“Location is not available” is a long-standing Windows error. In one of its most common forms, the pop-up appears as soon as the computer starts up.
Errors like this can have a logical or a physical cause, and repeated repair attempts can make things worse. If the files matter, see how hard drive data recovery works, starting with a free diagnosis.
It often shows up right after users upgrade to a new version of Windows, although that is not always the case.
When the error points to the Desktop folder, much of Windows stops responding: you may not be able to click the Start button, use Windows Search or click on the taskbar, among other things.
As a result, you may also be unable to open, edit, copy or otherwise work with the files stored on your PC.
In other words, this is a serious problem, which is why so many users look for a quick way to fix the “location is not available” error.
Why does Windows say “location is not available”?
The causes vary, but the error is most often linked to incorrect permissions on a folder or drive. These can be changed by an administrator, by a Windows update or by malware on the PC. It can also be caused by file system corruption or a failing drive, as explained below.
Situations in which the “location is not available” error can occur
The “location is not available” error comes in several variations, and several different situations can trigger it.
Here are the most common ones:
The volume does not contain a recognized file system
When you try to open a drive in Windows (or an external device such as an external hard drive, a USB flash drive or an SD card), you may get the “location is not available” error together with this message.
Windows then suggests that you make sure all the required file system drivers are loaded and that the volume is not corrupted.
The most likely cause is that the drive has become RAW, meaning Windows can no longer recognize its file system.
Because Windows cannot identify the file system, it cannot open the drive. This usually happens when the structures that tell the system what type of file system the disk uses and where it is located are damaged (typically the partition table or the boot sector), which can be caused by improper removal, power loss or bad sectors. In this situation, do not format the drive or run repairs before recovering your data: use a data recovery program or contact a lab.
The parameter is incorrect
This variation can appear if a removable drive was unplugged without being ejected, if there is a problem with the USB port, if the hard drive has bad sectors or if the file system is damaged.
Formatting the drive usually makes it usable again, but it should be your last resort, not your first step.
Formatting erases all the data on the drive. If you don’t have an up-to-date backup, recover your files first with data recovery software or a professional service, and only then format. If the drive has bad sectors, formatting will not fix the hardware and the problem is likely to come back.
Once your data is safe, follow these steps to format the drive:
- Right-click on “This PC” (“My Computer” in older versions of Windows)
- Choose “Manage” > “Disk Management”
- Right-click on the affected drive and select “Format”
- Choose NTFS as the file system (or exFAT for a flash drive or memory card you also use on other devices)
- Click “OK” and confirm the warning in the pop-up window to complete the process.
Access denied
When the “location is not available” message is accompanied by “access is denied”, the cause can be a permissions problem, malware or a corrupted drive, among other things.
The file or folder is corrupted and unreadable
The “location is not available” error can also be caused by a corrupted file or folder that Windows cannot open.
This can happen when the Master File Table (MFT) or the File Allocation Table (FAT) is damaged. These structures tell the operating system where each file is stored.
When the MFT or FAT is corrupted, the system cannot access the data on NTFS or FAT partitions.
This corruption can be the result of a virus or malware attack, physical damage to the drive, or removing a USB device without using the “Safely Remove Hardware” option.
CRC error
A cyclic redundancy check (CRC) is a verification method the computer uses to check the integrity of the data read from storage devices (hard drives, optical discs such as CDs and DVDs, and so on).
The CRC detects accidental changes to the raw data stored on the device.
A CRC error means that the data read from the device does not match what was written. It is usually caused by unreadable or bad sectors on a failing drive, damaged media, or a faulty cable or connection, and less often by file system corruption. If you get CRC errors on a drive with important data, stop using it and avoid repeated read attempts or repair tools, because each attempt can make a failing drive worse.
The specified network name is no longer available
This error usually occurs when you try to access a network share and the device does not support the version of Server Message Block (SMB) being used. SMB is the file sharing protocol used on Windows networks.
Its main purpose is to let computers access files stored on another computer or device on the network.
The computer that stores the files needs to have SMB enabled, and the PC accessing them needs to support the same protocol.
If the two systems do not share a supported SMB version (for example, if one only supports the older SMBv1, which is disabled in recent versions of Windows), errors can occur.
The error can also appear when access to the network share is blocked or interrupted by antivirus or firewall software.
Antivirus software, firewalls and other network problems can all interfere with SMB file transfers.
6 ways to fix the “location is not available” error
There are several ways to fix the “location is not available” error. Here are six of them. If the drive holds important data and shows signs of physical failure (clicking, slowness, disconnections), recover the data before trying any repair.
Solution 1: start Windows in Safe Mode with Networking
If you can’t use Windows normally or open File Explorer, start in Safe Mode first.
