Orphaned files are file records or allocated data that a file system can no longer connect to a valid directory path. In NTFS, the problem may involve an MFT record and its parent directory. In FAT32, lost cluster chains consist of allocated clusters without a valid directory reference. Although the symptoms can look similar, the underlying structures differ. This guide explains those differences and what CHKDSK can—and cannot—repair. Table of Contents What Are Orphaned Files? A file system connects a name and directory path to metadata that identifies the file’s contents. For example, a directory entry may point to a starting cluster, or a directory index may reference an NTFS […]
