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Losing important files due to corruption in your USB drive can be frustrating and worrisome. This can happen due to various reasons such as virus attacks, power interruptions, or improper ejection of the USB drive. But, don’t panic, because there are ways to recover corrupted files from a USB drive. In this blog post, we will guide you through the methods to recover corrupted files from USB drive.
Video Tutorial:
What’s Needed
Before we start with the methods, there are certain things that you will need to ensure successful recovery of corrupted files from your USB drive. These are:
– A computer or laptop
– A working USB port
– A data recovery software
– A USB drive with corrupted files
What requires your focus?
Data recovery from a corrupted USB drive can be a bit tricky and requires your utmost focus and attention. You must ensure that you do not overwrite the corrupted files after losing them. It is recommended to stop using the USB drive immediately after realizing that it has been corrupted.
Method 1: Use a Data Recovery Software
Using a data recovery software is one of the easiest and most efficient methods to recover corrupted files from a USB drive. Here are the steps to do so:
1. Install a reliable data recovery software on your computer or laptop. There are various free and paid data recovery software available online, such as Recuva, EaseUS Data Recovery, and Stellar Data Recovery.
2. Connect your corrupted USB drive to your computer or laptop.
3. Launch the data recovery software and select the USB drive from the given options.
4. Select the type of files that you want to recover. For instance, if you want to recover Word files, select "doc" or "docx" from the file types options.
5. Start the scanning process, which might take some time depending on the size of your USB drive and the number of corrupted files.
6. After the scanning process is complete, you will be able to see the list of recoverable files, select the files that you want to recover.
7. Click on the "Recover" button and save the recovered files to a different location.
Pros:
– Easy and efficient method
– Various free and paid data recovery software options available
– Can recover all types of files
Cons:
– Might not recover all the files
– Paid software can be expensive
Method 2: Check for Hidden Files
Sometimes, the files in your USB drive might not be corrupted but can be hidden due to some reasons. In this case, checking for hidden files can be helpful. Here are the steps to do so:
1. Connect your corrupted USB drive to your computer or laptop.
2. Open "File Explorer" or "Finder" on your computer.
3. Click on the USB drive icon to open it.
4. Go to "View" and check the box next to "Hidden items". This will display the hidden files from the USB drive.
5. Check if the corrupted files are there and copy them to a different location.
Pros:
– Simple and quick method
– Does not require any third-party software
Cons:
– Might not work if the files are corrupted
– Might not recover all the files
Method 3: Command Prompt
If your USB drive is not showing any files or folders due to corruption, you can use the Command Prompt to recover them. Here are the steps to do so:
1. Connect your corrupted USB drive to your computer or laptop.
2. Press "Windows + R" and type "cmd" to open the Command Prompt.
3. Type "chkdsk /f H:" and hit Enter. Replace "H" with the letter of your corrupted USB drive.
4. Wait for the process to complete. This might take some time depending on the size of your USB drive and the number of corrupted files.
5. After the process is complete, type "H:" and hit Enter. This will take you to the USB drive directory.
6. Type "attrib -h -r -s /s /d *.*" and hit Enter. This will unhide all the files and folders from the USB drive.
7. Check if the corrupted files are there and copy them to a different location.
Pros:
– Does not require any third-party software
– Works for file and folder corruption
Cons:
– The process can be time-consuming
– Might not recover all the files
Method 4: Restore From Backup
If you have a backup of your files from the USB drive, you can easily restore them. Here are the steps to do so:
1. Connect your new USB drive to your computer or laptop.
2. Open the backup location of your corrupted USB drive.
3. Select the files that you want to restore and copy them to the new USB drive.
Pros:
– Easy and quick method
– Guaranteed recovery of files if backup is available
Cons:
– Might not work if there is no backup available
– Can be time-consuming to create a backup
Why Can’t I Recover All the Corrupted Files?
While there are methods to recover corrupted files from a USB drive, it is not always possible to recover all the files. There can be various reasons behind it, such as:
1. Overwritten Data: If you continue to use the USB drive after corruption, the new data can overwrite the old data, making it impossible to recover.
2. Physical Damage: If the USB drive is physically damaged, it might be impossible to recover the data.
3. File Corruption: In some cases, the corruption can be severe, making it impossible to recover the files.
Fortunately, there are fixes available for these issues. You must stop using the USB drive immediately after experiencing any corruption, and avoid any physical damage to the USB drive.
Implications and Recommendations
To avoid any future data corruption on the USB drive, it is recommended to:
1. Use a reliable antivirus software to prevent virus attacks.
2. Do not remove the USB drive abruptly from a computer or laptop.
3. Always eject the USB drive safely before removing it from a computer.
4. Create a backup of your important files regularly.
FAQ
Q. How can I prevent data corruption on my USB drive?
A. You can prevent data corruption on your USB drive by using a reliable antivirus software, safely ejecting the USB drive from a computer, and creating a backup regularly.
Q. Can I recover files from a physically damaged USB drive?
A. It depends on the extent of physical damage. Some data recovery software might be able to recover the data, but it is not guaranteed.
Q. Can I recover files from an overwritten USB drive?
A. If the data has been overwritten, it is impossible to recover the old data.
Q. What is the best data recovery software for a USB drive?
A. There are various data recovery software available online, such as Recuva, EaseUS Data Recovery, and Stellar Data Recovery. It is recommended to choose a reliable and trustworthy software.
Q. Can I use Command Prompt to recover data from a corrupted USB drive?
A. Yes, you can use Command Prompt to recover data from a corrupted USB drive.