As the USB flash drives are being widely used nowadays, there are more chances that they will get corrupted and damaged. Besides, accidentally formatting a USB flash drive can be a nightmare, especially if it contains important data. However, there is no need to panic. You can recover files from a formatted USB flash drive with 4 solutions. Let's get started!
Coolmuster Data Recovery is a user-friendly tool created to help recover data from formatted USB drives. Whether your data was lost due to accidental formatting or other reasons, this software can help you retrieve it. As long as the data isn't overwritten, you still have a chance to get it back. Furthermore, this software is effective for recovering a wide variety of file types, including documents, photos, videos, and more.
Main features of Coolmuster Data Recovery:
Download Coolmuster Data Recovery.
To recover files from a formatted USB drive with this software:
01Download and install the Coolmuster Data Recovery tool on your computer. Then plug the formatted USB drive into your computer.
02Open the software, and choose the "Formatted Recovery" mode on the left panel. Then choose your USB drive, and click "Start Scan".
03After that, preview the files that can be recovered. Select the ones you want to restore and click "Recover to Computer" to save them to your computer.
TestDisk is an open-source data recovery tool that is highly effective for recovering lost partitions and files from a formatted USB drive. It works by repairing partition tables and file systems. TestDisk is especially useful when the partition structure of your USB drive has been damaged, but it may require some technical knowledge to use effectively.
To recover your data from a formatted USB drive with TestDisk:
Step 1: Open TestDisk (it uses a command-line interface) and select "Create" to start a new log file.
Step 2: Select your USB flash drive from the list of media. Usually, the tool detects the partition table automatically (often "Intel" or "EFI GPT").
Step 3: Navigate to "Advanced", select your partition, and use the "Undelete" or "List" command to locate and copy your files to a safe location.
Windows File Recovery is a free tool from Microsoft, available on the Microsoft Store, that allows you to recover files from formatted or corrupted drives. Although it is a powerful tool, the command-line interface can be challenging for beginners. If you're comfortable with command-line tools, this is a solid choice for recovering data.
Here's how:
Step 1: Download and install Windows File Recovery from the Microsoft Store.
Step 2: This tool works via the Command Prompt. Open the tool and use the following command format: winfr source-drive: destination-folder /extensive.
Step 3: If your USB is drive E: and you want to save files to C:\Recovery, type: winfr E: C:\Recovery /extensive.
Step 4: Press "Y" to start the scan. The "Extensive" mode is specifically designed for drives that have been formatted.
PhotoRec is the companion software to TestDisk. While TestDisk focuses on partitions, PhotoRec ignores the file system and goes after the underlying data (carving), making it perfect for formatted drives. However, it may recover files with generic names, so you might need to sort through the recovered data.
To recover data from a formatted USB drive with PhotoRec:
Step 1: Run the photorec_win.exe file on your computer, and select your USB drive.
Step 2: You can choose "File Opt" to select specific file types (like .jpg or .pdf) to speed up the process.
Step 3: Select the "Whole" partition scan to search the entire formatted area. Then choose a folder on your internal hard drive to store the recovered files.
Q1: Can I recover deleted data from my formatted USB flash drive with Command Prompt (chkdsk)?
No. chkdsk is designed to find and repair errors in the file system structure or mark bad sectors. It does not possess the ability to "unformat" a drive or reconstruct deleted files. In some cases, running it on a corrupted drive can actually make data recovery more difficult by altering the drive's structure.
Q2: Can the ATTRIB command retrieve lost files from a formatted USB drive?
No. The attrib command is used to change file attributes (such as "Hidden" or "Read-only"). While it is a popular fix for "shortcut viruses" that hide your files, it cannot bring back data that has been removed via formatting.
Q3: How much does Geek Squad charge for data recovery?
Geek Squad's pricing varies significantly based on the severity of the data loss. Generally:
Formatting a USB drive doesn't have to mean your data is gone forever. If you prefer the simplicity of a graphical interface, you can choose Coolmuster Data Recovery. This software enables you to recover your files from a storage device with simple clicks. There are no tech skills needed. Always remember the golden rule of data recovery: stop using the drive immediately until the recovery process is complete to ensure your files remain intact.
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