Flash Drive Data Recovery Software: Recover Files from a USB or Pen Drive
A USB flash drive is a small, portable data storage device that uses a USB interface, available in various shapes and sizes from brands like SanDisk, Kingston, and Lexar.
USB flash drives come in three main types: USB 2.0, USB 3.0, and USB 3.1, with the latter being the latest and fastest version. Despite their convenience in storing data, USB flash drives are also prone to data loss due to various reasons.
What Causes Data Loss from Flash Drive/Pen Drive
Data loss on a USB flash drive or pen drive can occur due to various reasons, including a poor connection, virus infection, file system error, or sudden power outage. The three main factors contributing to data loss are particularly significant, including a sudden power outage, which can cause the drive to shut down abruptly, a file system error, which can result from a corrupted file or directory, and a virus infection, which can spread and destroy data on the drive.
- Formatting a flash drive, either intentionally or accidentally, is a common reason for losing data. This process wipes all data from the drive, making it essential to back up any critical files before proceeding.
- Data loss can also occur when a USB drive becomes corrupted, often due to improper ejection or physical damage, potentially allowing some data to be recovered through specialized services.
- Accidental deletion of files is a common reason for USB data loss, often resulting from user error or file corruption that prevents recovery.
If you've experienced data loss on your USB flash drive or pen drive, stop using it right away and consider using a professional USB data recovery software or contacting a data recovery service. They can help you recover your lost data and get your life back on track.
Free Download Flash Drive Data Recovery Tool
If your flash drive is not physically damaged, you can try using a data recovery software program to recover your data. These programs can often successfully recover data from corrupted or deleted files, and there are many options available that are compatible with different operating systems and flash drives.
Deep Data Recovery is a versatile USB data recovery tool due to its ability to recover data from various types of storage devices, including USB drives, hard drives, and memory cards, making it a reliable solution for recovering lost files and data.
- The device can support various types of USB flash drives, including USB 1.0-1.1, USB 2.0, and USB 3.0-3.2, catering to different generations of USB technology.
- Retrieve USB sticks, pen drives, external hard drives, digital cameras, and mobile devices.
- You can recover files from various flash drive brands, including Kingstone, SanDisk, Buffalo, WD, and others, using data recovery software or a professional service. This allows you to retrieve lost or deleted files from these devices, even if they are no longer recognized by your computer or have been damaged.
- You can recover over 200 types of files from USB drives, including videos, audio files, images, documents, archives, and more.
What Can Pen Drive Data Recovery Software Do
Qiling flash drive data recovery software offers a comprehensive solution for recovering files from a USB drive, covering various scenarios such as accidental deletion, formatting, virus attack, and more.
Recover formatted flash drive:
Formatting a USB disk can be a frustrating experience, often resulting in data loss. However, with the help of a pen drive recovery program, you can unformat your drive and restore your formatted files from the USB device.
Retrieve dead USB stick:
A dead or broken flash drive can cause reading/writing errors or corrupt files, but using USB recovery software can scan the drive and recover lost data.
Recover deleted files from pen drive:
If you accidentally delete important files from a pen drive or remove them permanently, you can use a USB data recovery tool to quickly retrieve them.
Recover corrupted files USB drive:
If your flash drive gets damaged, you may experience USB data loss, making it impossible to access your files. However, if the file system is corrupted, a USB recovery program can safely recover the corrupted files.
Recover Data from Flash Drive Step by Step
To recover deleted files from a USB drive, simply connect the drive to your computer, download and install data recovery software, launch it, and follow the on-screen instructions. This will enable you to quickly retrieve your lost data.
Step 1. Select file types and click "Next" to start
After successfully installing the pen drive recovery tool, you can run it and select the desired file types to recover, then click "Next" to begin the recovery process.
Step 2. Select USB device to scan
To restore files from a USB flash drive or pen drive, select the drive in the main window.
Step 3. Scan and preview USB files
Click the "Scan" button to initiate the process, and the deleted files on the flash drive will quickly appear. You can then use the search or filter features to find the recoverable files, and preview any file in any type before choosing it.
Step 4. Recover data from USB
To recover a USB drive, click the "Recover" button and select a different location, like a PC or external hard drive, to save the recovered files. Avoid saving them to the original USB drive location to prevent overwriting.
What's the Best USB Recovery Software for PC
While traditional backup methods may not always suffice, USB recovery software can be a lifesaver when it comes to retrieving lost data from a USB drive. These specialized tools can recover lost data even when other methods have failed, providing a second chance at salvaging important files. In our dedicated article, we highlight the top USB recovery software for PC, including some of the best options available.
- Recuva
- Deep Data Recovery for Windows
- Disk Drill Data Recovery Software for Windows
- PhotoRec
- SysTools Pen Drive Recovery
LEARN MORE
Top 9 best USB recovery software choices in 2022 [Windows & Mac].
How to Recover Flash Drive Data Without Software (3 Ways)
If you're looking to recover a flash drive without using software, there are three methods you can try. First, you can try using the built-in Windows File Recovery feature, which can be accessed through the Command Prompt. To do this, open the Command Prompt, navigate to the drive letter of your flash drive, and type in the command "chkdsk /r" followed by the drive letter.
Method 1. Restore Hidden Files on USB Using CMD
To show hidden files from a flash drive using Command Prompt, follow these steps: Open Command Prompt, navigate to the flash drive by typing `cd /d [drive letter]:` (e.g.
Step 1. Connect your flash drive to your computer and ensure it is recognized by the system.
Step 2. Open the Command Prompt and type in the following command:
attrib -h -r -s /s /d e:\*.*
Step 3. To view all hidden, system, and read-only files on your flash drive, you can use the command `ls -a` followed by the letter assigned to your flash drive, such as `ls -a /dev/sda1`. This will show you all files, including those that are normally hidden.
