How to Fix 0 Used Space and 0 Free Space Corrupted Hard Drive?
When your hard drive suddenly shows you 0 used space and 0 free space well it can be alarming for you as in many cases the drive is not empty however it is simply unreadable due to file system corruption, partition errors or hardware issues. So in this guide I will explain to you how to fix 0 used space and 0 free space corrupted hard drive safely using practical, professional and risk free methods. All solutions shared here are actually tested and suitable for both beginners and advanced admin professionals.
Table of Contents:
Why Hard Drive Show 0 Used Space and 0 Free Space?
Before we start fixing this issue and applying any internal and external hard drive 0 bytes fix it is important for you to understand what actually causes it.
Many users notice that their external hard drive shows 0 bytes or suddenly displays 0 used space and 0 free space even though it previously contained data. In most of the cases this does not mean your files are deleted but it simply means Windows is unable to read the file system or partition structure properly.
When a hard drive shows 0 used space and 0 free space it means your data is still exist inside the drive but it remains completely inaccessible due to the logical corruption or because of the partition errors. This issue can appear on internal HDDs, SSDs, USB drives and even external backup drives.
Sometimes users also report that their hard drive shows 0 bytes in Diskpart or Disk Management which simply confirms that their system is not able to detect the correct storage structure.
Now it is important to understand the real problems behind this error.
You may also interested to know How to Fix Files Missing From External Hard Drive but still taking space in Windows.
Common Reasons Why Hard Drive Shows 0 Bytes Error
1. File System Corruption
Sudden power failure, unsafe removal or system crash can corrupt the NTFS/FAT file system and make the drive unreadable. This is one of the most common reasons why your external hard drive shows 0 bytes or appears empty even though data still exists in it.
2. Virus or Malware Attack
Malware can hide files, damage the partition table or also corrupt the storage structure. In such cases the system may display incorrect storage information and display a zero size.
3. Bad Sectors on Hard Drive
Physical damage, aging hardware or overheating can create bad sectors and when critical sectors are affected Windows cannot read stored information and may display the drive as empty or inaccessible error.
4. Partition Table Damage
If the partition structure becomes corrupted now Windows will fail to calculate used and free space correctly. This results in the hard disk appearing blank, unallocated or showing you 0 bytes capacity.
5. RAW Drive Issue
Sometimes your drive automatically becomes RAW instead of NTFS or FAT32 and when this happens your system cannot read file system data and shows 0 used and 0 free space and yes this issue is very common in both internal and external drives.
6. Sudden Removal
Well many of you are not completely aware that removing your drive without safely ejecting it can interrupt read and write operations and also corrupt your file system. This will result in detection problems and incorrect storage calculations.
First Check Is Your Data Still There?
Before applying any fixes you need to confirm whether your data still exists or not and for this you just need to follow our quick checks.
- Reconnect hard drive to another USB port
- Try connecting to another computer
- Check Disk Management
- Check BIOS detection
So if the drive is detected but shows you 0 used space and 0 free space your data is likely recoverable.
Things to Remember Before Fixing 0 Bytes Hard Drive
| Precaution | Why It Matters |
|---|---|
| Do not format the drive immediately | Formatting can permanently erase recoverable data from the corrupted drive. |
| You should Avoid copying new files into the drive | New data will overwrite your existing lost files. |
| Ignore multiple repair tools | This can cause further file system damage or conflicts. |
| Use read only recovery approach first | A safe scan helps you recover data without modifying the original drive. |
| Always recover data before formatting | Once formatted complete data recovery becomes difficult. |
Methods to Fix 0 Used Space and 0 Free Space Corrupted Hard Drive
You can fix this issue with the help of our proven solution as these methods are tried and tested and after using these methods many users have successfully fix their issues.
Method 1: Check Hard Drive in Disk Management
The first step for you to fix 0 used space and 0 free space corrupted hard drive issue is checking disk status and for this you just need to follow the simple steps mentioned below:-
- Press Win + X and go to Disk Management
- Locate your hard drive
- Check status:
- RAW
- Unallocated
- No drive letter
- Healthy but showing 0 bytes
Now What to Do?
