Fix 'the Parameter Is Incorrect' Error on External Hard Drive [2025 Guide]

Have you ever received a 'the Parameter Is Incorrect' error on your hard drive? This is a Windows issue that can occur with various storage devices, including USBs, SD cards, and internal or external hard disks.

When you connect the affected drive to your computer, it appears in Windows File Explorer as usual, but you're unable to access the files stored on it. If you've come across this error, don't worry, though. This guide will explain to you why this error occurs and provide 6 effective solutions to turn your external drive back to normal.

Causes of 'the Parameter Is Incorrect' Error on External Hard Drive

Facing this issue is incredibly stressful for those with limited computer experience. When it occurs, you may receive the warning message: 'Location is not available. X:\ is not accessible. The parameter is incorrect (as shown in the image below).

Before rushing to search 'the parameter is incorrect external hard drive' on Google, let's take a moment to understand the common reasons behind this error:

• Your drive has bad sectors or a corrupted file system.
• Problems with USB cables or ports.
• Your disk is failing because of physical damage.
• Outdated or corrupted device drivers.
• Virus or malware infection.

Recover Data Before Fixing the Parameter Is Incorrect Error

On technical forums, many Windows users have reported losing important files after fixing the 'The parameter is incorrect' error. If you are concerned about data loss, tools like Tenorshare 4DDiG can help. It's a powerful data recovery software that allows you to recover data from formatted, inaccessible, logically damaged, or RAW drives. 4DDiG also handle multiple file systems well, including FAT16, FAT32, exFAT, NTFS, and more. Here's more information about this tool:

• Industry-leading success rate.
• Capable of recovering various data types, such as photos, videos, and documents.
• Supports retrieving files from HDDs, SSDs, USB drives, etc.
• Offers Windows users a free trial.
• No technical background is required.

Following the given steps to recover data from your affected drive:?

Step 1: To begin, download and install 4DDiG Windows Data Recovery on your computer. Launch the tool, connect the problematic drive, and then select it.

Step 2: Tenorshare 4DDiG will perform a deep scan of the selected disk to search for missing data, and you can stop the scan at any time once you've found the desired files.

Step 3. Preview the files you need. If you are satisfied with the results, select the target files and click the "Recover" button. To avoid data overwriting, it's best to save them to cloud storage rather than the original drive.

How Do I Fix 'the Parameter Is Incorrect' Error on Windows 10/11?

Option A: Check the Hard Drive Connection

When you get the error message 'drive is not accessible the parameter is incorrect', the first thing to do is check if the physical connection between your devices is stable. Here are some steps you should take:

• Make certain that the USB cable is not frayed, bent, or damaged.
• Restart your computer, unplug, and replug the problematic drive.
• Try plugging the external device into a different USB port, especially one on the back of the motherboard.
• Test the unreadable drive on a friend's or family member's computer. If it works, the issue is likely with your PC or its USB ports.

Option B: Run CHKDSK on Your Drive

Windows offers a powerful utility that scans and attempts to fix disk-related issues, including the 'The parameter is incorrect' error. If you're not comfortable with command-line tools, don't worry as you can run it directly from File Explorer:

Step 1. Open File Explorer. Then, right-click the drive you want to check for errors. Next, pick "Properties."

Step 2. In the Tools tab, click on the "Check" button.

Step 3. Click "Scan drive" to proceed.

Option C: Run Windows Defender to Scan for Malware

Malware infection is a common cause of the 'parameter is incorrect' error when trying to access your external hard drive. Windows Defender is a reliable antivirus program that comes pre-installed with Windows, so you don't need to download or install anything extra to run a virus scan.

Step 1. Click the Windows button, type "Security", and select "Windows Security" from the results.

Step 2. Click on the "Virus & Threat Protection" option from the left-hand menu. Next, tap "Scan options."

Step 3. Select "Custom scan" followed by clicking "Scan now."

Step 4. Navigate to and select your external drive. Finally, click "Select Folder" to initiate the scanning process.

Step 5. Follow on-screen instructions to handle detected threats, if any.

Option D: Assign a New Drive Letter

One potential solution for the 'Parameter Is Incorrect' error on Windows 10/11 is to reassign a drive letter to your disc. To do so:

Step 1. Press Win + X on your keyboard and select "Disk Management" from the menu.

Step 2. Right-click on the partition of your inaccessible drive. Then, pick "Select Change Drive Letter and Paths."

Step 3. Click "Change" button, and then choose an unique letter from the drop-down list. Hit the "OK" button to confirm the changes.

Option E: Run an SFC Scan

With the help of System File Checker, the question "How to fix the parameter is incorrect Windows 10/11" won't fill you with dread. It's a built-in Windows tool that can replace corrupted or missing system files in minutes. Here's how you use it:

Step 1. Type "Command Prompt" in the Taskbar search box. Then, right-click on the CMD app and select "Run as Administrator".

Step 2. Input the "sfc /scannow" command and hit Enter.

Step 3. Once completed, reboot your PC and check if the problem is gone.

Step 3. If this method doesn't work for your case, open CMD and run the 'DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /scanhealth' command.

Option F: Format the Drive

Formatting is your last bet if the error message 'drive is not accessible the parameter is incorrect' persists, but be aware that this drastic method may result in permanent data loss. We don't recommend formatting a corrupted hard drive, as it can make recovery much harder or even impossible.

Step 1. Begin with connecting your portable storage device to the computer. Then, locate it in File Explorer.

Step 2. Right-click on the affected drive and choose the "Format" option.

Step 3. Select a proper file system for your disk, check the "Quick Format" option, and then click the "OK" button.

Conclusion

So, there you have it: that's everything related to the 'The parameter is incorrect' error on external hard drive and how to fix it. There are several reasons behind this issue, and the common ones include file system corruption, physical damage, and drive letter conflicts.

It's best to try the solutions outlined in this article one by one to see which works best for your situation. In addition, free data recovery tools like Tenorshare 4DDiG can help you quickly and easily recover lost data during troubleshooting.