Restoring flash drive data
Restoring data from a flash drive can be quite a difficult task, but in most cases it is possible to return lost files. Here are some steps you can take to request data recovery:
1. Connect the flash drive to the computer and check it on other USB ports or even on another computer. Sometimes the problem may be related to a damaged port.
2. If your operating system sees the flash drive, but you cannot open the files or they are displayed as corrupted, try using data recovery software (such as Recuva). These tools can scan your device and retrieve deleted or lost files.
3. If the data recovery program did not help, or your computer/file system reports that formatting is required - DO NOT FORMAT! Immediately click "Cancel" when formatting is requested!
4. You can also use the Windows command line (or the Mac/Linux terminal interface) to perform a more in-depth analysis of the system file of the flash drive.
a) Open a command prompt (or terminal) and type “chkdsk [drive letter]: /f” without quotes. For example, if your flash drive has the letter F:, then you should write “chkdsk F: /f”. This will allow the system to check the file system for errors and fix it.
b) If it did not help or there was an error reading data from the flash drive, you can use software to restore partitions/file systems.
5. In the case of serious damage to the system file or hardware failure, professional help from data recovery specialists may be required. They can perform much more complex operations to extract information from the device.
It is important to note that the sooner you start the data recovery process after deleting or losing files, the greater the chance to get a complete set of information. Always make backup copies