What'sbest way to recover folders and files wiped off my flash drive?

I was having to unplug and reinsert my flash drive at every reboot to get my xP system to recognize my flash drive. This was keeping a lot of programs from autostarting like I desired.

Upon advice I used Device Manager to try to address apparent corruption by uninstalling the flash drive. When I reinstalled it, the large collection of files and folders had disappeared except a fraction of the Kingsoft PC Doctor folder.

What's the best way to recover those files and folders? Is recovery software the only option? If so, what are the best choices?



Operating System
Windows XP Home Edition 32-bit SP3
CPU
Intel Pentium 4
Northwood 0.13um Technology
RAM
2.00GB DDR @ 166MHz (2.5-3-3-7)
Motherboard
Dell Computer Corp. 0G1548 (Microprocessor)
Graphics
Default Monitor (1280x1024@60Hz)
Intel 82845G/GL/GE/PE/GV Graphics Controller (Dell)
Storage
74GB Seagate ST380011A (ATA) 28 °C
3GB Lexar USB Flash Drive USB Device (USB)
119GB PNY USB 2.0 FD USB Device (USB)
Optical Drives
SAMSUNG CD-R/RW SW-252S
Audio
Unimodem Half-Duplex Audio Device

 

Hopefully you will find something helpful HERE. Good luck!

 

I have a free program from Piriform (CCleaner is one of their products) called Recuva.
http://www.piriform.com/recuva

Fortunately I haven't had to use this yet so I can't review it. I wish I had had it back when something bad happened to a partition containing my wife' pictures- a near death experience.

Piriform has some useful products.

Hope this helps.

Richard

 

It is mentioned in the link earthling posted.

 

As you find some of the files from saved location simply make use of Remo
Recover to regain access to each of those files with great ease. I
personally have used this application on my system and hope this tool
recovers your data as well.