Yeah, seeing 0x00000571 pop up is one of those gut-punch moments. You're mid-project, try to open a file or boot up, and Windows tells you the disk structure is corrupted and unreadable. I've had clients call me in a panic thinking they lost everything. Usually, you can get your data back without too much drama. Let's cut to the fix.
The Quick Fix: Run chkdsk from the Recovery Environment
First thing: don't try to run chkdsk from your normal Windows desktop when you see this. It'll fail because the disk is locked by the system. You need to boot from a Windows installation USB or recovery drive. If you don't have one, create it on another PC — you can download the Media Creation Tool from Microsoft's site.
- Boot from the USB, pick your language, then select 'Repair your computer' at the bottom left.
- Go to Troubleshoot -> Advanced Options -> Command Prompt.
- Type
chkdsk C: /f /rand hit Enter. Replace C: with your corrupted drive letter if it's different. - Let it run. This can take hours on a large drive — go grab coffee, don't interrupt it.
The /f flag fixes errors on the disk, and /r locates bad sectors and recovers readable info. On a 1TB drive, I've seen this run for six hours. Be patient. If chkdsk finishes with "Windows has made corrections," you're usually golden. Reboot and test the drive.
Why This Works
0x00000571 is the NTFS file system throwing up its hands because the Master File Table (MFT) or some key structure got scrambled. It's not usually a hardware failure — more often it's a bad shutdown, a failing driver, or a corrupted sector in a critical area. Chkdsk rebuilds the MFT from backup copies and marks bad sectors so the OS ignores them. Had a client last month whose entire print queue died because of this after a power surge. Chkdsk brought the drive back to life in about 40 minutes.
When the Quick Fix Fails
If chkdsk says "The type of the file system is RAW" or can't run at all, you've got a different problem. The corruption is deeper. Don't format — you'll lose everything. Here are your options:
- Use testdisk or photorec — These open-source tools can scan the raw disk and recover partitions or files. Boot from a Linux live USB (like Ubuntu), install testdisk, and point it at the corrupted drive. I've used this to recover client databases from drives that Windows gave up on.
- Check for physical damage — If you hear clicking or grinding, stop everything. That's a hardware failure. Power down and get the drive to a recovery service. You can't software-fix a dead head.
- Try a different SATA port or USB enclosure — Loose connections can mimic corruption. I once spent two hours on what looked like 0x00000571 before realizing the cable was half out. Swap the cable and port first.
Prevention — Keep This From Happening Again
Once you've recovered, don't cross your fingers. Do this:
| Action | Why |
|---|---|
| Enable CHKDSK at boot | Run chkntfs /x C: to skip auto-check on boot, but schedule a manual check once a month with chkdsk C: /f in an admin prompt. |
| Use a UPS | Bad shutdowns from power loss are the #1 cause of structure corruption. A $50 UPS pays for itself. |
| Monitor SMART data | Use CrystalDiskInfo or your BIOS to check for reallocated sectors. If you see more than a handful, replace the drive. That's a ticking clock. |
| Backup religiously | I don't care if it's cloud or external — have a backup. When I say "you can recover it," that's not a guarantee. You get one free scare. After that, you should have a backup. |
0x00000571 is a fixable error in most cases, but it's a warning. Treat it like a check engine light — ignore it and the next one might cost you the whole drive.