Why Does the File System Error -1073740791 Happen?
In most cases, file system error -1073740791 can happen because of corrupted files or disk integrity, expired file execution policies, bad sector, etc. When you see this error message pops up, you may be trying to open a file or running apps with Administrative privileges but failing to do that.
What’s more, file system errors can cause a range of issues on your Windows 10 device, including frequent crashes and freezes. This seems to be a troublesome problem and it is hard to say which factor causes the file system error -1073740791 to happen.
But don’t need to panic, this article will provide solutions from multiple angles so that you can troubleshoot your issue one by one.
If you have other troubles with file system errors, MiniTool has presented some guides targeting common file system errors and you can search for them.
Related articles:
- 7 Fixes to File System Error – 2147219196
- How to Fix File System Error (-2018374635) in Win10? (10 Ways)
- 4 Solutions to Windows Has Detected File System Corruption
How to Fix the File System Error (-1073740791)?
Precondition: Open Windows in Safe Mode
Before you start the next fixes, you’d better open your Windows in Safe Mode. It will be much easier to follow the below-mentioned troubleshooting steps.
Safe Mode starts Windows in a basic state, using a limited set of files and drivers, which will help you exclude some problematic files or drivers, and minimize the possibility of triggering the file system error code -1073740791.
Some people may be curious about the difference between Safe Mode and Clean Boot and this article can resolve your concern: Clean Boot VS. Safe Mode: What’s the Difference and When to Use.
Step 1: Open the Run dialog box by pressing the Windows and R keys together and input msconfig to enter System Configuration.
Step 2: When the window pop up, go to the Boot tab and mark the Safe boot checkbox under Boot options.
Step 3: When you finish, click on Apply and OK to save your choice and restart your computer to see if the issue has been resolved. If not, it is suggested to continue to perform the next fixes in Safe Mode.
Fix 2: Perform SFC Command or DISM
Why do we need SFC and DISM? The file system error (-1073740791) is mainly triggered by corrupted files or disk errors while SFC analyzes your system files and DISM can help scan and restore potential issues within the windows. So, you’d better run SFC first and DISM after that.
To perform the SFC command
Step 1: Open Search by pressing the Win + S keys and type cmd in it to run Command Prompt as an administrator.
Step 2: When the Command Prompt window shows up, please type sfc /scnnow and press the Enter key to execute the command.
Step 3: When the verification is up to 100%, you will see the scan results.
Then you can go to perform a DISM scan in your Command Prompt. Besides, if your SFC Scannow can’t work, this article will be helpful: Quickly Fix – SFC Scannow Not Working (Focus on 2 Cases).
To perform a DISM scan
Type the following commands and press Enter after every one of them to perform the command. Of course, you can perform some of them according to your demands.
DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /CheckHealth
This command is used to perform a quick check.
DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth
This command is used to check your OS image with a more advanced scan.
DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
This command is used to fix any problems it finds automatically.
Then please restart your PC and check if the file system error (-1073740791) persists.
Fix 3: Run CHKDSK Command
Different from the last two tools mentioned before, CHKDSK, also pronounced as check disk, is designed to display a status report for a volume and correct errors.
Step 1: Run the Command Prompt as an administrator and type chkdsk C: /f /r /x to enter.
Note: There are some parameters followed after chkdsk and if you don’t know what that means, you can refer to this post: CHKDSK /F or /R | Difference Between CHKDSK /F and CHKDSK /R.
Step 2: Wait for the above process to finish and then again uncheck the Safe Boot option in System Configuration.
Restart your computer to check if the issue has been fixed.
Or you can check the disk via your File Explorer. Just open File Explorer and right-click on the target disk to choose Properties. In the Tools tab, choose the Check button.
Fix 5: Create a New User Account
If the above methods can’t fix the file system error -1073740791, the issue lies in your sign-in user account. Try to remove the old account and create a new to see if the issue can be resolved.
Step 1: Click the Windows icon and choose Settings.
Step 2: Choose Accounts and choose Sign in with a Microsoft account instead.
Step 3: Then follow the on-screen instructions to enter your credentials and in the next page, enter some information to create your new account.
