Flash drive not recognized - how to recover files?

Hi All -

I have a PNY 4 GB flash drive that I use to transfer files from work/home and vice versa since I work in both locations. The other day I updated a presentation and saved the file to my flash, went through the procedure to safely remove the hardware, put it in my bag and took it home as I have done many times before. When I plugged it in at home... nothing. My laptop did not recognize there was a removable drive inserted. Same thing happened when I tested it on another latptop. The flash does not appear to be physically damaged in any way, so I am not sure what could have happened.

Of course, I now want to get the files off of the flash (a variety of Microsoft Office documents and pictures). Is there any way to recover them? I would be willing to purchase a file recovery program - but will it work? And are some better than others?

Thanks for any help or advice you could provide!!!!

Lily

 

Hi Lily and welcome to Majorgeeks

If you go to Device Manager, what name does it use for the USB stick now?

 

Satrow - I am in Device Manager now. Sorry, I am definitely not a computer expert, as you may have guessed! LOL Soooo....what should I be looking at to check what/if the device is being recognized as?

Thanks,
Lily

 

I think it should be listed under Disk drives, is there anything listed anywhere with a "!"?

 

Satrow - under disk drives, I only have one item listed and it does not have a "!".

 

Hmm, then it's back to Tim's advice in post 3.

You could also try it in a recent Mac, if you can access one.

 

Thanks for your help Satrow. I did try it in my husband's Mac, but no dice. As Tim suggested, I will try it at work when I am back there, but I guess I shouldn't hold out too much hope. Am very frustrated at why I have (probably) lost. :cry

Any ideas how or why this happened? Is this a common occurrence?

Lily

 

If you followed the 'safely remove hardware' procedure correctly then I have no idea why this should happen - though it does seem to happen to many others too

You could try software like this, instead of relying on the built-in Windows tool.

At the end of the day, save first (to the local hard drive) then copy the data to your USB device is probably the safest option and it gives you a backup.

 

I know this is a few years old, but I was searching for a way to recover my usb that my computer decided to not recognize today. It's just a 1 GB Dane-Elec, and unlike the above post, when I go into my devices there is a (!) and states "Unknown Device". It will not let me open the files, which are just pictures I stored by the way. I don't care about saving the usb itself, but I am desperate to get the pictures I stored on it!! PLEASE HELP!! kimbe88

 

Hi and Welcome, kimbe88.

There are 2x tools I would try, other than that, it'll likely cost $70 for anything that might be better:

http://www.majorgeeks.com/files/details/testdisk_photorec.html

http://www.majorgeeks.com/files/details/minitool_power_data_recovery_free_edition.html

 

Thank you. I was going to download testdisk one you sent. Should my usb be plugged in before I do? I am not computer savvy, if me posting on this site isn't obvious enough.

 

Plug it in before you start up the software is best.

 

In the past I've used IsoBuster to retrieve data from corrupt CDs, DVDs, Zip disks, and yes USB flash drives.

http://www.majorgeeks.com/files/details/isobuster.html

The freeware version only allows you to navigate the corrupt media and see what files IsoBuster is able to salvage. If you want to actually salvage the data you'll need to cough up $35 USD. I found it well worth the price as many of my older CDs and DVDs are starting to fail (they have a definite shelf life beyond which you can no longer depend on them). And USB flash drives seem to just up and die for no reason, even new ones. I've heard that from many people. Therefore, it's a great tool to have in your toolbox, especially if you use USB flash drives to tote around valuables like your photo albums. Actually, now that I think about it, I can't remember a single instance when IsoBuster was unable to restore a single file on any corrupt media. It's a monster of an app that can restore virtually any files from any data media storage device you can think of (and some you've probably never even heard of ).

 

Just checked the IsoBuster website and the current price is $39.95 USD, not $35.00