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Lost data on USB key.
Hey DN, I thought you might have the answer to this question even though it’s a bit dumb. I recently lost all my data on my USB key. I lent it to my assistant and it came back to me inaccessible and a dialogue box pops up that says “Format the drive now?” or something quite like that. I did a bit of research and a few free programs that claim to be able to retrieve lost data like this but I’m not sure which ones I can trust and I seem to have to format the drive before I can even access it with any of those programs (which makes me a little nervous, I thought formatting deletes everything completely!) Even though I know it is a long shot a few of those files weren’t backed up and I would like to get the best odds possible. Any advice?
- Razhie
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Maybe give some free advice about: Computers?
Hello Razhie,
I am very sorry to hear about your predicament.
Here are some general tips to avoid a repeat:
Flash memory is actually quite fragile. Anyone you consider loaning a flash drive, should be up to speed on handling static sensitive micro-components, as well as being able to understand that electromagnetic precautions are in order also.
For example, touching the connector without ensuring that you aren't carrying a static charge can render the unit useless. :-(
Here is another one most people don't know: Cell phones/cordless phones can give off tremendous electromagnetic energy. Placing your thumb drive/pen drive next to your mobile phone can result in the drive being scrambled when the phone rings.
What do you do this time?
Well, a word about formatting is in order:
There are three kinds of formatting:
Quick, full and wipe.
Quick format just lays out the markers that the file system uses to decide where to place the data. The actual data on the drive is typically not impacted.
This results in all the files still being there, but the index that says what files are where (so the computer can find them) has been reset to blank.
Full format typically does a quick format, then checks each sector to make sure it is accessible. Some operating systems or utilities will overwrite each sector, and some will just verify that they can READ the sector, thus leaving your data hidden, but intact.
Doing a wipe is a whole different matter. There are several styles or methods for wiping data from hard drives, flash memory cards, floppy disks, etc. Most of these methods involve writing each sector of the drive with a series of values one after the other.
For instance the drive will be written with the value 00 in every sector, then that will be overwritten with AD all the way through, then FF, then 00 again.
The theory is that this will muddle attempts at reading the very faintest magnetic traces of the previous data.
Hopefully, all that will help you to understand that formatting a drive can be fairly harmless to the data itself, just as long as it is a quick format, and you have a utility to recover the files once it is done.
There are utilities that are read-only. Some claim to be able to read media that the computer refuses to address without formatting.
As it sounds like you already have some software in mind, I will wait and see what you were planning on trying.
If you send me a list of utilities I will have a look at them for ones that might be risky for you.
Here is one you can try, which will show you what it can find before you pay anything:
[Link](Mouse over link to see full location)
Please add the names/links of the utilities you were thinking of using, as additional info to this question.
I will check back later tonight to see what else you have added to the question.
Don't get your hopes up too high, but there is a small chance your data may be intact.
Hoping the best for you,
DN.
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