Forum Discussion
How to recover data from a corrupted flash drive on Windows PC?
I had this problem with my USB before. When I plugged it in, it prompted to format and all the files were gone. Later, I used AisseeSoft Data Recovery and actually recovered most of the files. It was a lifesaver! I suggest you don't format it, try this tool!
I followed this tutorial: (it works well.)
https://www.uumeo.com/recover-data-from-a-corrupted-hard-drive-on-windows
Yes, you can't directly format the drive, which will lead to permanent data loss. When faced with a corrupted USB flash drive, it's important to act carefully to avoid further damage and to maximize the chances of data recovery. Here are the correct ways to rescue your data and repair corrupted USB:
FIRST, Stop using the drive.
Do not write any new data to the drive or attempt to format it, as this could overwrite your existing files and make recovery more difficult.
SECOND, Check hardware issues
Before attempting software-based recovery, ensure that the issue is not hardware-related. Try plugging the drive into a different USB port or even a different computer to see if the problem persists.
NEXT, use a file recovery tool to restore important files. Find a reliable data recovery software to scan and restore your files. If you had File History enabled on the drive, you might be able to restore previous versions of your files.
This is the tutorial you can follow to recover data from a USB drive: https://www.pcworld.com/article/2489771/usb-data-recovery-how-to-recover-deleted-files-from-usb.html
LAST, repair your USB drive.
Use Check Disk (chkdsk): Open Command Prompt as an administrator and type chkdsk X: /f /r (replace "X" with the drive letter of your flash drive). This command will scan the drive for errors and attempt to fix them.
If the above methods do not work, you may need to seek out professional data recovery services. These services can be expensive but are often the last resort when all else fails.