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ERROR_DISK_CORRUPT
The volume’s structural metadata is corrupted and unreadable.
ERROR_DISK_CORRUPT is Win32 error 1393 (0x571). It indicates corruption in the disk or file-system structure rather than merely a damaged application payload. Allocation maps, indexes, journals, superblocks, or other volume metadata may no longer describe a coherent storage layout.
Warning signs that support a volume-level diagnosis
- many unrelated paths fail on the same volume
- mount, enumeration, or free-space queries return inconsistent results
- file-system events report metadata, journal, or index damage
- the device intermittently disappears, resets, or reports transport errors
- corruption returns after repair because the hardware path remains faulty
Evidence to preserve
Capture the volume GUID, partition layout, file-system type, physical disk serial, controller and enclosure identity, SMART or health information, storage event logs, repair history, and recent power events. If recovery value is high, create a block-level image before running commands that modify the volume.
Diagnostic sequence
Determine whether the fault is logical metadata corruption, physical media failure, controller instability, memory corruption, or a filter-driver problem. Compare behavior through another port or controller only after preserving evidence. Check all volumes on the same device and inspect mirrored or parity members for disagreement.
Use the file system’s supported scan and repair tools with an understood maintenance plan. Online scanning may identify damage without fixing every class of problem; offline repair can require downtime and can remove records that cannot be reconciled. Review the generated repair log before returning the volume to service.
Recovery strategy
Fail over to a healthy replica or restore onto verified storage when possible. If repair is necessary, image first, repair the copy or original according to the recovery plan, and validate both file-system consistency and application data. Replace suspect hardware even if one repair pass appears successful.
Difference from a single corrupt file
ERROR_FILE_CORRUPT can be limited to one file or directory. Error 1393 indicates that the broader disk structure is unreadable, so copying one damaged file away does not establish that the volume is safe for continued writes.
Example
A server begins returning 1393 for directory enumeration across several shares. The file-system log records index errors and the storage controller reports repeated resets. Operations are moved to a replica, the disk is imaged, and hardware replacement precedes restoration and validation.
References
- Microsoft: System Error Codes (1300–1699)
- Microsoft: chkdsk
- Microsoft: Get-PhysicalDisk
- Microsoft: Storage Spaces states
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