USB flash memory has data but doesn't show the contents

Hi all,

My friend's USB flash memory has data (its drive shows that there is data in it) but when I double click on it to open it and see the contents, it doesn't show any folders and files! I did the following works:

1- I scanned it by my updated kaspersky AV. but no threat found
2- Scanned by windows defender tool. same result!
3- scanned by malwarebytes anti-malware. same.
4- cmd (run as administrator) -> go to its drive (e.g., H:, when H is my flash drive) and typing the attarib -s -h *.* /s /d command. It could not to show the data.

All my attempts faced failure till now.

Can anyone help me please?

No one knows!?

No. Not even the autoplay window.

Recuva - Undelete, Unerase, File and Disk Recovery - Free Download

You and your friend really need to understand that flash drives are the least reliable of modern storage media. In addition to that there is the risk of them being lost, stolen, physically damaged, files deleted accidentally or maliciously, etc. They should never be trusted as primary storage of important files. They should be used primarily as a transport media where the files are stored om some other media.

All important files, regardless of the media on which they are stored, need at least 1 backup copy. Files of particular importance need 2 or more backup copies.

Data recovery by any method is always hit or miss and cannot be relied on.

Comp Cmndo said:

Recuva - Undelete, Unerase, File and Disk Recovery - Free Download

Recovery is the last solution. Anyway thanks.

LMiller7 said:

You and your friend really need to understand that flash drives are the least reliable of modern storage media. In addition to that there is the risk of them being lost, stolen, physically damaged, files deleted accidentally or maliciously, etc. They should never be trusted as primary storage of important files. They should be used primarily as a transport media where the files are stored om some other media.

All important files, regardless of the media on which they are stored, need at least 1 backup copy. Files of particular importance need 2 or more backup copies.

Data recovery by any method is always hit or miss and cannot be relied on.

Thanks for your advice. After that, I think I need the solution for this problem.

In place recovery of data is a chancy business as it may leave the drive in a worse state than it is now. Your best and safest option is a recovery utility such as Recuva which will attempt to copy recoverable files to another drive, such as a hard drive. If that doesn't work commercial data recovery may be the only option. This is very expensive, even more so than for conventional drives. As I mentioned previously, data recovery is not guaranteed to work.

I tried the command mentioned at beginning several times. Finally it worked and I could to see the contents. But there is a lock image on my folders (as I attached its file below). What's that lock sign and how to remove it and return the shape of the folders to their default state?