With the appropriate techniques and tools, you can effortlessly recover files from corrupted USB flash drives. Check out the detailed info and guides here.
Thumb drives have revolutionized the world of computers, surpassing the limitations of floppy disks and time-consuming CDs. With a flash drive, you can effortlessly save and share files with friends and colleagues by plugging them into a USB port.
However, there comes a dreadful moment when you insert the flash drive into your device, hoping to access a crucial file or enjoy a movie, only to discover that the drive is unreadable. The need to recover those files becomes urgent.
USB flash drives can become corrupted due to various factors, and it's crucial to grasp these causes to determine the most effective data recovery approach.
β File System corruption: When the file system on your USB becomes corrupted or displays as RAW, accessing it becomes impossible, leading to potential file loss. Thus, you need to recover data from RAW USB.
β Power issues: Insufficient power supply or sudden power outages can result in data corruption during file transfers.
β Improper removal: Modern operating systems emphasize safely ejecting flash drives to prevent corruption caused by abrupt interruptions to read/write processes.
β Bad blocks: Flash-based storage devices consist of numerous small blocks with a limited lifespan. When these blocks exceed their capacity, they may malfunction and cause data corruption.
β Physical damage: Physical damage like jolting/dropping can influence the USB flash drive's stability, leading to corruption.
Absolutely! You can recover files from a corrupted USB flash drive. The first action upon discovering a corrupted flash drive is to stop using the device immediately. This increases your chances of successfully retrieving the missing data.
Continually using the drive can worsen the corruption or overwrite the intended files for recovery. So please cease using the USB and then check the following methods to perform USB data recovery.
This section explores two feasible solutions to retrieve files from corrupted USB drives.
The first method introduces a data rescue app that is suitable for file recovery on damaged or inaccessible flash drives. The second method involves leveraging CMD commands to regain access to the data on the corrupted drive.
When it comes to USB recovery software, our preferred choice is MyRecover. This robust tool provides a reliable solution for recovering data from corrupted USB flash drives, even if they do not appear in File Explorer.
MyRecover supports scanning RAW USB drives and recovering files from drives that prompt for formatting. With its versatility, it proves valuable in various data recovery scenarios.
Let's delve deeper into the features and usage of MyRecover for retrieving files from a corrupted USB drive.
To recover your deleted files, download MyRecover, the reliable data recovery software. For unlimited file recovery, consider upgrading MyRecover. Currently, you could choose from 3 subscription plans: Monthly, Yearly, and Lifetime.
Step 1. Launch MyRecover, the top data recovery software > Hover the mouse over the USB drive saved deleted files before, and click Scan.
Step 2. The program will conduct a deep scanning process to promptly locate all the deleted files on the USB drive. You can even begin file recovery without waiting for the scanning process to complete.
Step 3. All detected files will be categorized into different types. Check and choose the wanted files and click Recover x files for easy recovery. It is advised to store the recovered files somewhere safe other than the original location.
Thus, you could successfully recover files from corrupted USB flash drives.
When dealing with a corrupted pen drive and the need to access its stored data, the "chkdsk" and "recover" command in CMD can prove valuable. These Windows inbuilt apps fix potential file system issues and recover readable info. Thus, it can help you regain access to data on a corrupted USB flash drive.
In this section, we will guide you through how to retrieve files from corrupted USB drives using "chkdsk" CMD commands.
Step 1. Start the Command Prompt by inputting “command prompt” in the Windows search bar. Remember to choose Run as administrator.
Step 2. In the prompt, type "chkdsk H: /f /r" (replace H with the drive letter of the corrupt USB drive) and press Enter.
Also, there are some more available parameters.
While local drives allow for file restoration through backup tools and restoring previous versions, USB drives directly delete data, making it seemingly unrecoverable.
What’s more, the functions of “CHKDSK” and “recover” are too limited and inconvenient. However, file recovery tools such as Windows File Recovery can be a solution.
This tool enables users to recover deleted and missing files from healthy, corrupted, or formatted hard drives in batch using commands.
It employs recovery modes and switches to scan for the desired files. The appropriate recovery modes depend on the file system of the hard drive.
File system | Scenarios | mode |
NTFS | Deleted recently | Regular |
NTFS | Deleted for a while | Extensive |
NTFS | Formatted disk | Extensive |
NTFS | corrupted disk | Extensive |
FAT and exFAT | Any | Extensive |
To determine the file system, right-click the USB flash drive in This PC and select Properties.
With the file system and recovery mode determined, you could use switches to target your files.
Switches | Meaning | Supported mode(s) |
/n | Filter the scan range: scans for a specific file with its file name/path/type, etc. | All |
/y: | Recovers specific extension groups. | Signature |
/k | Recovers system files. | NTFS Segmentβββββ |
/segment | Segment mode; recovers files under NTFS drives using file record segments. | Segment |
/signature | Signature mode; recovers files under all file system types using file headers. | Signature |
/u | Recovers undeleted files, for example, from the Recycle Bin. | NTFS Segment |
For detailed instructions on how to use Windows File Recovery and understand recovery modes and switches, refer to the provided guide. Now, learn how to retrieve files from corrupted USB devices via Windows File Recovery.
Step 1. Go to Microsoft Store, search for Windows File Recovery, click "Get," and then open the software.
Step 2. Input the recovery command: "winfr source-drive: destination-drive: [/mode] [/switches]."
If you receive the message: “Windows File Recovery failed to create destination folder”, it might indicate that the command syntax is wrong. Please check the tutorial to correct the syntax.
Ensure that the source drive differs from the target drive. For example, using the command "winfr F: D: /extensive /n *.jpg" enables the recovery of all pictures from the USB drive.
Taking proper precautions to protect your flash drives can minimize data loss. Common portable USB drives are not particularly durable and can easily be damaged if not handled correctly.
Here are some tips to help preserve your USB flash drives and the data they contain:
Following these practices can help keep your flash drives safe and minimize the risk of data loss.
While a damaged or corrupted USB flash drive may initially seem like a major problem, there are solutions available to restore functionality and recover data.
By following the tips provided and utilizing tools like MyRecover, Command Prompt, or Windows File Recovery, you increase your chances to recover files from corrupted USB flash drives. These tools are free to download, so give them a try, and good luck in recovering your files.