Recover 0 Byte Files in Windows 10/8/7

The 6 methods provided on this page are ways to recover 0-byte files on a Windows PC, sourced from reputable tech websites and experienced YouTube users. All solutions have been tested and verified, and you can use these methods to restore your 0-byte files to their normal state.

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How to Recover 0 KB Files in Windows 11/10/8/7?

"Has anyone experienced my problem where all the files on my USB drive suddenly become 0 bytes? I can open the USB drive and see all these files, but I cannot open or use them. Does anyone know how to fix this? All of my documents - Word, Excel, PPT, and other images have suddenly become 0 bytes. I can't open or edit these files. How do I recover these 0 byte files and use them again? Any ideas?"

When files on a storage device or a partition of your computer hard drive turn into 0 bytes, it's no longer a new issue. If you're experiencing the same problem, easily resolve it by following the three sections below:

While some geeks or websites offer a list of solutions to this problem, most users still find it difficult to manage the task. Here, we provide you with a step-by-step tutorial to fix the issue and help you easily recover zero-byte files.

Section 1: Causes of 0 Byte Files

To find the right solution to recover a 0-byte file, it's crucial to understand the reasons behind why a file becomes 0 bytes in size. Here's a list of common causes:

• Virus or malware infection
• Uploading or downloading a file with unsupported attributes
• Incomplete upload or download of a file
• Incomplete files received through archived emails or email attachments
• Files intentionally created with 0 bytes

Now that you know how your files became 0 KB, the next section will provide the solutions to fix your 0 KB file problem.

Part 2: 6 Ways to Delete 0 KB Files from Your Computer

However, seasoned administrators and users say that you can't really fix or apply any utility to a zero-byte file.

Depending on what exactly caused the file to become 0 KB, you may still have options for recovery.

Here are six methods, courtesy of geeks and YouTube users, that might help resolve the 0 KB file issue. Try them out in order to find the solution that works for you and recover your files:

Method 1: Remove the 0KB Virus from Your Computer

Applies to: Solving the issue where .exe files or programs become 0KB in size.

If your .exe file or program has become 0 bytes in size, it's most likely that your file has been infected by a 0KB virus. You can use an antivirus software to automatically remove it. There are numerous antivirus programs available online that can help you clean and eliminate the 0KB virus. You can search online for reliable virus removal software for assistance. We highly recommend using the ultimate antivirus solution, TotalAV. Its purpose is to ensure safe and secure browsing. With this powerful tool, your computer will be checked for viruses and threats immediately upon accessing, downloading, installing, or executing files. Give it a try by clicking the button now.

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An experienced YouTube user named Ranier has posted a video tutorial on how to manually remove the 0KB virus from your computer. Many people have commented that this method worked for them, so it might be worth a try for you too.

According to the video, it seems that a file named "SYSWIN" on your computer is infecting all files and changing them to 0 bytes. Here's the link to the video:

• Lanier, J. (January 15, 2018).
• Exe 0KB virus fixed on YouTube.
• Recovery of files.

Here are the detailed steps:

By doing so, the SYSWIN program will no longer run on your computer. If you do not delete SYSWIN's registry files, it will run again when you restart your PC after attempting to open an infected 0KB file. After this, you may try to open and scan the infected 0-byte files on your device again.

Method 2: Delete a 0 Byte File by Changing its Extension

Applicable Scope: Fixes all files that suddenly turn to 0 bytes on storage devices or computer hard drives.

In most cases, the saved files on the storage device are renamed to 0KB and the file extension is saved as .000. Thus, you can try changing the file extension of the infected files. You'll be surprised that:

Step 1. Right-click on the device or hard drive partition where the file has become 0 KB and select “Properties.”

Step 2: Click the "Tools" tab, then click "Check for Updates," and then click "OK" to start the scan.

"Check for errors on the storage device"

Step 3: Click “Scan Hard Disk”, and then click “Close” after the scan is completed.

Step 4. Open your hard drive or storage device, and type FOUND.000 in the address bar, then hit Enter.

Step 5: Save the file to another hard drive partition, and change its name and extension.

For example, rename FOUND.000 to Word.doc, Excel.xls, and so on.

Step 6: Open and examine the file's contents.

Your 0-byte file was not repaired, you can reuse it.

Method 3: Resubmit, redownload, or re-send the file

Applies to: Incomplete files that you download, upload, or receive through email online.

Files transmitted over the network or by email often become zero bytes in size due to incorrect operations or incomplete upload/download. The best solution to this problem is to retransmit or redownload the file.

1. Upload the file again online. 2. Download the file again. 3. Resend the file to your client or colleague. 4. Wait for your client or colleague to resend the file to you.

Method 4: Using a Standard Zip Program

Applies to: Resolving files with unsupported attributes.

