Deleting and replacing a specific (non-system) file. . .

[Zoloft]

I had a file, in this case a video clip, that somehow became corrupt. It was named exactly how I downloaded it from the source. If I (unsecurely) delete the file, and then, re-download from the exact same source, again, keeping the original name, am I actually replacing the file itself, or, just removing and re-adding it to windows directory services?

 

[iko22]

It is actually not to do with any kind of Network Directory Services, it is to do with the File System - either FAT32 or NTFS. When a user deletes a File then, providing they have permission to do so, the File is removed from the File System. When a user adds a new file, or another copy of the same file, then a new entry is made in the File System.

If you have issue with a suspected file corruption, then you should have scanned the file with an anti-virus program first and/or checked the disk for bad clusters. Deleting a file and replacing it with another copy should be sufficient until, by chance, it happens again.

 

[Zoloft]

Virus scan is performed daily, on this NTFS external drive. I've had issues with bad clusters on this drive in the past, which was my original concern. But, being a 5tb drive, the scan/repair process takes days. I deleted and replaced the video file, and it appears fine. Thanks for your input!

 

[Megahertz07]

As Iko suggested, you should run check disk. Open a cmd window and type:
chkdsk x: /f Replace x by the letter of the drive.
Bad blocks or bad clusters means that you have a hardware failure. Don't trust it, as your disk may die soon.

External disks are very sensitive and can easily be damaged. Once it's running, don't move it. Don't even touch it.