Method 2. Use Previous Versions to Undelete USB Files
To recover deleted files from a flash drive on Windows, use the Previous Versions feature.
Step 1. To recover a file, right-click on the file you want to recover and select "Properties."
Step 2. To restore a previous version of a file, navigate to the "Previous Versions" tab, select the desired version, and click "Restore".
Method 3. Use a Data Recover Service for USB Recovery
If the drive is physically damaged or suddenly changes to RAW, it's best to send it to a professional data recovery service, as they have the necessary tools and expertise to attempt RAW USB recovery.
Qiling 1-Data recovery service for corrupted USB drives, recovering lost data with advanced skills in a well-equipped lab.
Consult with Qiling data recovery experts for a one-on-one manual recovery service, which includes a free diagnosis and the following additional services.
- Unformat flash drive and restore lost files
- Repair RAW USB flash drive or pen drive without formatting
- Fix RAW partition, RAW external hard drive, RAW SD card, etc.
FAQs About USB Data Recovery
When it comes to recovering files from a USB drive or pen drive, there are various situations that may require in-depth reading to navigate. Whether you've accidentally deleted files, suffered from a virus or malware attack, or experienced a physical damage to the drive, understanding the specific recovery techniques and tools required for each scenario is crucial. This includes knowing how to use data recovery software, how to clone the drive, and how to recover files from a corrupted or damaged drive.
1. How to recover deleted files from a flash drive?
To recover deleted files from a flash drive, follow these steps: First, stop using the flash drive immediately to prevent any new data from being written over the deleted files. Then, download and install a reliable data recovery software, such as Deep Data Recovery Wizard, onto a computer.
Step 1. Download and install Qiling USB recovery software.
Step 2. Connect the flash drive/USB stick to your computer.
Step 3. Run the tool and select your USB to scan.
Step 4. Preview and recover your lost USB files.
2. How to recover files from USB for free?
You can recover files from your USB for free using the free version of Qiling pen drive data recovery software, which allows you to recover up to 2GB of data without any cost.
3. What's the best flash drive recovery software for PC and Mac?
The top 9 best USB flash drive recovery tools are:
- Deep Data Recovery
- Disk Drill
- TestDisk
- Data Rescue
- Undelete 360
- Recuva
- PhotoRec
- R-Studio
- Stellar data recovery software
4. How to recover files from a corrupted USB flash drive?
Step 1. Connect your corrupted drive to the computer and start Qiling file recovery tool.
Step 2. Choose your USB and click scan for lost files.
Step 3. Preview files found. Click Recover to restore.
5. How to recover deleted data from a formatted flash drive?
To recover data from a formatted flash drive, first, stop using the drive and avoid writing any new data to it. Then, download and install a reliable data recovery software such as Deep Data Recovery Wizard or Recuva.
Step 1. Connect your formatted flash to your PC or Mac.
Step 2. Launch Qiling USB recovery tool. Scan for formatted files.
Step 3. Preview and recover founded files to a secure place.
6. How to recover deleted files from a flash drive without software?
If you've deleted files from a USB flash drive and want to recover them without using software, you have two options. Firstly, you can try to recover deleted files by looking for them in the "Recycle Bin" or "Trash" folder on your computer, as some operating systems automatically move deleted files to these folders.
- To restore lost files from backups on previous versions of Windows, follow these steps: First, ensure you have backups of your files from previous versions of Windows. Then, open the File History feature in Windows 10, which allows you to browse through previous versions of your files. If you're using Windows 8 or earlier, use the File Recovery feature instead.
- If you're unable to recover your files using the previous methods, you can consider using a data recovery service. These services specialize in recovering lost data and can provide expert assistance to help you retrieve your files. By turning to a data recovery service, you can leave the technical expertise to the professionals and increase the chances of successfully recovering your lost data.
7. How to recover permanently deleted data from a pen drive?
You can recover permanently deleted data from a pen drive using a robust USB recovery program that can scan and retrieve lost files, even if they have been overwritten by new data. These programs can scan the entire drive, including the recycle bin, to find and recover deleted files, photos, videos, and other data.
Step 1. Connect your pen drive to your computer.
Step 2. Run Qiling pen drive data recovery tool. Select your pen drive and scan for files.
Step 3. Choose the file type you want to recover and click the "Recover" button to restore.
8. How can I fix a corrupted USB flash drive?
Before repairing a damaged or broken flash drive, it's recommended to recover data from it first. If the flash drive is still functional, you can use data recovery software to extract important files.
- Fix 1. Check and fix the error on the corrupted USB with the Windows Check tool
- To repair a corrupted file system, open the Command Prompt as an administrator, type "chkdsk" followed by the drive letter of the drive you want to check (e.g., "chkdsk C:"), and press Enter.
- Fix 3. Consult a data recovery service to fix the corrupted USB without losing data.
Navigate to the complete tutorial on USB flash drive repair.
Conclusion
Recovering data from a USB drive is a delicate process, but it's possible with the right tools and knowledge. To attempt data recovery, it's essential to keep in mind that the process requires caution, as it can be easily damaged, leading to permanent data loss. With the right approach, however, it's possible to recover data from a USB drive, even if it's been formatted or corrupted.
- Do not attempt to write any new data to the drive, as this can overwrite existing data and make it unrecoverable.
- To recover data from a damaged external hard drive, connect it to a computer using a USB cable and launch a data recovery program, which can be either commercial or free, and follow the provided instructions.
- Once the recovery process is complete, save the recovered data to a safe location and create backups of essential files to prevent future data loss.
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