One might find it annoying to remove significant data from a pen drive unintentionally. Fortunately, there are various ways to recover deleted files from flash drives without requiring costly or sophisticated programming. Using built-in system tools, this post will investigate efficient approaches to retrieve erased data from a pen drive.
We will also provide sophisticated recovery methods and trustworthy free software choices. Following these techniques can let you easily and confidently recover your important data, therefore preventing permanent data loss from deletions.
Reason for Pen Drive Data Loss
Pen drive data loss affects personal and business information for many different causes. One typical reason is inadvertent deletion—that is, wrong file erasure. Furthermore lost data might result from file corruption brought on by incorrect ejection or unexpected power outages during file transfers.
Attacks by malware or viruses could potentially destroy or wipe data on a pen drive. Physical damage like water or severe temperatures could make the drive illegible. Pen drives should be handled carefully itten as any formatting mistakes or software faults during data transfer operations could cause accidental data loss.
Where Your Deleted Pen Drive Data Stored?
Files removed from a pen drive do not instantly vanish from the storage medium. Rather, the area used by these files is designated as open for fresh data. Until overwritten by new files, the erased files are physically visible on the pen drive.
This means that these files can be accessed before they are permanently rewritten with the correct recovery methods and tools. The operating system only hides the file from users by removing its entry from the directory hierarchy; the real data stays on the disk for a period.
Here are the methods to recover deleted files from flash drive
Method 1: Recover from Recycle Bin
Should the deletion take place via the file Explorer on a computer to recover pendrive data that may be temporarily housed in the Recycle Bin? Acting as a safety net, the Recycle Bin catches deleted data before they are permanently off-loaded from the system.
Since the files stay in the Recycle Bin until they are cleared, this approach is especially successful when the deletion is discovered shortly after it happens. Using the built-in capabilities of your operating system, this fast and simple recovery fix eliminates the need for further tools.
However, this recovery method would only be feasible if the pen drive was connected to the computer throughout the deletion procedure. Files erased straight from the pen drive on another device or via system-level actions will not show up in the Recycle Bin. This method also assumes that the Recycle Bin has not been emptied or that the files were not permanently deleted from the bin.
➣ Steps
- Connect Pen Drive – Insert the pen drive into your computer’s USB port.
- Open Recycle Bin – Double-click the Recycle Bin icon on your desktop.
- Search for Files – Look through the Recycle Bin to find the deleted files.
- Select Files – Click on the files you want to restore.
- Restore Files – Right-click on the selected files and choose restore. The files will be moved back to their original location on the pen drive.
Method 2: Use Command Prompt (CMD)
Recover deleted files from thumb drive may be done technically using the Command Prompt (CMD) technique. When files are hidden or protected by system properties rather than totally destroyed, this approach is very helpful.
Using certain CMD commands allows users to expose hidden or protected files that are not apparent using standard file viewing techniques. This method works well when files are lost via system faults, spyware, or unintentional actions altering file properties.
Windows has a built-in tool called CMD, which is accessible without any third party software. When other methords fail or if the files aren’t showing up in the Recycle Bin, it may be very beneficial. Although this approach calls for a fundamental knowledge of command-line operations, it is a great choice for consumers who must retrieve partly erased or concealed data from their pen drive.
➣ Steps
- Connect Pen Drive – Plug the pen drive into your computer.
- Open CMD – Press Win + R, type cmd, and press Enter.
- Navigate to Drive – Type X: (replace X with your pen drive’s drive letter) and press Enter.
- Run Recovery Command – Type attrib -h -r -s /s /d . and press Enter. This command changes the file attributes and makes hidden files visible.
- Check Pen Drive – Open the pen drive in File Explorer to see if the deleted files are restored.
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Method 3: Using Recuva (Free Software)
Renowned free data recovery program Recuva helps consumers recover lost files on usb from several storage media, including pen drives. Its strong scanning features and easy-to-use interface help to find files lost via corruption, formatting, or inadvertent deletion. Recuva is easily navigable, which makes it available to novice as well as expert users.
Deep scans carried out by the program find and restore invisible files using conventional browsing techniques. Recuva is flexible for many data recovery requirements as it supports a variety of file formats. Those wishing to retrieve crucial data without paying extra money use it mostly because of its simplicity and efficiency.
➣ Steps
- Download and Install – Download Recuva from its official website and install it on your computer.
- Launch Recuva – Open the software and connect your pen drive to the computer.
- File Type Selection – Choose the files you want to recover (e.g., pictures, documents).
