{"id":19092,"date":"2018-05-25T09:31:11","date_gmt":"2018-05-25T09:31:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.stellarinfo.com\/blog\/?p=19092"},"modified":"2026-01-30T11:14:40","modified_gmt":"2026-01-30T11:14:40","slug":"how-to-fix-cyclic-redundancy-check-data-error","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.stellarinfo.com\/blog\/how-to-fix-cyclic-redundancy-check-data-error\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Fix Data Error (Cyclic Redundancy Check) on Windows?"},"content":{"rendered":"

A “Data Error (Cyclic Redundancy Check)” in Windows is occasionally an early warning sign that something is amiss. It can appear, for example, when you try to copy files, open a folder, or use an external hard drive. Either way, at best it is, at worst, the sign of a dying drive, and you could lose data or even see the system crash. The good news is that the issue can be resolved—but it must be treated, especially if your data is still important to you.<\/p>

In this write up, we will describe why CRC errors are experienced, how you can restore your files safely, and some methods to fix the problem permanently using both built-in utilities and reputable applications.<\/p>

Understanding the CRC Error<\/strong><\/h2>

CRC refers to Cyclic Redundancy Check, a data checking method employed by Windows to identify file or storage device failures. CRC is a type of digital fingerprint or checksum employed to verify if the data read is identical to the one written. While storing or transmitting data, it is given a CRC value depending on the content of the data. Upon retrieval, the system re-computes the CRC and compares the two. If values are equal, no problem. Otherwise, the system detects the data as altered or corrupted and sends the “data error (cyclic redundancy check)” warning.<\/p>

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\"Cyclic<\/figure>\n<\/div>

Common causes of CRC failures<\/strong><\/h2>

Prior to jumping into solutions, it is better to understand what usually causes such errors:<\/p>

1. Bad Sectors on Hard Disk Drives (HDDs)<\/strong><\/p>

Sectors are mini storage areas on a disk. Data written in bad sectors cannot be read. A CRC error is usually the outcome.<\/p>

2. Corrupted Files<\/strong><\/p>

Files that were saved incorrectly, got corrupted while copying, or were not closed correctly can lead to CRC mismatches.<\/p>

3. Damaged External Drive<\/strong><\/p>

If you remove USB drives, External SSD, or SD cards without a safe eject, it can become corrupted or physically damaged.<\/p>

4. Broken cables or malfunctioning connectors<\/strong><\/p>

A damaged SATA or USB cord might end up causing an interruption in the data transfer, leading to corruption.<\/p>

5. Abrupt Power Loss or Improper Shutdowns<\/strong>
Abrupt system shutdown or power loss during operations on files you are undertaking can corrupt files or sectors of disk.<\/p>

6. System File Corruption<\/strong><\/p>

When Windows operating system files are corrupted, particularly those that relate to file system management or disk I\/O operations, CRC errors will exist.<\/p>

7. Malware or Virus Attacks<\/strong> <\/p>

Some malware changes files or the drive structure, and hence integrity checks fail.<\/p>

Why Must You Recover Data First<\/strong><\/h2>

It should be a safe practice to not try to fix a CRC error right away. Most repair operations, mainly disk checking and scanning can fix errors but at the cost of overwriting recoverable information in the process. If there are essential files in the faulty drive, recover them first. It is for this reason that it’s important to start with professional data recovery software<\/a><\/strong> prior to starting repairs.<\/p>

Data Recovery Using Stellar Data Recovery Professional<\/strong><\/h2>

To safely recover your files from a non-accessible or malfunctioning drive, use a good recovery software like Stellar Data Recovery Professional. It is designed particularly to scan drives quickly, including those with CRC or sector level issues.<\/p>

Steps to Recover Your Files:<\/p>

1. Download and install Stellar Data Recovery Professional from the official website.<\/p>

<\/p>

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\"Download<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>

2. Insert the concerned drive into your computer.<\/p>

3. Launch the program and then go on to choose the type of information you want to retrieve like photos, files, videos, etc.<\/p>

\"choose<\/figure>

4. Pick the drive that’s showing an error and click Scan<\/strong>.<\/p>

\"Click<\/figure>

5. Try using the Deep Scan option if the regular scan fails to indicate results.<\/p>

6. Preview files once the scanning is complete.<\/p>

\"Preview<\/figure>

Never recover and save the restored files again to the same faulty drive—it might overwrite and destroy inaccessible data.<\/p>

7. Choose and transfer the recovered files to another healthy storage device.<\/p>

Using recovery tools before attempting solutions avoids losing important files while repairing the error.<\/p>

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