Fix Error 0x80071ac3 | Error 0x80071ac3 ‘The Volume is Dirty’ | How to Avoid Error 0x80071ac3: The Volume is Dirty in the Future? | How to Fix Error 0x80071ac3: The Volume is Dirty?
If you ever tried to copy some files to an external drive, such as a USB flash drive, an SD card, or a hard disk, you might have encountered the “Error 0x80071AC3:The Volume is Dirty“. This error message usually pops up when Windows is unable to access the drive’s volume, and it prevents you from editing or deleting any data on it. In this article, I will explain what causes this error, how to fix it, and how to avoid it in the future.
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Fix Error 0x80071ac3 ‘The Volume is Dirty’
What Causes Error 0x80071AC3: The Volume is Dirty?
“Error 0x80071ac3: The Volume is Dirty” is related to the dirty bit, which is a flag that the operating system uses to mark a drive as dirty or clean. A dirty drive means that there are some problems with the file system, such as bad sectors, corrupted files, or incomplete operations. A clean drive means that everything is fine and no errors are detected.
There are several reasons why a drive can become dirty, such as:
- Removing the drive without safely ejecting it
- Power outages or surges that interrupt the data transfer
- Faulty or outdated drivers for the device
- Physical damage to the drive or the cables
- Wear and tear of the drive over time
When a drive is dirty, Windows will try to run a check disk (chkdsk) program to scan and fix the errors. However, sometimes this process may fail or get stuck, leaving the drive in a dirty state. This is when you will see the “Error 0x80071AC3: The Volume is Dirty”.
Also Read: How To Fix Error Code 0x80004005 Windows 10/11
How to Fix Error 0x80071ac3: The Volume is Dirty?
There are several methods that you can try to fix error 0x80071ac3 and make your drive accessible again. Here are some of the most common and effective ones:
Method 1: Run CHKDSK Manually
CHKDSK is a built-in tool that Windows uses to check and repair disk errors. You can run it manually from the Command Prompt or from a third-party software. Here are the steps to run CHKDSK from the Command Prompt:
- Press Windows + R to open the Run dialog box
- Type cmd and press Enter to open the Command Prompt
- Type chkdsk [drive letter]: /f /r /x and press Enter to execute the command
The /f parameter tells CHKDSK to fix the errors that it finds, the /r parameter tells it to recover the data from the bad sectors, and the /x parameter tells it to force the drive to dismount before scanning. For example, if your drive letter is E, you would type chkdsk E: /f /r /x.
Wait for the process to complete and then restart your computer. Check if the error is gone and if you can access your drive normally.
Method 2: Disable ReadyBoost
ReadyBoost is a feature that allows you to use a USB flash drive as a cache to improve the performance of your computer. However, this feature may also cause some conflicts with the file system and make your drive dirty. If you are using a USB flash drive that has ReadyBoost enabled, you can try to disable it and see if that fixes the error. Here are the steps to disable ReadyBoost:
- Plug in your USB flash drive to your computer
- Open File Explorer and right-click on your drive
- Select Properties and then click on the ReadyBoost tab
- Select Do not use this device and then click OK
Eject your drive and then plug it in again. Check if the error is gone and if you can access your drive normally.
Also Read: “Error Code 0xc00000e” How to Fix Windows 10
Method 3: Reinstall the Device Drivers
Sometimes, the error 0x80071ac3 may be caused by faulty or outdated drivers for your external device. Drivers are software components that allow your computer to communicate with your hardware devices. If they are corrupted or incompatible, they may cause errors and prevent your device from working properly. To fix this, you can try to reinstall the device drivers and see if that solves the problem. Here are the steps to reinstall the device drivers:
- Press Windows + X and select Device Manager from the menu
- Expand the Disk drives category and right-click on your external device
- Select Uninstall device and then click OK
- Unplug your device and then plug it in again
- Windows will automatically detect and install the latest drivers for your device
Check if the error is gone and if you can access your drive normally.
Method 4: Format the External Drive
If none of the above methods work, the last resort is to format the external drive. Formatting is the process of erasing all the data on the drive and creating a new file system. This will fix any errors and make your drive clean and usable again. However, this will also delete all your files on the drive, so make sure you have a backup of your important data before you proceed. Here are the steps to format the external drive:
- Plug in your external drive to your computer
- Open File Explorer and right-click on your drive
- Select Format and then choose a file system, such as NTFS or FAT32
- Check the Quick Format option and then click Start
- Wait for the process to finish and then click OK
Your drive should now be formatted and error-free. You can now copy your files back to your drive or use it as you wish.
How to Avoid Error 0x80071ac3: The Volume is Dirty in the Future?
Now that you have fixed error 0x80071ac3 and made your drive accessible again, you may wonder how to prevent this error from happening again in the future. Here are some tips that you can follow to keep your drive clean and error-free:
- Always safely eject your external drive before unplugging it from your computer. You can do this by right-clicking on your drive and selecting Eject, or by using the Safely Remove Hardware icon on the taskbar.
- Use a surge protector or a UPS to protect your computer and your external drive from power outages or surges that may interrupt the data transfer or damage the drive.
- Keep your device drivers updated and compatible with your operating system. You can use Windows Update or a third-party software to check and install the latest drivers for your devices.
- Run a regular scan and maintenance on your drive using CHKDSK or a third-party software. This will help you detect and fix any errors or bad sectors on your drive before they cause more problems.
- Replace your drive if it is old or worn out. Drives have a limited lifespan and may degrade over time. If your drive is showing signs of failure, such as slow performance, strange noises, or frequent errors, you may want to backup your data and get a new drive.
Also Read: Easy Ways to Fix OneDrive Error Code 0x8004de40 in Windows
Conclusion
Error 0x80071ac3 is a common error that occurs when Windows cannot access the volume of an external drive. This error can be fixed by running CHKDSK, disabling ReadyBoost, reinstalling the device drivers, or formatting the drive. However, these methods may also cause data loss, so you should always backup your data before attempting any fix. To avoid this error in the future, you should follow some best practices to keep your drive clean and error-free.
I hope this article has helped you understand and fix error 0x80071ac3. If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to leave them below. And if you need more help with your tech issues, you can check out some of the following resources:
- Lifewire: A website that covers the latest tech news, reviews, and how-to for various devices and platforms.
- Ubackup: A software that provides backup, recovery, and clone solutions for Windows PC and server.
- Microsoft: The official website of Microsoft, where you can find technology news, technical support, and download Windows and other products