✅How To Fix Files Become 0 Bytes Using Commands For Free | How to Restore Zero Byte Files in Windows

Summary

This tech tutorial video guides viewers on restoring zero-byte files and folders. It addresses potential causes like bad sectors, malware, or incomplete downloads. The first method involves using the Command Prompt with administrator rights to run 'chkdsk' commands to scan and repair the drive. If that fails, a second approach suggests using antivirus software to scan for hidden files and potential threats, including a full system scan and using Microsoft Defender Offline for a deeper clean. The video also advises clearing temporary files as a final step to ensure system cleanliness.

Takeaways

• 🔧 The video is a tutorial on how to restore zero-byte files and folders in a computer system.
• 🛠️ The first method involves using the command prompt (cmd) to fix potential bad sectors, which could be the primary cause of the issue.
• 💾 The command 'chkdsk /f' is used to scan and attempt to restore zero-byte files, and the drive letter (e.g., E:) must be specified.
• 🔄 If the first command doesn't resolve the issue, a second command 'chkdsk /f /r' is suggested, which requires user confirmation and a system restart.
• ⏱️ The second command may take 10 to 15 minutes to complete as it scans and attempts to restore corrupted files.
• 📚 The video suggests that if the first method fails, a second method involving an antivirus scan should be tried.
• 🔍 Antivirus software, whether paid or free like Microsoft Defender, can be used to scan and potentially fix issues caused by malware.
• 🔒 To ensure a thorough antivirus scan, hidden files and folders need to be shown in the file explorer settings.
• 🧹 The video also recommends using additional antivirus features like a full scan or Microsoft Defender Offline for a deeper system check.
• 🗑️ After performing the antivirus scan, it's advised to clean temporary files which might harbor viruses, using the 'temp' command in the run dialog.
• 👍 The video concludes by thanking viewers for watching the 'how to fix tech' tutorial.

Q & A

What is the primary issue the video aims to resolve?

The video aims to resolve the issue of zero bytes file and folder in a system.

What are the potential causes of zero bytes file and folder issues mentioned in the video?

The potential causes mentioned are bad sectors, malware, or incomplete file or folder downloads.

How can one access the Command Prompt (CMD) on Windows?

One can access the Command Prompt by right-clicking on it and selecting 'Run as administrator'.

What is the first command the video suggests to resolve the zero bytes issue?

The first command suggested is 'chkdsk /f' followed by the drive letter (e.g., 'E:') to scan and fix bad sectors on the specified drive.

What is the second command provided in the video for further troubleshooting?

The second command is 'chkdsk /f /r' which is used to scan and repair bad sectors, and it requires a system restart.

Why is it necessary to show hidden files and folders in the second method?

Hidden files and folders may contain viruses that need to be detected and removed, so they must be visible for a thorough antivirus scan.

How can users make hidden files and folders visible in Windows?

Users can make hidden files and folders visible by going to 'View' in File Explorer, then 'Options', and selecting 'Show hidden files, folders, and drives'.

What antivirus software does the video mention for scanning the system?

The video mentions using any antivirus software, including the free Microsoft Defender, for scanning the system.

What is the purpose of performing a quick scan with antivirus software?

A quick scan with antivirus software is performed to detect and remove any malware that might be causing the zero bytes issue.

What additional step is suggested after running antivirus scans to ensure system cleanliness?

After running antivirus scans, the video suggests cleaning the system by deleting temporary files, which can be accessed by typing 'temp' in the Run dialog and selecting all files with 'Ctrl+A'.

Outlines

00:00

🛠️ Fixing Zero-Byte Files and Folders

This paragraph introduces a tutorial on restoring zero-byte files and folders in a system. The video will cover potential causes such as bad sectors, malware, or incomplete file downloads. The presenter outlines two main methods for resolving the issue: using the command prompt to fix bad sectors and scanning the system with antivirus software to detect and remove malware. The first method involves running the 'chk' command with administrator privileges to scan and repair the hard drive, while the second method requires showing hidden files and folders and running a quick scan with antivirus software. The presenter also suggests using Microsoft Defender for a thorough scan and cleaning temporary files as a final step.

Keywords

💡Zero bytes file

A 'zero bytes file' refers to a file that appears to have no content, showing a size of zero bytes. In the context of the video, this is an issue the creator aims to resolve, as it can indicate a corrupted or incomplete file, which can affect the functionality of a system or application. The script discusses methods to restore such files to their original state.

💡Command Prompt (CMD)

The 'Command Prompt', often abbreviated as CMD, is a command-line interpreter for the Windows operating system. It allows users to execute commands and perform tasks through a text-based interface. In the video, CMD is used to run specific commands that help in fixing the zero bytes file issue by scanning and repairing the hard drive.

💡Administrator

In computing, 'Administrator' refers to a user account with the highest level of control over a system, allowing the execution of system-level tasks that require elevated privileges. The video instructs the viewer to run CMD as an administrator to ensure the commands have the necessary permissions to fix the issue.

💡CHKDSK

CHKDSK is a Windows utility that checks the filesystem and file placement on a disk volume. It is used to identify and fix logical and physical errors. The script mentions using the 'chk' command in CMD to initiate a scan and fix the zero byte size issue by checking the hard drive for bad sectors.