If you find that your drive has no letter:-
- Right click → Change Drive Letter → Assign new letter
And if drive shows RAW:-
- Do not format immediately
- Try recovery methods first
Method 2: Run CHKDSK Command
This is useful when your drive is accessible. Now if your drive is visible and not RAW using CHKDSK can repair logical file system errors. You can follow instructions to use this method.
- Open Command Prompt as Admin
- And Type The Following:
chkdsk X: /f /r
(Replace X with drive letter)
- Now Press Enter and Wait
This method helps you repair your
- File system errors
- Bad sectors
- Directory corruption
If this method is successful well the hard disk showing 0 bytes free problem may get fixed.
Method 3: Update or Reinstall Disk Drivers
Sometimes Windows cannot read storage devices due to outdated drivers so updating or reinstalling can be the ideal choice to fix this issue and for this you need to:-
- Open Device Manager
- Expand Disk Drives
- Right click hard drive → Update Driver
- And Restart your system
You can also uninstall the driver and you can restart to auto reinstall.
This can fix your 2 errors:-
- Hard drive showing 0 bytes used on your computer
- External drive not reading correctly
Method 4: Fix Using Diskpart Command
If the partition in your system is hidden or inactive the Diskpart may help you out.
- Open Command Prompt as Admin
- And Type
diskpart
list disk
select disk 1
list volume
- Check if volume exists but inactive
- Assign letter:
assign letter=E
This method can restore complete access if the partition exists but it is not mounted.
Method 5: Check for Bad Sectors
Bad sectors can cause hard disk with 0 bytes free on an NTFS drive issue so you can use built in Windows scan:-
- Right click drive → Properties
- Tools → Error Checking
- Scan drive
If you see many bad sectors appear well the drive health may be failing.
What to Do When Manual Methods Fail?
Now the big question is what to do when all manual methods fail? So if all manual solutions fail it simply means:-
- File system severely corrupted
- Partition table damaged
- Drive turned RAW
- Bad sector damage high
To be honest in such cases only a professional recovery approach will work as manual methods cannot rebuild your deeply corrupted file systems.
Safe Solution to Fix 0 Used Space and 0 Free Space Corrupted Hard Drive
At this stage when manual fixes fail or the drive shows RAW/unallocated space well the smart decision is to use the DataHelp Hard Drive Data Recovery Software to safely recover data to another location without formatting or risking permanent loss.
How to Use DataHelp HDD Recovery Software
- Download and Install the Software
- Scan corrupted drive deeply
- Rebuild file system structure
- Locate hidden/lost files
- Preview all recoverable items
- Recover data safely to new location
This is the safest way to fix 0 used space and 0 free space corrupted hard drive without permanent data loss.
How to Prevent This Issue in Future?
Now after fixing the problem you must ensure it never happens again by following the expert prevention tips.
- Always eject external drives safely
- Use antivirus protection
- Avoid sudden power shutdown
- Regularly backup important data
- Monitor hard drive health
- Replace old failing drives
And yes regular backup is the only guaranteed protection of your valuable data.
Hard Drive Shows 0 Bytes – FAQs
Q1. Why does my hard drive show 0 bytes used and 0 bytes free?
Well this usually happens due to file system corruption or RAW drive issue and partition damage where Windows is not able to read storage structure.
Q2. Can I fix a corrupted hard drive without formatting?
Yes you can fix it using CHKDSK, Disk Management or using DataHelp professional recovery tools that can fix this issue without formatting and losing your data.
Q3. Is data lost when the hard drive shows 0 bytes?
Not every time this means your data is lost however in most of the cases your data still exists but it is hidden due to corruption and can be recovered safely if you act quickly and use the right approach.
Q4. Should I format hard drive showing 0 bytes?
No – you should only format after you recover your data as formatting first may permanently erase your recoverable files and later you can not recover it easily.
Final Verdict
Facing a drive that shows 0 used space and 0 free space does not always mean your data is gone however it usually indicates file system or partition corruption that prevents Windows from reading the drive properly.
By following the safe suggested methods explained above in this article – you can solve how to fix 0 used space and 0 free space corrupted hard drive issue without risking your important files. You can start with manual checks and then move to professional recovery if needed. And the key rule is Recover your valuable data first.
