File or directory is corrupted and unreadable?

[3NCRYPT3D]

This is an issue I have for just simply opening Steam, I click on the application and it comes up with a windows error saying 'C:/Program Files (x86)/Steam/Steam.exe
File or directory is corrupted and unreadable.' And I then can't enter the application. I tried to open CSGO directly too, and it came up with 'steam:/rungameid/730/
The file or directory is corrupted and unreadable.' Anyone know how I can fix this? I've tried restarting my computer and several other methods, nothing seems to work.

[Viper]

Is it on a different drive than your OS. Are you sure that HDD is actually functional. This sounds a lot like HD failure.

[3NCRYPT3D]

It's on the C: drive of my OS, not sure 100% about whether my HDD is functioning, just checking now.

[Viper]

The reason I asked is I was curious as to whether it was the drive you are running your OS off of since your OS seems to be functional. Might be a good idea to check for Malware. MalwareBytes is a good free program to do this.

[3NCRYPT3D]

Originally posted by Viper:

The reason I asked is I was curious as to whether it was the drive you are running your OS off of since your OS seems to be functional. Might be a good idea to check for Malware. MalwareBytes is a good free program to do this.

Don't think it has anything to do with Malware, I've scanned my systems several times and everything appears fine. Also some of my other apps also located in Program Files work just fine, it's just the Steam client.

[Viper]

That is very strange all right. If some programs are working on that HDD. Although HDD failure is still apossibility it is less likely. I would do a checkdsk C: /F to verify the partition integrity. If that does not fix it you might have to reinstall Steam.

[3NCRYPT3D]

Originally posted by Viper:

That is very strange all right. If some programs are working on that HDD. Although HDD failure is still apossibility it is less likely. I would do a checkdsk C: /F to verify the partition integrity. If that does not fix it you might have to reinstall Steam.

Yeah, that was my first method of fixing it. Got me nowhere. So how would I go about uninstalling steam? I have skins for CSGO (cheap ones sadly) and also I don't want to lose games.

[Viper]

You won't lose your games or skins. Those are stored in your account on Steam Databases. If the entire directory is toasted however you might have to reinstall everything. Do you have more than one partition. If so I would try copying your game directory from it to the other partition and then you can copy it back later to see if it is functional.

[3NCRYPT3D]

Originally posted by Viper:

You won't lose your games or skins. Those are stored in your account on Steam Databases. If the entire directory is toasted however you might have to reinstall everything. Do you have more than one partition. If so I would try copying my game directory from it to the other partition and then you can copy it back later to see if it is functional.

As I can't even open steam client or games, think I'll just delete everything. Thanks anyway though.

[Bad 💀 Motha]

Make new folder C:\Steam
Copy Steam.exe from old folder into here.
Go to C:\Steam right click Steam.exe and click Run As Admin
There now Steam Client is reinstalled fresh again.

Now re-check all the Settings within Steam Client
namely the Steam Library Folder under the Downloads section in Settings
Change the Steam Library Folder to reflect C:\SteamLibrary
Once completed, exit Steam Client fully

Navigate to C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam
and move folder SteamApps to C:\SteamLibrary

Move the UserData folder to C:\Steam and over-write it

Now relaunch C:\Steam\Steam.exe (make a new shortcut on Desktop, then right click that and click Run As Admin)

Click a game such as CSGO and click Install; make sure it is going to C:\SteamLibrary
Wait for validate to complete.
Continue to do this for any game you now have present within C:\SteamLibrary\Steamapps\Common

[3NCRYPT3D]

Originally posted by Bad_Motha:

Make new folder C:\Steam
Copy Steam.exe from old folder into here.
Go to C:\Steam right click Steam.exe and click Run As Admin
There now Steam Client is reinstalled fresh again.

Now re-check all the Settings within Steam Client
namely the Steam Library Folder under the Downloads section in Settings
Change the Steam Library Folder to reflect C:\SteamLibrary
Once completed, exit Steam Client fully

Navigate to C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam
and move folder SteamApps to C:\SteamLibrary

Move the UserData folder to C:\Steam and over-write it

Now relaunch C:\Steam\Steam.exe (make a new shortcut on Desktop, then right click that and click Run As Admin)

Click a game such as CSGO and click Install; make sure it is going to C:\SteamLibrary
Wait for validate to complete.
Continue to do this for any game you now have present within C:\SteamLibrary\Steamapps\Common

Thanks, but my Hard drive got ♥♥♥♥♥♥. Bye old laptop lol