“The parameter is incorrect” (or Error 0x80070057, if you’re into nicknames) is a common Windows message that appears when your computer cannot access an external drive, a specific folder, or a file.
Most frequently, you’ll encounter this error when attempting to open an external hard drive, USB flash drive, or SD card that has encountered a logical or physical communication failure. This should be treated as a data loss event — if you don’t have a usable backup of the data on the device and you cannot replace the data, we strongly recommend contacting a professional data recovery provider as soon as possible.
With that said, “The parameter is incorrect” isn’t always indicative of a major failure. Below, we’ll explain why this happens and provide a strategic overview of potential fixes.
If you’ve lost data from a hard drive, SSD, or any other device, we’re here to help. Datarecovery.com provides risk-free evaluations, and we support all cases with our no data, no charge guarantee: If we’re unable to recover the files you need, there’s no charge for the attempt.
Set up a ticket online or call 1-800-237-4200 to get started.
“The Parameter Is Incorrect:” Okay, But Why?
“Parameter” in this case simply means that a locator is wrong. This is a particularly obnoxious error message because it’s so vague — but it’s vague for a reason.
Windows will throw up Error 0x80070057 when it can’t find what it needs to find. That can happen due to a number of underlying issues, and the operating system cannot always determine which issue is responsible.
Some of those issues include:
- File System Corruption: If the drive was unplugged without being safely ejected, the Master File Table (MFT) or file system structure (such as NTFS or exFAT) may have become damaged. Data corruption can occur for a number of reasons, but when it impacts the file system structure, large swaths of data can become suddenly unreadable.
- Physical Connection Issues: A frayed cable, a failing USB port, or an underpowered hub can prevent Windows from passing the correct parameters to the device.
- Bad Sectors: As a drive ages or suffers physical trauma, specific areas of the disk may become unreadable. Bad sectors are common, but as a drive gets older, they can become more of an issue for data integrity.
- Driver Incompatibility: Outdated or corrupted USB controllers and disk drivers can cause a breakdown in communication between the hardware and software.
Of these issues, we find that physical connection problems and drive health problems are the most common.
Fixing Error 0x80070057 (And Correcting Those Parameters)
We’re going to assume that you do not need the data from the device — because if that’s the case, contact a professional data recovery company right away. You generally get one chance to recover your data, and you don’t want to complicate your case by trying a bunch of DIY data recovery methods.
But if you simply need to get your device operational again, here’s a general action plan:
- Isolate the Hardware: Connection issues are the easiest and cheapest fix, so start here. Test the device on a different computer and with a different cable to rule out a failure in the host machine or the connection interface.
- Update Device Drivers: Ensure your disk drives and Universal Serial Bus controllers are up to date through the Windows Device Manager.
- Run System File Checker (SFC): Windows includes a built-in utility to repair corrupted system files; running sfc /scannow via the command prompt can sometimes resolve OS-level conflicts. Do not do this if you need the data from the drive. If the device has physical issues, attempting to fix the corruption could make things much worse.
- Check the Disk for Logical Errors: Use the chkdsk utility to scan the file system for integrity issues (you can find specific syntax for this in the official Windows documentation). We don’t want to sound like a broken record here, but chkdsk can demolish your data and make it completely unrecoverable — only do this if you’ve got a backup of all of your important files.
- Reformat the Drive: If the data on the drive is already backed up elsewhere, reformatting the device to a fresh file system will almost always clear this error.
A “parameter is incorrect” error can be a symptom of a dying hard drive or SSD. The operating system can’t read the metadata required to mount the volume — and while that can happen for a dozen reasons, media failure is one of the most common.
Professional Support for Data Recovery
Always keep at least three copies of important files, including one offsite copy. If you don’t have a backup, treat any access issue as a data recovery concern — don’t take unnecessary risks with your data.
At Datarecovery.com, we provide a simple, straightforward process for home computer users, enterprise sysadmins, and everyone in between. Our risk-free evaluations provide you with a comprehensive quote before you pay, and our no data, no charge guarantee ensures that you have total peace of mind as your case progresses.
If you’ve encountered Error 0x80070057 or you’ve lost data for any other reason, we’re here to help. Call 1-800-237-4200 or set up a ticket online.
