Retrieving data from a USB before reformatting

I'm sure this has happened to everyone at least once in their computing life. So the big question is...

Is there anyway I could retrieve data from a USB memory stick before reformatting it.

In my case, due to some unknown reason my USB has suddenly started asking me to format it. I ain't no computer whiz so I'm at a loss here. Here's an image of it's properties if it helps any?



[size=10]If a question like this has been posted already and been answered then kindly direct me there.[/h]

It looks like your USB drive is broken. Did you try putting it into a newly-built computer? Or, perhaps exposed it to moisture? It might have been damaged.

No, it's hasn't been on a new a computer recently. And no it's hasn't been exposed to any moisture or physical damage, that I know of.
Well the only thing that has been newly introduced was my Bro's iPod Touch. But I seriously doubt that would be the cause of this sudden corruption of my USB. But man with computers you never know...

Try your USB key in another computer. If you get the same problem, its most definitely broken.

Just did that and...
That confirms it my USB's dead... [size=4]There goes 3 months of work down the drain...[/h]

So with that being said, is there really no way on earth that I can at least get even a bit of my previous data stored on the USB?

You'd need data recovery software, which would cost money and wouldn't necessarily work.

Really nothing free out there that could do the same job?
I mean I've looked it up and still kinda feel a bit sketchy about paying for these services... And as you said they won't necessarily work...

And while we're at it here, would there be anyway to determine the cause of the sudden breakdown of my USB, or maybe a list on certain cases that would cause the same thing to other USB's? And maybe ways to prevent this from happening to similar devices?

Not to my knowledge.


The cause of my USB drive being corrupted was an improper pin configuration on a computer I had just built a couple of years back. Moisture can also cause this, or too much/little power, or dropping it... there are multitudes of possible reasons.

Hey .. i think this program can help ... in case you want to recover data .
It's free and small.

Recuva ~ Hippo

I hope it can help you

@ Tegumi
"Having a bad sector"
Is it can be included as your Possible reason that you mentioned before ?

This might sound stupid, but have you tried on a non windows PC?
I can not count the number of times windows suddenly decided that I had to format. I happened mostly back when I was using floppy discs, but it has also happened several times since I started to use USB drives, so you should give it a try... maybe you will be lucky it is just windows

The reason for most of the USB drives I have seen break has mainly been poor quality. Most USB drives are dirt cheap, and quality follows price..

Yes.


I was thinking it was a Windows issue too, but notice how it's not detecting that his USB drive has any space at all.

If the data is mission critical (it sounds like you're writing a thesis or something to that sort) you can always hire a professional data recovery firm to see if they can pull anything out of it.

Be warned it's expensive and they might not be able to get anything at all if it's beyond recovery (make sure you read their contract carefully).

I think the thing that you should take away from this is always have backups of your data, I know too many people with flash drives with all their assignments and work being lost due to flash drives dyeing.
Remember that a flash drive is not a 'permanent' form of storage and it's just to get your data from place to place without using the internet.

I think this is how it happened:
Your bro got an iPod Touch and wanted to plug it in to the computer and put music on it. But he notices your USB stick in the only slot so he pulls it out and replaces it with his iPod cable. My guess is that he didn't click that tray icon to safely remove the device first causing it to short out and wipe the stick clean. I learned the hard way because a few ports on my computer are permanently fried because of this. So if I were you, I'd safely remove the USB stick before you leave the computer unattended next time. As for the USB stick itself, I think there is nothing you can do because its flash memory and probably got wiped clean from the short. You can try a professional service but I don't think your going to get anything off of it. Also, like Spectre257 said, have a copy of the files on your harddrive in case something like this happens and only use the flash drive if you are transferring files from one computer to the next.

As far as I know, then a RAW file system can be anything, so I interpreted it as windows can't read the file system information. If it cannot read the file system then it cannot read the size of the drive.
Of cause this theory is based entirely on windows sucking as much as it always has done, as it of cause could be a legitimate problem with the drive, but just trying to put the drive in a Linux machine to see if it can be read probably won't hurt or be too much trouble.





First, replace your motherboard if that is really true, the following will assume a normal working motherboard.
What you are saying is incorrect, there is a limit on the current in a USB port which would prevent what you say from being possible!
If you take the drive out without pressing safely remove all you risk is that windows has not yet written the data to the drive because it tries to do write operations intelligently. This would of cause lead to you loosing the data that windows had not yet written to the drive, but that is ALL that should be able to happen!
anything else happening and you better get rid of that motherboard as fast as you possible can.

Well, it means Windows at least partially read it. I've had cases where it wouldn't even detect the USB drive. It doesn't necessitate that the data is there or not there -- it just means that a sector is definitely corrupted.


Improper pin configuration can cause a short.

True, but I have never seen a homemade USB cable or similar (I know people do make homemade devices.. but that out of scope here) so considering that you can only put a usb connector in one way, then that can normally only be archived on purpose.

just error check it with vista, same thing happened to me, an scan for errors and sector fix and it worked again

Since it cannot figure out what the file system is, then what kind of magic do you think Vista has to be able to scan an unknown file system? (besides the ever lasting ability to continuously suck)

1 vista does suck, 2 an advanced scan does help in some cases as it did for me, I was using a modded vista, which was kinda unstable, tho.
the only other thing that comes to my head as a reason for the malfunction is a damaged storage chip, or damaged connection
so, possible fixes:
-plug the bitch in a different OS or just a different pc because windows has the bad habit of fucking up
-check for internal physical damage, damaged connections are fixable

I think you have a problem with the concept of "unknown file system" and scanning said file system.
Let me make it clear for you: it is like asking a person not familiar with Chinese to read out loud a Chinese text, while at the same time fixing any grammar mistakes...