URGENT!! full pendrive is apparently 'empty' and I cannot access files

[Florio]

I'm using Windows 7 Home premium. I have a lot of files on my pendrive, and have never had any problems until yesterday. All of a sudden my laptop won't recognise my pendrive, it tells me it is empty or, when I do actually manage to see the files and folders stored on it, it will not open them. When I check properties, I'm told the disk is completely empty. I have three different USB ports on my laptop, and yesterday one of them did allow me to access the pendrive, but today it won't and I get a message telling me to format the disk.
I've seen various solutions to this type of problem offered on the internet, but none of these work because when I use the cmd command and then type in the drive, I'm told it doesn't exist or cannot be found.
Can someone please help me????
Florio

 

[crankypenguin]

You can try this. Put in the pendrive, let it *attempt* to load. Then instead of going to windows explorer, go into Control Panel -> Device Manager (as admin). You see my picture, open up those sections and look to see if you see any yellow or grey triangles next to any of the items, in fact I would open up each section and look just in case. This is to see if all your drivers are working. Report back. I will try to help if this does not work.

 

[Florio]

Hi crankypenguin,
I tried to get the pendrive to load but it wouldn't (I tried all three ports; no reaction with the first two, but the last one asked me to format the disk).
I then went to Device Manager; it appears that all the drivers are working properly. No triangles.
Florio

 

[crankypenguin]

If your pen drive is physically damaged, there is nothing you can do to save your data. However, the logical damage is quite different, even recoverable. I have used this (iCare Data Recovery Free Edition)
Free SD Card, usb drive, external disk drive, pen drive recovery Freeware - iCare Data Recovery Free with some success . If you are able to get your files off the pendrive, then you can format it, it would mean it was logically corrupted. I would be cautious with that drive. If you are willing to buy recovery software, I would recommend EASEUS Data Recovery Wizard Professional.

 

[Florio]

Yes, I don't know what can have happened. I immediately checked for viruses, malware etc, but nothing. It's very strange since I had no problems whatsoever until yesterday. Fortunately the files on the pendrive are all on my home laptop (I use the pendrive so I can access documents at work), so I'm not in deep trouble.
Thanks for your help, crankypenguin.

 

[gregrocker]

Have you tried the stick in other PC's?

Sometimes you can run Disk Check on the stick to repair the file system enough it will read again. If explorer won't detect it then try Partition Wizard Check File System.

To see if it's toast run Partition Wizard Partition surface test

If it was deleted somehow you might be able to run Partition Wizard Partition Recovery Wizard - Video Help.

If all else fails and it's seen in Explorer try data recovery software.

 

[whs]

I would try to access it with a Linux distro - e.g. this one works well.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/287439-emergency-kit-save-your-files-dead-os.html

But if you happen a live Linux CD on hand, that would work too.

 

[LMiller7]

Always remember that flash drives are the least reliable of modern storage media and cannot be trusted for primary storage of important files. Add to that the possibility that they may be lost, stolen, or physically damaged. They should be used primarily as a transport media. All important files, wherever they are stored, need at least one backup copy, 2 or more backup copies if they are of particular importance.

 

[jumanji]

Hi Florio,
As you have said you are only using the pen drive to carry files from home to office and vice versa. Now your pen drive is not accessible on your home computer or it is playing some sort of hide and seek.

What you have not said:
1. Whether that pen drive is accessible on your office computer or any other computer and 2. whether other pen drives work OK on your home computer.

 

[Florio]

I have tried the pendrive on computers at work, and I get basically the same results. So I guess something has happened to the pendrive, or perhaps its life expectancy had just run out!!
Other pendrives work okay on my laptop, so it is not something to do with my computer.
Florio

 

[jumanji]

Check your pen drive manufacturer's website on whether they have any recovery/format tool. For example Transcend has JetFlash online Recovery Tool JetFlash Online Recovery Other manufacturers may have a similar tool.