Fix ‘CHKDSK Cannot Open Volume for Direct Access’ in Windows
How to Fix the ‘CHKDSK Cannot Open Volume for Direct Access’ Error
Many Windows users are already familiar with CHKDSK, an old but reliable disk checking tool. More importantly, it is built into all major versions of Windows, making it a convenient first choice for fixing disk-related issues. However, when running this utility, you may encounter a frustrating error message: “CHKDSK cannot open volume for direct access.”
In most cases, this error is caused by relatively simple issues, such as missing administrator permissions or the drive being temporarily locked by another process. In some situations, though, it can also be related to hardware-level problems. Don’t worry. Here, we’ll briefly explain what this error means and how to fix it in different ways. So, stay with us.
Why Does CHKDSK Show the ‘Cannot Open Volume for Direct Access’ Error?
There are several reasons why Windows may block CHKDSK from accessing your drive directly. Let’s take a look:
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- You aren’t running the CMD app as an administrator.
- Write protection is enabled on the drive, or it’s set to read-only mode.
- Another program is using the drive, so CHKDSK can’t scan it.
- The file system on the drive is corrupted or damaged.
- Physical issues exist on your hard drive, such as bad sectors or firmware faults.
Rescue Data From a Drive If You Cannot Run CHKDSK
Your first priority should be data recovery when receiving the error message “Check Disk cannot open volume for direct access.” This is because this error often serves as an early warning sign that a hard drive is about to fail or may turn into a RAW disk. Plus, some aggressive or improper fixes can lead to permanent data loss.
With a success rate of 99.4%, Tenorshare 4DDiG is one of the most reliable tools for this task. It works with more than 2,000 storage devices, including USB flash drives, SD cards, SSDs, and traditional HDDs. Whether you’re trying to retrieve photos, videos, or Microsoft Office documents, this powerful tool has you covered. Tenorshare 4DDiG also impresses with its clean and straightforward interface.
The following steps are how to extract data from a problematic drive with this free data recovery software:
Step 1: To get started, download and install Tenorshare 4DDiG Data Recovery on your Windows machine. After launching the program, you’ll see a list of available storage devices on the main interface. Move your cursor over the drive showing the “Cannot open volume for direct access” error. Click “Scan” to continue.
Step 2: 4DDiG will begin with a quick scan of the selected drive. If the files you’re looking for are not found, the software will automatically switch to a deep scan for more thorough results.
Step 3: Once the scan is complete, 4DDiG allows you to preview files by double-clicking them. If the results look good, select the files you want and click “Recover” in the bottom-right corner to save them to your computer. Alternatively, you can export the recovered files directly to Google Drive or Microsoft OneDrive to prevent future data loss.
After recovering your data, you can safely proceed to fix the “CHKDSK F cannot open volume for direct access” error.
5 Solutions to the ‘CHKDSK Cannot Open Volume for Direct Access’ Error
The methods below are ordered from simple to advanced, so you can follow them step by step based on your situation.
Fix 1: Run CHKDSK in Safe Mode
Safe Mode runs Windows with minimal drivers and settings, which can help resolve the “Check Disk cannot open volume for direct access” error. Here’s how to boot into Safe Mode in Windows:
Step 1: Press Windows + R, write “msconfig,” and hit Enter.
Step 2: Go to the Boot tab. Check “Safe boot” followed by selecting “Minimal.”
Step 3: Click “OK,” then click “Restart.” After your computer restarts in Safe Mode, run CHKDSK again.
Fix 2: Temporarily Disable Conflicting Software
Sometimes, some third-party programs or services may be the culprit behind the “CHKDSK cannot open volume for direct access” error. Antivirus software, backup tools, and disk management utilities are common examples. Even when they don’t appear to be open, these programs can still run in the background and lock the drive to prevent changes. To fix this, simply pause your antivirus protection or close any disk-related utilities and then run CHKDSK again.
Fix 3: Disable Read-only Mode
As already noted, the “Cannot open volume for direct access” error may appear when a drive is write-protected. This problem is common with memory cards, since many of them have a physical lock switch that can be turned on by accident. If your device doesn’t have a physical lock, follow the given steps below to remove write protection:
Step 1: Begin with running the CMD app with administrator privileges.
Step 2: Once launched, input the following commands one by one, pressing Enter after each:
- diskpart
- list disk
- select disk X (Note: X is the number of your problematic disk.)
- attributes disk clear readonly
- exit
Fix 4: Use a CHKDSK Alternative
Since Windows XP, CHKDSK has been built into the system, and over all these years, Microsoft hasn’t really updated this old disk repair tool much. While it still works for basic checks, it can sometimes struggle with more complicated disk issues or hidden file system errors. Nowadays, there are many third-party utilities that offer more detailed and comprehensive disk diagnostics.
Popular options include DiskGenius, CrystalDiskInfo, HDDScan, and Macrorit Disk Scanner. They usually provide a user-friendly interface that’s easier to navigate than command-line tools, making them suitable for beginners. With them, there’s no need to fear the “CHKDSK cannot open volume for direct access USB” error.
Fix 5: Create a New File System
If the “Cannot open volume for direct access” error still persists, then your last option is to reset the affected drive’s file system. Before moving on, make sure you no longer need the data on the disk, or that it has been recovered and safely backed up. The detailed steps are as follows:
Step 1: Right-click on the Windows icon, and then pick Disk Management.
Step 2: Look for the problematic drive in the lower section. Next, right-click on it and select Format from the menu.
Step 3: Assign a proper file system to your drive, and then click “OK.”
Conclusion
Next time you encounter the “Check Disk cannot open volume for direct access” error, don’t panic.You can try disabling conflicting services, performing a clean boot, or even creating a new file system through formatting. To prevent data loss, give Tenorshare 4DDiG a shot. With just a few clicks, this tool can recover missing or inaccessible files from your drive, giving you peace of mind before proceeding with any DIY repair.
