Getting the “Cannot Open Volume for Direct Access” Error? Fix it Like A Pro!

I am getting the error “cannot open volume for direct access” whenever I try to run CHKDSK on my computer. I tried to move some data from my computer’s disk to another drive a few days ago and that might be the reason for this error. Help, please!”
—-A question from Reddit

The CHKDSK command is an inbuilt tool for repairing corrupted local hard drives, SD cards, and USBs in Windows. However, sometimes, when scheduling a disk check, you might encounter the “CHKDSK cannot open volume for direct access” error message. This is a problem that can arise across all Windows versions.

But in this article, we’ll delve into various scenarios that cause this error and provide detailed step-by-step solutions to resolve this issue. Additionally, we’ll share practical tips to prevent This will get rid of the cannot open volume for direct access SD card error from recurring. So, let’s get you back on track!

Part 1: Reasons Behind the “Cannot Open Volume For Direct Access” Error

The “CHKDSK cannot open volume for direct access” error typically happens when CHKDSK cannot access the disk. It cannot perform a scan and repair operation, and this is due to the following reasons:

Corrupted DOS Boot Record (DBR) on the drive.
Antivirus blocking system processes.
Physically damaged or corrupted hard drive.
Bad sectors on a drive.
Drive locked due to third-party applications.
The drive is encrypted using a third-party encryption tool.
Malware or viruses.

Part 2: Recover Data from an Inaccessible Hard Drive

Once you know what causes the “cannot open volume for direct access” error, your initial priority would be to retrieve data from your inaccessible drive. This is crucial because your actions to resolve the error could potentially result in data loss.

Therefore, consider using a reliable tool like 4DDiG Data Recovery to restore your data. It can recover inaccessible, formatted, corrupted, or deleted files from various internal and external devices. Here’s how this tool can help you out:

Recover data from various devices, including hard drives, SD cards, USBs, NAS storage, digital cameras, and more.
Recovers over 2000 file types, including audio, video, documents, and images.
Impressive success rate and 100% security.
Easy to use; no technical knowledge required.

Here’s how to use this tool to recover files from your inaccessible drive:

Step 1: Scan the Inaccessible Drive

Select your drive after downloading and launching the 4DDiG Data Recovery tool on your computer. Click “Scan” and let it search for your lost data.

Step 2: Preview the Recovered Files

You can monitor progress, pause to preview, and stop when you find what you need. Once done, preview and choose the files you want to recover.

Step 3: Export Recovered Files

Click “Recover” to save them in a different location to prevent permanent data loss.

After successfully recovering data and backing it up, you can confidently address the error ‘cannot open volume for direct access.’

Part 2: 7 Ways to Fix the “CHKDSK Cannot Open Volume For Direct Access” Error

Here are seven ways to tackle the “CHKDSK cannot open volume for direct access” error. Try them one by one to see which one works best for resolving the issue:

Solution 1: Restart Your PC

First, try a good old computer restart when you encounter the “cannot open volume for direct access” error while using CHKDSK. Here’s how:

Step 1: Shut down your computer and remove the external drive causing the problem. If it’s the local disk, wait for a few minutes.

Step 2: Hold the power button for 60 seconds, reconnect your external device, and restart your computer.

Step 3: Once your computer is back up, open “Command Prompt” and rerun CHKDSK to see if the error is gone. If it’s still there, move on to the following method.

Solution 2: Repair Bad Sectors

If you’re getting the “cannot open volume for direct access” error due to bad sectors on your drive, you can easily repair them by using the Windows built-in tool. Here’s how:

Step 1: Press the “Windows+E” keys to open “Windows Explorer.” Select the storage device you want to fix, right-click on it, then go to “Properties.”

Step 2: Head to “Tools” in the “Properties” window. Next, click “Check” under the in the Error-checking section.

Step 3: Choose “Scan” drive and wait for the scan to finish. If errors are found, click “Close,” then select “Repair” drive, and restart your computer.

Step 4: After the restart, see if the error “cannot open volume for direct access CHKDSK” is gone.

Solution 3: Disable or Uninstall Third Party Applications

To tackle the “CHKDSK cannot open volume for direct access” error, try turning off third-party apps that might lock your disk partition. Follow these steps:

Step 1: Press the “Windows+S” keys to search for “Services.”Click on the service application in the search results.

