paid version.
• EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard It is one of the most advanced data recovery programs, with specialized options in repair corrupt files of images, videos and documents.

How to Fix Corrupt System Files After a Power Outage

The above solutions are useful for repairing specific files that have become corrupted after a power outage. But what if it's the operating system that's experiencing errors after an unexpected power outage? In this case, there are a few solutions. Solutions you can try to fix it before having to restore or format the system.

Run Check Disk (CHKDSK) from the graphical interface

The first thing to do to fix corrupted files after a power outage is to run a disk check (Check Disk, Windows). This process (CHKDSK) scans the disk volume in Searches for file system errors and bad sectors, and attempts to repair themTo run it, do the following:

1. Open the File Browser and right-click on the drive you want to check (usually C:).
2. Choose Properties and go to the tab Tools
3. In the section Error checking, Click on Check.
4. Windows will tell you if it needs to scan the drive. Click Scan drive.
5. If the disk is in use (such as the C: drive where Windows is installed), you'll be prompted to schedule the scan for the next restart. Accept and restart your computer.

This check may take a while, so don't interrupt herIn addition to scanning your main hard drive, you can use it to scan other storage devices, such as USB drives or external hard drives.

Run System File Checker (SFC) from CMD

Another useful tool for fixing corrupted files after a power outage is known as SFC, a command you can run from the command prompt. It's simple, but very Effective for repairing corrupt or missing Windows system files. Follow these steps:

1. In the Start menu, type CMD and run it as Administrator.
2. In the black window, type the following command and press enter sfc / scannow
3. The tool will automatically scan and replace system files that are causing problems. It will do this by using copies of these files from a cached system image.

Run Deployment Image Servicing and Management (DISM) from CMD

Sometimes, the SFC command can't repair system files because the image it's backing up from is also corrupted. In that case, You must first run the DISM command to download new system files from the Internet.. You can run DISM like this:

1. Open Command Prompt as administrator.
2. Type the following command and press enter: DISM / Online / Cleanup Image / RestoreHealth
3. Remember that you'll need to be connected to the Internet for the tool to download healthy files from Windows Update.

We hope these solutions will help you fix corrupted files after an unexpected power outage. Remember, it's important to Take steps to protect your equipment from sudden power outagesIn this regard, please consult our article How power outages affect your PC and how to protect it.