Windows File Recovery: There Was an Error Parsing Your Command [Causes & Fixes]

Overview of Windows File Recovery Tool

The “Windows File Recovery Tool" (Winfr) is a command-line utility developed by Microsoft to help users recover lost or deleted files from storage devices such as hard drives, SSDs, USB drives, and memory cards. It supports various file systems, including NTFS, FATand exFAT, and can recover files based on file names, paths, keywords, or extensions. Briefly, key features include:

• Recovers files from formatted or corrupted drives.
• Supports multiple file systems and storage devices.
• Allows recovery using file signatures, names, or paths.
• Works on Windows 10 and later versions.

Itis a reliable solution for Windows data recovery, especially when no backup is available. However, some users complain that they often failed to recover files due to the Windows File Recovery errors like "There was an error parsing your command."

Causes and Quick Fixes to Winfr There Was an Error Parsing Your Command

The error "There was an error parsing your command" in the Windows File Recovery Tool (Winfr) typically occurs due to incorrect syntax, missing parameters, unsupported commandsand so on. Below are the common causes and quick fixes to resolve this issue:

Winfr Command’s General Structure: winfr source-drive: destination-drive: [/mode] [/switches]

source-drive: (Required)The drive letter where the lost files were originally stored (e.g., `C:`).

destination-drive: (Required) The drive letter where recovered files will be saved (e.g., `D:`).

[/mode]: (Optional) Specifies the recovery mode:“Regular” for recovering recently deleted files while “Extensive” for handling more complex recovery scenarios, such as formattedor corrupteddrives.

[/switches]: (Optional) Filters or parameters to refine the recovery process.

1. No Source or Destination Drive (Letter)

Source and destination drive are essential for the tool to know where to recover files from and where to save the recovered files. If you forgot to specify the source and destination drives, or the drive letters you provided do not exist or are not accessible, then the Winfr command will be invalid.

🛠️Fix: add the source and destination drive, and ensure you have input the correct drive letter. If you are unsure about the drive letters, just open your Windows File Explorer.

2. Incorrect Use of Switches

Take a look at whether some unsupported or improperly formatted switches are used. For example, “winfr C: D: /n *.docx /xyz” can not be parsed smoothly and then deliver the error message: There was an error parsing your command.

🛠️Fix: Use only supported switches like “/n”, “/y”, or “/k”.

/n: Used to specify a search filter (filter) based on file name, path, or wildcard to narrow down the files to be recoveredlike“/n *.* (recover all files)” ; “/n *.docx*(recover only .docx files)”.

/y:Used torecover specific extension groups, comma separated.

/k: Used to enable or disable the recovery of system files.

3. Spaces or Formatting Issues

Extra spaces or incorrect formatting in the command can cause errorslike “There was an error parsing your command.” For example, winfr C : D : /n *.docx, the spaces between the drive letter and colon are not allowed.

🛠️Fix: Ensure there are no spaces between the drive letter and the colon. If there are, remove them and execute the command again.

4. Spelling Error

When using Windows File Recovery (winfr),misspelling the file paths or extensions can result in errors or failed recovery attempts. The tool supports specific recovery modes, and any deviation from these will cause the command to fail.

🛠️Fix: Double-check every word in your command is correct, like extensive (not extemsive), regular (not regula).

Tips to Avoid Syntax Errors

Any syntax errors will result in the “There was an error parsing your command”Winfr command. To avoid these errors and ensure smooth execution of the tool, always follow the structure: `winfr source: destination: [/mode] [/switches]`. Use quotes for paths with spaces. For more details, you can refer to the Microsoft’s official documentation for Winfr command examples and supported commands.

Alternative to Winfr Command: Easily Recover Files in Windows

If the above fixes do not help you get rid of the error message, “There was an error parsing your command” in Winfr command window, it’s time to turn to some third-party file recovery software, like MyRecover. This powerful yet intuitive file recovery tool is designed to make data recovery effortless for both beginners and advanced users.

Why Choose MyRecover?

While "winfr" is a command-line tool that requires precise syntax and technical knowledge, MyRecover offers a graphical user interface (GUI) that simplifies the entire recovery process. Besides, it also comes with the following advanatages, which makeMyRecover stand outamong numerous file recovery options:

👏1. Wide Range of Recovery Scenarios: Recovers files from formatted, corrupted, accidentally deleted partitions, emptied Recycle Bin, as well as system crash, virus attack, etc.

👏2. Broad OS Compatibility: Work on all versions of Windows OS (11, 10, 8, 7, Server 2022, 2019, 2016, 2012, etc) and recover from NTFS, FAT,and exFAT Windows file systems.

👏3. Advanced Scanning Technology: Deep scan mode to locate lost files even in complex scenarios.Quick scan mode for fast recovery of recently deleted files.

👏4. Support for Various File Types: Recovers documents, photos, videos, emails, and more.

👏5. Support Various Devices: Recover deleted & lost files from HDD, SSD, USB, SD card, camera as you need.

👏6. Safe and Secure: Read-only operation ensures your original data remains intact during recovery.

How to Use MyRecover

1. Download the software. Install it on your Windows computer.

2. Open MyRecover and select the drive or partition you want to recover files from.Click on “Scan”.

3. After the quick scan, you can see all recoverable files. Select the files you want to restore and click “Recover”.

If you won’t see the target files after the quick scan, you can manually perform a deep scan.

4. Choose a safe location (preferably a different drive) to save the recovered files.

To preview the files before executing the final recovery, you can upgrade to Professional edition.

Conclusion

So, this article explain why Windows File Recovery pops out the “There was an error parsing your command”error message and how to fix them correspondingly. If the problem still exists and you are not good at running the complex commands, MyRecover is a better choice. With a user-friendly interface, you can easily recover data in diverse scenarios, including retrieving files from computer that won’t boot up.