Location is Not Available on Windows: How to Fix It?

Last Updated Date: 4, Dec 2023

“Location is not available” and “F:\ is not accessible. Access is denied.” Many Windows users have encountered this problem. It’s a common Windows error that may lead you cannot access your files or fail to open them. Don’t be upset. This article has gathered comprehensive solutions to help you fix it and have a full understanding of the Location is not available error.

What is a location not available and why?

That error message occurring is related to your corrupted drive or something wrong with your computer. Normally, there are various reasons that cause this error in many scenarios. 

Scenario 1: The volume does not contain a recognized file system

Location is not available. The volume does not contain a recognized file system. Please make sure that all required file system drivers are loaded and that the volume is not corrupted.

A possible reason for this error message to appear is that Windows does not recognize the RAW file system. Therefore, the user is not allowed to access it.

What’s more, The volume does not contain a recognized file system error message, which usually occurs when the records that determine the type or location of the file system on the disk drive are damaged or corrupted, usually as a result of partition corruption.

Scenario 2：The parameter is incorrect

Location is not available. The parameter is incorrect.

Possible reasons for why location is not available:

Unplug the removable drive directly without ejection

Forcibly removing an external hard disk may damage or even destroy the partition’s boot record, resulting in parameter errors. Please use the Safely Remove Hardware and Eject Media options to eject the external hard drive first.

USB port damage

Bad or corrupted USB ports can lead to parameter errors.

Bad sectors on the hard disk drive

Bad sectors can make the hard disk drive inaccessible.

File system errors

The file system is responsible for managing the data on the partitions. If the file system is broken and corrupted, you may not be able to access the file on the hard drive.

Virus infection

Virus infections create many kinds of problems for the computer, including making you unable to access your file or a file loss.

Scenario 3: Access is denied

Location is not available. Access is denied.

Possible reasons for this error message are many, including virus infection, incorrect operation, partition corruption, etc.

Scenario 4: The file or directory is corrupted and unreadable

Location is not available. The file or directory is corrupted and unreadable.

Possible reasons for this error could be: 

MFT or FAT corruption

If the file, folder, MFT (Master File Table), FAT (File Allocation Table), or USB drive gets damaged for certain reasons, this error message will appear.

Virus infection

Unplug the removable drive directly without ejection

Bad sectors 

Bad sector is another reason why partitions are unreadable. A bad sector is a sector that can no longer be accessed or written to due to permanent damage. Partition information, such as the file system, is stored in a specific location. If that location contains bad sectors, then the operating system will fail to access the file.

Scenario 5: Desktop blank and apps deleted

Location is not available. Desktop blank and apps deleted.

Desktop refers to a location that is unavailable means that a file path is missing from your system, causing your computer not to boot up properly.

Possible reason for this error message that is usually occurs after a computer installs a corrupt Windows update or a sudden system crashes. And virus infection, etc.

Scenario 6: Data error (cyclic redundancy check)

Location is not available. Data error (cyclic redundancy check)

Possible reasons: 

Virus and malware

Incorrectly installed apps

System crashes

Corrupt files

Important files are deleted from Registry

Faulty Windows updates

Scenario 7: The username or password is incorrect

Location is not available. The username or password is incorrect

This error message often appears when you use NAS (Network Attached Storage) due to the virus/malware infecting or the drive being encrypted.

Scenario 8: This file is currently not available for use on this computer

Location is not available. This file is currently not available for use on this computer

Possible reasons:

File corruption

Format the file

System bug

How to fix the location not available in Windows 10/11?

Scenarios	Solutions
Scenario 1	Run SFC, Scan Drive for Errors, Run cmd, Scan for Viruses
Scenario 2	Run SFC, Scan Drive for Errors, Run cmd, Scan for Viruses, Check the Decimal Symbol Settings, Update the Operating System
Scenario 3	Take Full Control of the Folder, Take the Ownership of the Inaccessible Drive, Run cmd, Restore the system to the previous point
Scenario 4	Run SFC, Run cmd, Scan Drive for Errors, Scan for Viruses, Format the disk drive
Scenario 5	Format the disk drive, Take Full Control of the Folder, Restart the File Explorer, Add Desktop Location to Registry, Restore Default Desktop Settings
Scenario 6	Run SFC, Run cmd, Scan Drive for Errors, Format the disk drive, Scan for Viruses
Scenario 7	Update the Operating System, Scan for Viruses
Scenario 8	Run SFC, Run cmd, Scan Drive for Errors, Scan for Viruses, Format the disk drive

Scan Drive for Errors

If there is any damage to the hard disk, we can scan it to check and repair it. Below are the steps.

1. Open File Explorer > go to This PC.
2. Right-click the drive with which you encounter the error > click Properties. 

3. Go to Tools > click Check. 

4. Click Scan drive.

This method will help you check errors and corruption on the drive. When the procedures are done, go back to This PC to check if the error is fixed.

Take Full Control of the Folder

Insufficient permissions can cause a “Location is not available” error in Windows when accessing the drive, accompanied by an “Access is denied” message. In order to resolve this issue, you need to get full control over the problem drive in the system. Below are the steps involved.

1. Right-click on the folder with the error > select Properties.

2. Click on the Security tab > select the Username you want to grant access.
3. Click on the Edit button to change permission.

