3 Effective Methods to Retrieve Data from Flash Drive

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Have you ever encountered the disappointment of unplugging a USB drive while files are still being transferred, which will cause both files during travel and files on disk to disappear? If so, you are not the only one. We understand the importance of recovering deleted files from USB drives. That’s why we have compiled four valuable methods to help you.

Understand the reason for USB data loss

USB data loss can occur due to various reasons such as accidental deletion of files, malware infection, formatting of USB drives, physical damage, hardware failure, software defects, and problems with power supply to USB ports, for whatever reason, there are important steps you should take to successfully recover deleted files from your flash drive:

  • Stop using the flash drive immediately when you notice a data loss.
  • Disconnect the flash drive from your computer securely and keep it safe until you are ready to start the recovery process.
  • Avoid trying to copy data from the flash drive to another location as it may complicate the recovery effort.

Now you are aware of the common reasons for USB data loss and the necessary precautions to penetrate into four ways we recommend for file recovery from flash drives.

Method 1: Retrieve Data from Flash Drive without Software

Before investigating a third-party recovery tool, it is worth considering the built-in commands for a specific USB recovery situation. The Command Prompt (CMD) ‘attrib’ command is useful for exposing hidden files. Provides a quick solution for lost data. Also, using ‘chkdsk’ can fix file system errors on corrupted drives and solve problems effectively.

To retrieve data from flash drive using the built-in command:

  • Connect USB flash drive to your computer
  • Open the Start menu, type “This PC” and press the Enter button.
  • Right-click on your USB flash drive and select “Properties”
  • Go to the “Previous” tab and see the existing recovery options.
  • Select the previous version from the list and click “Restore”

If no previous version is available, this method may not be available. In these cases, we recommend using method 3, which guarantees recovery regardless of the situation.

Method 2: Retrieve Data from Flash Drive Using CMD

We started with this strategy because it doesn’t require downloading third-party programs or setting data protection measures. Windows installation relies on the Command Prompt (CMD) for step-by-step commands.

CMD to recover USB flash drive erased files:

  • Plug USB flash drive into computer.
  • Press Enter after typing “cmd” in Start.
  • Type “chkdsk X: /f” and click Enter in Command Prompt. Replace “X” with your USB flash drive’s drive letter.
  • Type “ATTRIB -H -R -S /S /D X:.” and hit Enter. (change “X” with your USB drive letter).
  • The procedure is over.

If successful, your USB drive’s freshly created folder will contain all deleted files. 

Method 3: Recover permanently deleted files from USB drives

If ‘Restore Previous Versions’ and CMD failed to retrieve your USB flash drive files, there is hope. WinfrGUI, GUI of Windows File Recovery came into action here.

Losing important files can be a problem, especially when they are permanently deleted from a USB drive. However, there are software programs designed specifically to recover these files. Along with advanced algorithms, these programs will scan your USB drive carefully and successfully recover lost files.

WinfrGUI is a very comprehensive and easy-to-use professional data recovery solution. Even beginners who are worried about their computers can quickly recover their files using this software. Winfr GUI can retrieve files from corrupted, formatted or corrupted flash drives.

To retrieve data from flash drive using WinfrGUI:

  • Download and install WinfrGUI for Windows.
Download WinfrGUI Free
  • Connect your SD card and turn on WinfrGUI.
  • Click on the “Find Lost Information” button near your SD card.
  • See the sample image you want to recover.
  • Select the image you want and click “Recover”.

WinfrGUI uses an advanced file recognition algorithm to scan SD cards or other storage devices, even identifying damaged files and restoring them. This easy-to-use software is free to use, allowing you to recover as much data as you want without any cost.

Recovering deleted files with WinfrGUI is easy, unreliable but very reliable, making it an ideal data recovery solution.

Losing vital files is not permanent. We listed four successful flash drive file recovery methods in this article. Following the guidelines will help you restore your crucial data.

>>Also Read: How to Retrieve Files from Formatted Hard Drive (2024)