How to Recover Data From Malfunctioned USB Drive Using Two DIY Techniques
Universal Serial Bus (USB) Drive is a small portable data storage device used to store and transfer data among various digital devices. Sometimes when users plug their USB Flash Drive to computer hoping to access its data, they find that USB Drive becomes inaccessible. In some other cases, users find a small balloon on their screen that says:
‘The USB device cannot be recognized – The last USB Drive you’ve connected to this computer malfunctioned & Windows does not recognize it.’
Well, if you one of those users who is facing issues like this while attempting to access your USB Flash Drive then, this article is meant just for you. Here, we will show you some simple and actual working techniques to recover data from malfunctioned USB Drive.
Technique 1. Scan USB Drive for Logical Issues
Various unreliable applications installed on the computer, infected files, and logical errors make a USB Drive malfunctioned. In order to fix all these issues, you need to repair the file structure of USB flash drive, and below is how to do this:
- Plug the USB drive into your computer and navigate to My Computer
- Select the Removable Disk icon and hit a right-click on it. Open Properties
Click Tools >> Check - Now, you will get two options to check disk: “Automatically fix file system errors” & “Scan for and attempt the recovery of bad sectors”. Select both options
- Click on Start and USB Drive scanning process will begin right after this
- Hit the Close button once the scanning gets completed
Also Read This: How to Recover Deleted Data From Formatted Pen Drive
Technique 2. Format USB Drive and Recover Data
The above-given solution works only to repair minor-level corrupted USB Flash Drives but, if your USB Drive has malfunctioned highly then, it will not work for that. In such a case first, you need to format the USB Drive to make it clean and then, you can recover data from malfunctioned USB drive. The complete process to do so is categorized into two major steps and it is recommended to execute the steps carefully.
Reformat the USB Flash Drive
- First, connect the USB Drive to your system and close the prompt window
- Click on Start and choose My Computer. Click on the USB Flash Drive letter
- Hit a right-click on the drive letter and choose Format option. In case you are using Windows Vista then, click on Continue button
- Click File System and choose NTFS option. Uncheck the Quick Format option (if checked already)
- Hit the Start button and USB Drive scanning process will begin right after this
Also Read This: How to Recover Damaged Data From USB Flash Drive
Recover Data From Malfunctioned USB Drive Using Reliable Tool
Step 1:- Download the USB Drive Data Recovery Tool and launch it to recover data from a malfunctioned pen drive
Step 2:- Utility will provide two scanning options: Scan (to recover deleted and corrupted data) and Formatted Scan (to recover formatted data). Click on Formatted Scan button
Step 3:- USB Drive Scanning process will begin right after this and after completing it the application will list entire recovered data items
Step 4:- Check all the items you want to recover and hit a right-click on the selection. Click on Save
Step 5:- In case you want to recover the entire recovered data then, directly hit the Save button
Final Words
USB Flash Drives can be malfunctioned due to various reasons like USB controller bugs, missing/ faulty USB ports, outdated USB Drive Drivers, etc. Hence, recovering data from USB Drives becomes essential for users and some best resolutions to recover data from malfunctioned USB Drive are discussed here. Now, users can go for any appropriate option accordingly.