- Select Location – Choose your pen drive as the location to scan.
- Start Scan and Recover – Click start to begin scanning. Once the scan is complete, select the files you want to recover and click recover. Save the files to a new location on your computer.
Method 4: Using Disk Drill (Free Version)
Disk Drill is a robust free data recovery software tool that is widely used for retrieving lost files from a variety of storage devices, including pen drives. Its clear UI and thorough scanning techniques are well-known. Disk Drill can restore data lost by unintentional deletion, formatting, or disk malfunction in support of many file formats.
For consumers looking to recover lost data from pen drive, the free edition of Disk Drill is a flexible alternative with great capability including fast and deep scan choices. Its simple layout and strong recovery features guarantee that even customers with little technical knowledge may recover their lost data on their own without professional help.
➣ Steps
- Download and Install – Download Disk Drill from its official website and install it.
- Launch Disk Drill – Open the software and connect your pen drive to the computer.
- Select Drive – Choose your pen drive from the list of available drives in Disk Drill.
- Scan Drive – Click on search for lost data to initiate the scan.
- Preview and Recover – After the scan, preview the files found, select the ones you wish to recover, and click recover. Save them to a new location on your computer.
Method 5: Using PhotoRec (Free Software)
Excellent to recover files from usb for free, PhotoRec is a potent and free file recovery tool. Particularly helpful for recovering files from damaged or corrupted devices, it runs by avoiding the file system and concentrating on the underlying data. PhotoRec supports movies, images, and documents among other file types.
PhotoRec is very useful and flexible even if its UI is unclear like other recovery applications. For consumers looking for a free data recovery solution, its capacity to retrieve data from several kinds of storage media makes it an invaluable instrument. By following its guidelines, significant files that could otherwise be irreversibly can be restored.
➣ Steps
- Download and Install – Download PhotoRec from its official website and install it on your computer.
- Launch PhotoRec – Open the software and connect your pen drive to the computer.
- Select Device – Choose your pen drive from the list of detected devices.
- Choose File System Type – Select the file system type that matches your pen drive.
- Scan and Recover – Start the scan. Once the scan is complete, select the files you want to recover and save them to a new location on your computer.
Conclusion
With correct techniques, recover data from usb stick. Using free programs like Recuva, Disk Drill, and PhotoRec or built-in utilities like the Recycle Bin and Command Prompt can let you quickly recover deleted files from pen drive due to virus without incurring any costs.
Every technique guarantees a flexible approach to file recovery as it meets diverse situations and user preferences. Using these methods guarantees a consistent approach to access crucial data and minimize the effect of deletions or data loss. For optimum outcomes, always be sure to act fast and precisely follow the procedures.
Also Read – How to Fix Corrupted Images and GIF Photos for Free
FAQs
Q1. Can I recover files from a pen drive if I accidentally deleted them a long time ago?
Indeed, assuming the data has not been rewritten, retrieving files from a pen drive is feasible even if they were erased several years ago. The file system and data fragmentation degree determine whether recovery is successful.
Though they were wiped a long time ago, tools like Recuva, Disk Drill, and PhotoRec are made to search pen drives for and retrieve erased contents. However, the chances of recovery decrease as new data is written to the pen drive.
Q2. Will using data recovery software affect the current files on my pen drive?
Usually, using data recovery software does not change the present files on your pen drive. These instruments search for missing or deleted files without changing current data.
However, writing fresh data to the pen drive before recovery should be avoided as this might wipe the erased information and lower the possibility of a successful recovery. Always use a separate drive or location to save recovered files to prevent any potential data loss.
Q3. Is it possible to recover files from a corrupted pen drive for free?
Yes, free programs let one restore data from a damaged pen drive. Recuva, Disk Drill, and PhotoRec, among other programs, can manage many kinds of data loss, including corruption. These instruments rescue data from damaged or corrupted devices using many scanning methods.
Although free versions of these programs have great capability, they might not be as good as their commercial equivalents. Always be sure you use the correct procedures to increase the possibility of a good recovery.
Q.4 What should I do if my pen drive is not recognized by my computer?
If your computer does not detect your pen drive, first try connecting it to another computer or another USB port to rule out port problems. Make sure the pen drive is correctly formatted by seeing if Disk Management (Windows) or Disk Utility (Mac) shows it.
The pen drive can be physically damaged or corrupted if it remains unidentified. Under such circumstances, using recovery programs such as PhotoRec, Recuva, or Disk Drill may not be feasible. Should the data be vital, think about contacting a qualified data recovery company.