Unsupported file attributes often lead to zero-byte files. This is typically caused by the use of certain compression utilities.

Your best bet is to compress the file using standard compression tools and share it with your colleagues, clients, and friends.

Recommended compression tools: WinZip, 7-Zip, WinRAR, and others.

Method 5: Run CHKDSK

Applies to: Fixes the issue where 0-byte files are generated due to an unknown device error.

When a file system becomes corrupt and files show up as 0 KB, you can try to fix the problem using CMD. Running CHKDSK can resolve the issue of “The disk structure is corrupted and unreadable,” but it may also cause you to lose all your data. Follow these steps:

Step 1: Click “Start” and type cmd into the search box.

Step 2: Right-click on Command Prompt and select Run as administrator.

Step 3. Type CHKDSK F: /f /r /x, and then press Enter.

(F: Replace with the drive letter of the damaged or unreadable device.)

This will restore your zero-byte files, and you should be able to use them again.

Method 6: Show Hidden Files

Applies to: Restore hidden files replaced with zero bytes on storage devices.

Sometimes, when your hard drive is infected with some unknown virus, your files might also get hidden and replaced with 0 byte files.

So, here's how you can show hidden files on your device:

Step 1: Right-click the Start or Windows icon, and then select Search.

Step 3. Under “Advanced settings,” click “Show hidden files, folders, and drives” > click “OK.”

Show all hidden files.

Now you should be able to open your device and see its hidden files.

Part 3: Recover/Lessen Lost Files with Data Recovery Software

If the file itself is corrupted, it will become a zero-byte file. In this case, you can use file repair and recovery software to fix the corrupted file. Use the Windows 10 File Repair Tool - Tools Data Recovery Software to fix 0KB files. It allows you to repair corrupted Word/Excel documents, fix damaged photos and videos. If you have deleted the 0-byte virus but find that the files are not showing on your hard drive or external storage device, you can try using professional data recovery software.

Moreover, when you lose data from your device due to deletion, formatting, or other reasons, your best bet is to seek help from a file recovery tool.

Data Recovery Wizard tool supports file recovery from various file loss situations and simplifies the recovery process in 3 easy steps:

Step 1: Choose a location and start scanning.

Launch the Data Recovery Wizard. Hover the mouse over the partition/drive where the deleted files were stored and click “Scan” to look for lost files.

Step 2: Select the files you want to recover

Once the scan is finished, select the deleted files you want to recover. You can click on the Filter to display only the file types that you need. If you remember the name of the file, you can also search for it in the “Search for files or folders” box – this is the quickest way to locate your target file.

Step 3: Preview and recover the deleted files

Preview the recoverable files, then select the ones you want to restore and click "Recover" to save them to a new location that's different from where the data was originally lost.

In short, when your files become 0 bytes or 0 KB, don't hesitate to seek help from the 6 methods provided on this page. If you lost your files without backup or even permanently deleted them, immediately use the Data Recovery Wizard tool to get them back.

How to Remove 0KB Virus and Recover 0 Byte Files from Computer? FAQ

Below are some topics related to how to remove 0KB virus from PC and how to recover 0 byte files. If you are encountering these issues, find effective solutions here.

How do I remove a 0KB virus?

How to Remove 0KB Virus from Computer? You can remove a 0KB virus from your computer using antivirus software or by manually deleting the infected files. Using antivirus software to get rid of a 0-byte virus is straightforward. Just choose a reliable antivirus tool like Bitdefender, Norton, Kaspersky, Avira, or Avast, and run a deep scan.

To do it yourself, check out the steps in the Remove It Yourself section.

How to recover 0 byte JPEG?

You can attempt to recover zero-byte JPEG files using the following methods:

• Recover JPG files from a backup
• Convert JPG to another format
• Rename JPEG files without changing the file extension
• Redownload the JPG file
• Repair corrupted JPEG files
• Run CHKDSK
• Remove 0KB virus to fix 0KB files

Why is my file 0 bytes in size?

Why does my file show as zero bytes? A zero-kilobyte (KB) document merely signifies that no data or content is stored within the file, hence its size becomes zero. When a file turns into zero bytes, it typically indicates an issue with the file system or the storage device. A zero-byte file cannot be read from or written to.

If a 0-byte file is of utmost importance, you can recover a 0 byte file using any of the secure methods discussed in this article.

4. How to Recover 0 Byte Data in Excel?

If an Excel file shows up as 0 bytes, how can you recover the Excel file? You can utilize the Microsoft File Recovery mode in Windows 10 to open and restore a 0-byte file.

Step 1: Click the "File" tab and then click "Open."

Step 2. Click on the folder that contains the 0-byte Excel file.

In the dialog that opens, select an Excel file with 0 bytes.

Step 4: Click the arrow next to the Open button, and choose Open and Repair.

Click the “Repair” button to start the 0 byte file recovery process.