How to recover your data from a flash drive or memory card

Introduction How to protect yourself from data loss?

Flash drives and memory cards are very firmly entrenched in our daily life with you. Most people use them for work purposes, someone for school or university (study). That is, information keepers are an indispensable assistant in any goals and tasks that involve recording, storing and transmitting information in any form (whether it be photos, videos, music, documents, or software). But, like any technical device, flash drives and memory cards are often threatened, as a result of which this very information may be lost. So how to protect yourself from this?

Many users immediately say goodbye to lost data

Most often, data loss occurs due to a virus attack. And in general, most technical problems can be attributed to them. Therefore, it is imperative to protect yourself from this using special anti-virus software. It is best to install a licensed antivirus, which, albeit worth a certain amount (still in Russia, users are accustomed to resort to all sorts of tricks, downloading the "pirated" version). But in the case of antivirus software, this does not work, as the publisher carefully monitors this. But with these programs you can protect your data and information that is stored on external devices and a computer.

Why could the files disappear?

But what to do if the problem failed to prevent, and the trouble has already come to your flash drive or memory card? Immediately it should be said that it is not necessary to arrange a panic (it is still too early. Perhaps you will have time for that later). In the world of modern technology, almost everything is possible, so you still have a small chance to see your data, which has been erased for some reason. But first, let's turn to the problems that brought you here.

  • As already mentioned, a virus attack is the most common source of problems. Therefore, you need to first scan the USB flash drive or memory card for malicious programs, then delete them, and then try to recover the information.

  • Error when the computer asks to format the USB flash drive. After you inserted the storage medium into the appropriate connector (USB or Micro SD) and went into the USB flash drive explorer, you received a message stating that you need to format it before using the drive. Naturally, you still have to format it, but you don’t really want to do this for those who have photos of some kind of rest on this flash drive. You can check it for errors with the help of different utilities, but in most cases this does not work. Therefore, after the checks, format the partition, and then proceed to the recovery.

  • Often, people themselves accidentally delete the data, and then clutching their hair or face with thoughts: “No! What have I done?". And as you know (and if not, you will find out), if you delete information from a flash drive directly, then they do not move to the trash. That is, you can not get it out. Then you will be interested in data recovery from a flash drive.
  • It happens that you gave a friend a flash drive, and he deleted your music. For example, because it occupied a lot of memory, which is why he could not write his files on it. He just did not ask you and did his dirty work. You may not be able to restore another, but you can still try to do something with deleted files.

In fact, there are a lot of reasons, so we decided to paint the most popular among ordinary users. Such problems are most often associated with the usual human factor, virus attacks or improper handling of the information carrier. So let's move on to how you can recover deleted files (photos, videos, music, documents, and so on) and information.

Data Recovery from USB Flash Drive

For example, third-party software that is designed specifically for such cases can help bring your photos back to life. Like any other program, they can be free and paid. Most often, you can restrict the first. However, sometimes you may need to use the full version. For example, some utilities are limited in the amount of information recovery. But it is also worth noting the existence of cases when this or that program simply did not help, then it is worth asking for help from another. In general, it is worth trying to recover data from all submitted applications in turn. Because it is not known which one is right for you.

Recuva

Perhaps Recuva is the most popular assistant in this difficult task. It helps to recover files (even deleted photos from the example of formatting a flash drive) in the most difficult situations when other utilities are powerless. What is most pleasant in this application: you can return documents not only from flash drives or memory cards, but also from an external HDD drive (external hard drive). Let's start the process of “resurrection” of your expensive data:

  1. Download and install Recuva (direct link to the file).
  2. After starting the program you will be asked to clarify what type of files you want to recover. If there was nothing on the flash drive except music, then it would be advisable to choose “Music”. Well, respectively, with the photos the same. But if a lot of different files were recorded on the memory card (both documents, music, and video), then we select “All files”.

  1. Then we select the place where your information was stored and click “next”.
  2. In the last window, where it is mentioned that Recuva is ready to begin its work, put a tick in front of the words “Enable in-depth analysis”. This may somewhat increase the time of inspection, but it will also increase its quality.
  3. After the search for deleted files is completed, you need to select the files and folders that you want to recover. To do this, simply tick the box next to each section.
  4. Well, the last stage. We press the treasured “Restore” button, then we select the place where your files will be recorded, and click OK. Done!

Recovery software

The second in the list, but not in popularity and functionality, is the family of data recovery software Recovery Software. In its arsenal is the following list of software:

  1. RS Partition Recovery. It will help you if you need to recover data from a disk, flash drive or memory card.

  1. RS NTFS Recovery. Serve as a great helper in order to recover lost data sections with the file structure of NFTS.

  1. RS FAT Recovery. Similar to the previous one, it will help with sections of the FAT file structure.

  1. RS Office Recovery. As you could understand from the title, this program will help you with the recovery of office documents from any storage medium. There are also separate Word and Exel Recovery. It is worth noting that the utility works not only with Microsoft files, but also with OpenOffice documents.

  1. RS File Repair will help you after a technical failure of the flash drive or memory card, as well as after a virus attack.

  1. RS Data Recovery (divided into File and Photo Recovery). As the name suggests, you can recover any files from media or just photos and images.

Perhaps it is a little confusing why so many different programs have been made, if you can use, for example, only Partition Recovery. But it is important to understand that in some cases only one program can help, when the other one cannot cope. Therefore it is worth trying each. Plus, the prices for each of the applications are different. Why pay for the most advanced program if you need to restore only the photo?

The principle of operation of these utilities is not very different from Recuva, which was discussed above. However, there is a demo mode here: the program finds deleted files that you can view. But for their recovery will require registration with payment activation.

Conclusion

As you can see, recovery programs exist. You can try them all, because in any case there are trial or demo versions of the utilities to check if they can find the deleted files. Therefore, in any case, do not buy the application until you are sure that it works. But the most important thing: always take care of your files. Make copies for important documents on several media, then you can prevent the problem before it appears. And do not forget about the use of anti-virus programs. Also, do not forget to share in the comments of their experience in dealing with the situation under discussion. Perhaps you know a utility that would do better. Enjoy using, dear readers!