Step 2: Locate the app that might be locking your partition. Right-click on the app and choose “Properties.” Change the “Startup type” to Disabled and click “OK.”

However, if the “cannot open volume for direct access” issue persists, you may need to uninstall the third-party apps. Here’s how to do that:

Step 1: Press the “Windows+R” keys together. This will open the “Run” box. Type “control” and press “Enter.”

Step 2: Click “Programs” then “Programs and Features” in the Control Panel.

Step 3: Find the application that could lock the partition, right-click it, and select “Uninstall.”

Solution 4: Run CHKDSK in Clean Boot

Another way to resolve the “cannot open volume for direct access” error is running the CHKDSK in the Clean Boot environment. A clean boot starts your PC with just the essential programs and drives. This will help you identify which programs are causing the issue. Here’s what to do:

Step 1: Press the “Windows + R” keys. Type in the “msconfig” command and press “Enter.”

Step 2: Choose “Services” in “System Configuration. Then, tick the box “Hide all Microsoft services.” Then hit “Disable all,” followed by “Apply” and “OK.”

Step 3: Head to “Startup” and click “Open Task Manager.” Then, disable any suspicious applications or services that could cause the error “cannot open volume for direct access.”

Solution 5: Format the Drive Using Disk Management

If you are still getting the “cannot open volume for direct access SD card” error, it often means your drive’s file system is corrupted. To fix this, use the inbuilt Disk Management feature to format your internal hard disk to resolve the “cannot open volume for direct access CHKDSK” error. Here’s how:

“This PC” and choose “Manage,” then go to “Disk Management.” Right-click on the partition you want to format and select “Format.”
Configure the settings and kick off the formatting process.

Solution 6: Fix Windows with PowerShell

You can also use Windows PowerShell instead of using Command Prompt to fix the “cannot open volume for direct access CHKDSK” error. It is an in-built tool similar to Command Prompt, and you can use it to confirm the authenticity of the error when checking a hard drive partition. The tool will also scan and repair the drive volume to fix the error. Here’s how:

Press the “Windows + S” keys and type in “Windows PowerShell.” Launch it from the search results.
Enter “repair-volume-drive letter C (you can replace C with the drive letter of your main drive) in the PowerShell window.” Press “Enter.”
Windows PowerShell will now scan and fix issues in the drive volume.

Solution 7: Turn Off Bitlocker Encryption

If you’ve enabled BitLocker Encryption on your drive, it can also cause the “CHKDSK cannot open volume for direct access” error. So, you can try turning it off with these steps:

Press the “Windows + R” key to open the “Run” box. Type “control” and press “Enter.”
In the “Control Panel” window, go to “System and Security,” then click on “BitLocker Drive Encryption.”
Choose the drive you want to disable BitLocker for, then click the “Turn off BitLocker” button to confirm.

Part 3: How to Prevent “CHKDSK Cannot Open Volume For Direct Access” Error

After you’ve sorted out the “cannot open volume for direct access” error, taking some precautions can really lower the chances of it happening again. Here’s what you need to do:

Regular Backups: Back up your important data regularly to external storage or the cloud to ensure data recovery in case of issues.

Safely Eject Devices: Always use the “Safely Remove Hardware” or “Eject” option before unplugging external drives to avoid data corruption.

Close Programs Properly: Ensure no programs or files are actively using the drive before disconnecting it to prevent the “cannot open volume for direct access SD card” error.

Maintain System Health: Perform routine disk cleanup and drive maintenance to avoid future file system problems.

Use Reliable Antivirus: Install and update reputable antivirus software to protect against viruses and malware that could harm your system.

Keep Software Updated: Regularly update your operating system, drivers, and software for smoother operation and improved security.

Final Words

We’ve shared seven effective methods to resolve the “CHKDSK cannot open volume for direct access” error, from simple PC reboots to formatting the drive (with a data backup reminder). If data loss occurs during the process, don’t worry.

Try 4DDiG Data Recovery, a user-friendly tool with a high success rate that can recover over 2000 file types from various storage devices. Give it a try now. Your data recovery is only three clicks away!

Fixed: CHKDSK Cannot Open Volume For Direct Access [100% Works]