4. Enable the Full Control option > click Apply and OK.
5. Restart computer and check if this error still exists.

Take the Ownership of the Inaccessible Drive

If you don’t have access to the hard disk, you won’t be able to access your files. So you may receive the location is not available error message. So. to access the hard disk, you should get the ownership of the hard disk.

1. Right-click on the inaccessible hard drive > choose Properties.
2. Click Security > Advanced > click the Owner tab.

3. Click Change > in the Enter the object name to select section, enter Administrators, or enter your user name. 
4. Click the Check Names. If all goes well, the input will change > Click “OK” to save changes.

5. The owner section will now change > Check Replace owner on sub containers and objects and click Apply and OK to save changes. 

Perform a Command Line Check For Corrupted System Files

Some of the system files on the computer may be corrupted or missing when this error happens to your drive. In this case, there are two ways we can scan the system to have a check for the computer:

1. Run an SFC (System File Checker) scan followed by a DISM (Deployment Image Service and Management) scan to repair any corrupted system files.

2. Run cmd to check.

Run SFC (System File Checker) Command:

1. Right-click the Start icon > select Terminal (Admin) from the resulting menu.

2. Select Yes when the User Account Control prompt appears.

3. Type SFC /scannow in the console > press Enter.

4. Entering the following commands one by one > press Enter.

DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /CheckHealth

DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth

DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

5. Restart the computer after the whole procedure ends > check if the error still exists.

Run cmd to check:

1. Type cmd in the search bar on the  start menu > click Run as the administrator.

2. Thye chkdsk c:/f/r/x in the window (The letter C refers to the drive letter you want to repair.) > press Enter.

3. Restart the computer after the whole procedure ends > check if the error still exists.

Restore Default Desktop Settings

1. Go to This PC > select the C drive ( your system drive.)
2. Right-click on the blank space > click Properties.
3. Choose the Location tab > click Restore Default.

4. After all this ends, restart your computer to check if this error is resolved.

Add Desktop Location to Registry

1. Run command prompt as administrator.
2. Type regedit > press enter.
3. Go to the following path: 

HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion \Explorer\User Shell Folders

4. Double-click on Desktop.

5. Type the following and press enter:

%USERPROFILE% \Desktop or 

C:\Users\%USERNAME%\Desktop

6. Restart your computer to check if this error is fiexed.

Restart the File Explorer 

1. Right-click on the Windows icon > Task Manage.
2. Right-click Windows Explorer > select End task to end the process.

3. Right-click the File at the top left of the Task Manager > select the Run new task.

4. Type explorer.exe  in the bar > press Enter to open the File Explorer.

Tip: Performing these steps will reset and troubleshoot the issues with the File Explorer, and it could fix the file with the location is not available error.

Restore the system to the previous point

1. Type System Restore in the search bar on the start menu > select Create a restore point from the search results.
2. Check if the Available Drives protection settings are shown as On > click the System Restore button > click on Next.

3. Select the restore point you want to restore your device from the list and click Next.

4. Select Finish from the new window > click Yes on the pop-up confirmation window to confirm your selection.
5. Wait to restart your computer.

Restoring your computer will reverse all settings errors that could affect the user file and folder to the previous point so that you can access your folder or file again.

Scan for Viruses

1. Type Windows Security in the search bar on the start menu. > click it.

2. Click Virus & Threat Protection.

3. Click Scan options.

4. Select Full scan, then click Scan now.

While removing the virus now will not save the files, this method ensures that the problem will not recur after it is fixed through one of a number of listed methods.

Change Decimal Symbol Settings

If the decimal symbol is not set to “.”, the computer may show parameter is incorrect message. Here are hot to change the settings:

1. Press Windows key + R > type intl.cpl and Press ENTER.

2. Click Additional settings.

3. Make sure the decimal symbol is a period > Click Apply and OK.

Update the Operating System

Updating Windows includes bug fixes and compatibility patches. So, it is possible that an update could resolve this location is not available issue.

1. Type Check for updates in the search bar on the start menu.

2. Click Check for updates.

3. Windows will automatically start downloading and installing the required updates.

Format the disk drive

Formatting the hard disk is the last solution. Although it will fix the problem, it will wipe the files from your computer.

1. Select the partition icon from My Computer > right-click and select the Format option.

2. Change the drive’s file system (usually NTFS) > Make the appropriate selections and click the Start button.

3. Click OK. > wait a while to format the drive.

After Fixing – Recover The Data From Inaccessible Hard

User Zeekei21 asked a question in Microsoft Community, which is “Location is not available” problem. How do I recover my files?” Indeed, files could get lost at any time when trying to solve your location not available problem. The most effective way to recover lost files is to use third-party software, such as ONERECOVERY. It’s a reliable, fast, smooth, and comprehensive data recovery software in 2023. ONERECOVERY can recover any type of data for both Mac and Windows. Let’s have a quick look at how to use it.

1. Launch it and choose the location to scan files.

2. Preview the scan results and select the file you want to recover.

3. Save the file to a new place.

Conclusion

We hope that the above methods can have an effective solution to the problems in the eight scenarios. But don’t forget that any file loss caused by location is not available and can be retrieved using ONERECOVERY.