💡Drive letter

A 'drive letter' is a designation used in computing to identify storage devices, such as hard drives, in an operating system. In the script, the drive letter 'E' is used as an example to specify which drive the CHKDSK command should scan for errors.

💡Antivirus program

An 'antivirus program' is software designed to detect, prevent, and remove malicious software, or malware, from a computer system. The video suggests using an antivirus program to scan the system as a method to address the zero bytes file issue, potentially caused by malware.

💡Microsoft Defender

Microsoft Defender is a built-in antivirus and anti-malware component of the Windows operating system. It is mentioned in the script as a free option for users to scan their systems for hidden files and potential malware that could be causing the zero bytes file issue.

💡Hidden files and folders

In computing, 'hidden files and folders' are those that are not normally visible in file explorers unless the user changes the view settings to show them. The script explains how to reveal these hidden elements, which could be infected by viruses, as part of the troubleshooting process.

💡Quick scan

A 'quick scan' in the context of antivirus software is a fast, non-exhaustive scan that checks for obvious threats and is typically used for routine checks. The video script suggests performing a quick scan as one of the steps to resolve the zero bytes file issue.

💡Microsoft Defender Offline

Microsoft Defender Offline is a feature that allows for a system scan without booting into the Windows environment, which can be more effective in detecting and removing threats that may not be active during a standard boot. The script mentions using this feature as an advanced method to address the issue.

💡Temp files

Temporary files, or 'temp files', are created by the system or applications to store data temporarily while performing tasks. They can sometimes harbor viruses or other unwanted data. The script advises cleaning these files as a final step in resolving the zero bytes file issue.

Highlights

Introduction to the video on restoring zero bytes file and folder issues in the system.

Explanation of possible causes for zero byte issues such as bad sectors, malware, or incomplete downloads.

First method to fix the issue by checking for bad sectors using the command prompt.

Instructions on running the command prompt as an administrator.

Command to scan and restore zero byte size files using 'chk' with the appropriate parameters.

Verification step after running the command to check if the issue is resolved.

Second command 'chkdsk' with parameters to fix unresolved issues and the need for system restart.

Description of the system scanning process and the expected duration.

Second method involving the use of an antivirus program to scan the system.

Recommendation to use Microsoft Defender as a free antivirus option.

Steps to show hidden files and folders in File Explorer for a thorough virus scan.

Guidance on running a quick scan with the antivirus software.

Mention of alternative scanning options like full scan and Microsoft Defender Offline.

Advice on cleaning the system with the temporary files after performing antivirus scans.

Final note on the importance of cleaning temporary files for system health.

Closing remarks and thanks for watching the 'How to Fix Tech' channel.

Transcripts

hello guys welcome to my channel you are

watching how to fix tech in this video i

am going to show you how you can restore

zero bytes file and folder into your

system

now first we need to check while we are

facing this issue there could be many

regions like bed sectors malware or file

extensions the file or folder you have

downloaded is incompleted

and now we are going to fix this error

so stay with us

so let's begin how we can resolve this

issue first we need to go to the cmd

in first method we are going to fix the

bed sector which is the primary cause of

this issue

go to

cmd which is command prompt

right click on it you need to run it as

administrator

click on yes

when prompt opens

now you need to type only one command

here which is chk

yes k

space then slash

press f after slash and then give the

space and then drive letter after

pressing space you need to tap the drive

letter in my case it is e

then e

and then colon and then hit enter

like this

this will scan all the hard drive

and

this will restore the zero byte size

now this command is completed now now

you can check if the issue is solved or

not

if you are still facing this issue then

you can

hit one more command here c h k

d s k

space

slash f slash

r like this and press enter here

now you need to type yes and then you

need to restart your system

your system will scan all the files and

corrupted files and try to restore all

the files it might take 10 to 15 minutes

but this is very powerful method you can

try this and it will

start the process after you restart your

system

now you need to exit and try to restart

your system

your issue should be fixed now

if your issue is not fixed with the

first method you can try second method

in second method we are going to scan

our system with the antivirus program

whichever antivirus you are using it

could be paid or microsoft defender

which is free you can try that one first

we need to show the hidden files in

second method we are going to scan our

pc with the antivirus program whichever

software you are using for scanning

like window defender on paid version you

are using first we need to show the

hidden folders and files some viruses

can hidden into folder and files then we

need to restore them so we need to

unhide those folder and files

for that we need to click on file

explorer

like this

and click on this pc

now you can see the option view click on

view options here

now you can see the options click on

that

and you can

you need to click on change file and

search options here like this

and then go to view options again

and now choose this option which i have

already chosen show hidden files and

folder and drives click on apply and

then hit ok

and now we need to run the antivirus

program now go to

any software you are using

virus and threat protection i'm using

click on

quick scan

now the quick scan will scan all your

hard drives including your system all

the hard drives

you can try these methods as well full

scan and microsoft defender offline

microsoft offline defender will restart

your system and it will take 15 minutes

this will scan all your system including

your hard drives and

the virus will be gone

one more thing you can do that you need

to cut it after performing all the

commands

and we need to clean our system with the

window plus

our and type a time file

sometime viruses can hidden in the temp

as well

we need to

press ctrl a and then shift thank you

thanks for watching how to fix tech