Step 4: Go back to Accounts and in the Family & other users tab, choose Add someone else to this PC.
Step 5: Fill in your credentials to sign in to your new account and confirm your changes in the next page.
After you finish that, go back to the Family & other users tab and choose to change your account type as Administrator. Then delete the old administrator account and restart your PC.
Fix 6: Set the Windows Theme to Default
It is reported that some users encounter the file system error -1073740791 after setting Windows 10 theme. If you also run into the same situation, you can follow the next steps to set the theme to default.
Step 1: Open Settings and choose Personalization once the page comes into view.
Step 2: In the Themes tab, select Windows 10, Windows or Windows (light) theme from the right panel.
Then please restart your computer. If this method can’t get rid of the error, please go to the next fix.
Fix 7: Change the Sound Scheme
To fix the file system error -1073740791, changing the sound scheme may be useful. It is worth having a try!
Step 1: Right-click on the volume icon on the right bottom of the system bar and choose Sounds.
Step 2: Under the Sound Scheme section, choose No Sounds or Windows Default from the drop-down list.
Step 3: Click Apply and then OK to save the changes and restart your PC.
Fix 8: Reset Windows Store Cache
The last method is to reset the Windows Store cache because some corrupted or expired Windows Store cache can lead to the “File System Error” notifications.
Step 1: Right-click on the Windows icon and choose Run.
Step 2: Type WSReset.exe in the Run dialog box and press the Enter key.
Step 3: Then you will see a blank Command Prompt window and wait for it to close.
When the process has been done, a message “The Cache for the Store was cleared” will show you. Then please restart your computer.
Backup Expert – MiniTool ShadowMaker
As we mentioned, the file system error 1073740791 can lead to frequent crashes and freezing issues in your computer, which means your data is at risk of being lost.
Besides, no matter what kind of file system errors you will meet, for most of them, the major culprit can be attributed to disk-related errors. You may not even realize that some data has been lost until a bigger disaster hits, such as a black screen issue or boot failure.
It is recommended to back up your data in advance, which can prevent data loss when file system errors occur. Besides, we highly recommend you back up your system to an external disk so that you can quickly restore your system when crashes happen.
To do that, you can use MiniTool ShadowMaker – an excellent backup expert – to back up your files, folders, disks, partitions, and systems. You can enjoy the trial version for free for 30 days. Come and go to download and install the program and start your journey with MiniTool ShadowMaker.
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Step 1: Open the program and choose Keep Trial.
Step 2: In the Backup tab, choose your backup source – files, folders, disks, partitions, and systems. Then choose your backup destination – User, Computer, Library, and Shared.
Step 3: When you finish, please click on Back Up Now or Back Up Later to start the process. Your delayed backup task will be listed in the Manage tab.
You can also click on the Options button to choose your backup scheme – Full, Incremental, and Differential and your backup schedule – Daily, Weekly, Monthly, and On Event.
Bottom Line:
This article has given you a series of fixes for the file system error -1073740791 and that will be helpful for you. File system errors can be triggered by all kinds of reasons and if you can’t avoid the situation in time, that can lead to more severe results. That’s why backup is getting more and more important in daily life when using computers.
If you have encountered any issues when using MiniTool ShadowMaker, you can leave a message in the following comment zone and we will reply as soon as possible. If you need any help when using MiniTool software, you may contact us via [email protected].
File System Error (-1073740791) FAQ
Your files are easy to be corrupted when it starts the saving process. When your computer gets crashed, then your files is bound to be corrupted. And another possibility that leads to corrupted system files is that your hard drive is damaged for virus or malware in it.
That depends on what kind of situation you encountered. You may find more than one corrupted files on your computer, that means your computer may be infected with malware and this is a common symptom of a malware infection. But that doesn’t mean all of your damaged files are viruses.
- Check and extend hard drive space
- Run disk check and System File Checker
- Update hard drivers
- Boot Windows in Clean Boot or Safe Mode
- Reset Windows to factory settings or reinstall your Windows
When your file system is corrupted, the system cannot locate, read, or write data located in a particular file system and you will be unable to access the disk and the disk data.