If you can open File Explorer, skip this step.
- Restart Windows and wait for the sign-in screen
- Hold down the “Shift” key and click the “Power” button
- Keep holding “Shift” and click “Restart”
- When the PC restarts, choose “Troubleshoot” > “Advanced options” > “Startup Settings” and click “Restart”
- In Startup Settings, choose option 5 or press “F5” to start in Safe Mode with Networking.
Solution 2: give yourself full control of the folder
You can also try to fix the error by giving your account full control of the folder. To do this:
- Go to the folder that is causing the problem, for example C:\Windows\System32\config\systemprofile
- Right-click on it and select “Properties”
- Open the “Security” tab
- If your username is in the list, click on it to select it (if it isn’t, go to “Edit” > “Add…”, type your username, click “Check Names”, select your username and click “OK”)
- Click “Edit”
- Under “Permissions”, make sure “Full control” is allowed
- Click “OK”.
Windows will show a message and apply the permissions to the folder and its subfolders.
When it finishes, click “OK” in all the windows and try to open the location again. Change permissions on system folders only when necessary, and only on the folder named in the error message.
Solution 3: take ownership of the folder or drive causing the error
If you don’t have permission to access the hard drive, Windows will deny you access, and you may also see the “location is not available” error.
To access the drive, you need to take ownership of it. Here’s how:
- Right-click on the inaccessible drive and choose “Properties”
- Click “Security” > “Advanced” and find the “Owner” field
- Click “Change”. In the “Enter the object name to select” field, type “Administrators” or your username and click “Check Names”. If the name is found, it will be underlined. Click “OK”
- The owner will now be updated. Check “Replace owner on subcontainers and objects” (and, if needed, “Replace all child object permission entries”), then click “Apply” and “OK” to save the changes.
Solution 4: add permissions for Authenticated Users
Giving the “Authenticated Users” group access to the folder or drive can also fix the error. Follow these steps:
- Right-click on the folder or drive and choose “Properties”
- Open the “Security” tab and click “Edit”
- Click “Add” and add “Authenticated Users”
- Under “Permissions”, check “Full control” and click “OK”.
Solution 5: run CHKDSK from the Command Prompt
This option can help when the error is caused by file system or folder errors, lost clusters or cross-linked files. If you suspect bad sectors or physical damage, copy or recover your data first: CHKDSK writes to the drive and, on a failing disk, its long surface scan can make the damage worse and lead to data loss.
CHKDSK fixes file system errors and marks bad sectors so that they are no longer used.
To run it:
- Press the “Windows” key and type
cmd - Right-click on “Command Prompt” and choose “Run as administrator”
- Type
chkdsk E: /fand press Enter (replace “E” with the letter of the drive you want to fix). Only add/r(bad sector scan) if your data is already backed up. - When it finishes, close the window and try to open the drive again.
The command checks the drive and shows what it finds (file system errors, bad sectors and other information) in the window. It then tries to fix the errors.
Solution 6: use System Restore
If none of the above works, try System Restore. Programs and drivers installed after the restore point may be removed, but your personal files are not affected.
To use this option:
- Type “Create a restore point” in Windows Search and press “Enter”
- Open the “System Protection” tab
- Click “System Restore” and then “Next”
- Check “Show more restore points”
- Select a restore point and click “Next”, then “Finish”.
Read next
Conclusion
The “location is not available” error is very common and can have several causes, such as incorrect permissions, a corrupted file system, bad sectors or improper use of the drive.
It can come with different messages, such as “The volume does not contain a recognized file system”, “The parameter is incorrect” or “Access is denied”.
Other variations include “The file or directory is corrupted and unreadable”, a CRC error and “The specified network name is no longer available”.
There are several ways to fix it, such as starting in Safe Mode with Networking, giving yourself full control of the folder or taking ownership of the folder or drive causing the error.
You can also add permissions for Authenticated Users, run CHKDSK from the Command Prompt or use System Restore.
Formatting the drive is another option, but it erases all the data on it, so only do it after your files are safe.
If you have already formatted the drive or lost data, turn to a specialized company for a safe, professional recovery.
Bot is one such company: we recover data every day quickly, safely and efficiently.
Our highly trained team will analyze your device and work to recover your data without compromising the integrity of your drive.
We work in a Class 100 (ISO 5) cleanroom, a particle-controlled environment, so that drives can be opened and handled safely.
We also offer free collection of your device (islands not included), so the whole process is as convenient as possible.
If you have any questions, get in touch with us: we offer 24/7 support and we’ll be happy to help.
Don’t waste time: start your recovery with us. We have already handled more than 200,000 cases.
