Recover Data On USB That Windows No Longer Recognizes

[michael diemer]

I was transferring a download to a USB so I could install it on another computer. Something went wrong, it got hung up, and I had to shut down Windows. The desktop even got messed up, only the picture remained. A restart brought everything back fine. But when I put the USB in, Windows wanted to format it. I did not do this, fearing that it would overwrite the data. I tried Recuva on it, but it said that there was no recognizable file system.

So, should I format the disk, and then try Recuva, in hopes it can still recover the data? Or is this a lost cause?

 

[SIW2]

Try a different data recovery program

 

[RolandJS]

Assuming this was MoveAndPaste operation, you might be able to recover the download on the original HDD. SSD might be trickier. What I have normally done is CopyAndPaste, after making sure the target has a good copy, then delete the source original unless I wanted to keep both. However, work quickly and accurately on the source device because Windows keeps "writing and writing and writing". Even better is to use another computer to formulate a few known good data recovery utilities (on separate flash sticks), boot them and attempt recovery on both the original source first and the target device if the original source does not cough up the needed download.

 

[file3456]

If this was a move to another location operation then the data is poof, gone, like magician's flash paper. If it was just a simply copy and paste you might be able to recover the data on the USB drive. First don't format and then try this program.

Roadkil.Net - Roadkil's Unstoppable Copier Program Download

If you can't figure out the source drive letter, then go to the start orb and in search enter create and format hard disk partitions. In there you should see your dead USB stick with its drive letter. Again, don't format yet. If it simply needs to be initialized then do so.

Here's some instructions with software that might be pertinent. 6 Ways to Fix Disk Unknown Not Initialized in Windows 10/8/7 - EaseUS

Try Unstoppable Copier first.

 

[RolandJS]

F22Simpilot, I was hoping the OS on the original media did not obliterate, just simply "deleted", the source file.

 

[michael diemer]

Assuming this was MoveAndPaste operation, you might be able to recover the download on the original HDD. SSD might be trickier. What I have normally done is CopyAndPaste, after making sure the target has a good copy, then delete the source original unless I wanted to keep both. However, work quickly and accurately on the source device because Windows keeps "writing and writing and writing". Even better is to use another computer to formulate a few known good data recovery utilities (on separate flash sticks), boot them and attempt recovery on both the original source first and the target device if the original source does not cough up the needed download.

I still have the download on my browser, so no problem there. It's all the stuff on the 16BG USB that I would like to recover. Fortunately I did format it, so maybe there's still hope!

 

[michael diemer]

Try a different data recovery program

I looked at a few others per your advice, and tried one (can't remember which now), but to no avail. I'll be trying some of the suggestions below next.

 

[michael diemer]

If this was a move to another location operation then the data is poof, gone, like magician's flash paper. If it was just a simply copy and paste you might be able to recover the data on the USB drive. First don't format and then try this program.

Roadkil.Net - Roadkil's Unstoppable Copier Program Download

If you can't figure out the source drive letter, then go to the start orb and in search enter create and format hard disk partitions. In there you should see your dead USB stick with its drive letter. Again, don't format yet. If it simply needs to be initialized then do so.

Here's some instructions with software that might be pertinent. 6 Ways to Fix Disk Unknown Not Initialized in Windows 10/8/7 - EaseUS

Try Unstoppable Copier first.

Thanks, Ill look into these suggestions. Some good stuff on Roxanne's tutorial!

 

[michael diemer]

Thanks, Ill look into these suggestions. Some good stuff on Roxanne's tutorial!

I tried the Roadkil Copier (love the "copycat" icon); also the EaseUS freebie. No luck with either. Will keep trying but it looks like that without Pro level tools or help, the data on this 16GB USB are gone. I probably have most of it saved elsewhere anyway, but I'm not sure exactly was on it. Probably nothing I can't do without.

 

[michael diemer]

A little more info for you guys: In Disk Management, the drive is listed as below:

F:
15GB RAW
Healthy (Primary Partition)

It is not possible to initialize. It will ask me to format, but that fails as it does not recognize the file system. I wonder about physical damage at this point.

 

[file3456]

Unfortunately, you formatted your USD stick which is what I said not to do unless you did that before you read my post.

You can go back to the EaseUs link I gave in in solution number 3 you can try to recover the last deleted partition. 6 Ways to Fix Disk Unknown Not Initialized in Windows 10/8/7 - EaseUS

If the partition is able to be recovered, then try Unstoppable Copier again.

BTW, Unstoppable Copier can generate a log. Elect to use that option and if it fails post the log here.

 

[michael diemer]

Unfortunately, you formatted your USD stick which is what I said not to do unless you did that before you read my post.

You can go back to the EaseUs link I gave in in solution number 3 you can try to recover the last deleted partition. 6 Ways to Fix Disk Unknown Not Initialized in Windows 10/8/7 - EaseUS

If the partition is able to be recovered, then try Unstoppable Copier again.

BTW, Unstoppable Copier can generate a log. Elect to use that option and if it fails post the log here.

Well, I confess to trying to format it due to growing frustration, but since it would not format, no format was in fact done. I was at the point where I was pretty sure the stick was toast, and losing the data is not a catastrophe, since most of it is saved elsewhere. I was just trying to learn to troubleshoot, more than anything else. If it works, great, I recover the data and learn something. If not, I still learn something.

 

[RolandJS]

A little more info for you guys: In Disk Management, the drive is listed as below: F: 15GB RAW Healthy (Primary Partition). It is not possible to initialize. It will ask me to format, but that fails as it does not recognize the file system. I wonder about physical damage at this point.

There might be a way to force-format the stick into either a FAT32 or NTFS, I vote for FAT32. PM me a reminder, I need to search my Windows 7 laptop for those two utilities that just might work for you. I have had both success and failure depending on what originally led to RAW.

 

[file3456]

Try the following programs:

Download HDD Low Level Format Tool - MajorGeeks

Download USB Disk Storage Format Tool - MajorGeeks

What brand is the USB stick?

 

[michael diemer]

No luck with the USB Format Tool, format failed. The stick is a PNY. I'm officially abandoning the effort. With each new tool I download I get more nervous that I may have inadvertently grabbed something that could damage my computer. Thanks for all the suggestions, guys. I think I will do some research on what USB drives are worth buying, and which are lemons.