Question:

How can I recover data from a corrupted USB drive that shows less free space than expected? I have an 8GB USB drive that stored some old family photos, but after my brother used it on a school computer that might have been infected with viruses, the photos disappeared and only a shortcut called system volume information was left. I deleted the shortcut, but the USB drive still shows 1.26GB free of 7.2GB, indicating that the photos are still there but hidden. I tried to show hidden files, but nothing happened. Is there any way to fix the USB drive and restore the photos? Thank you for your help.

Answer:

How to Recover Data from a Corrupted USB Drive

If you have ever encountered a situation where your USB drive shows less free space than expected, and your files are missing or inaccessible, you might have a corrupted USB drive. This can happen due to various reasons, such as virus infection, improper removal, power failure, or physical damage. Fortunately, there are some methods that can help you fix the USB drive and recover your data. In this article, we will explain how to recover data from a corrupted USB drive that shows less free space than expected.

One of the common signs of a corrupted USB drive is the presence of a shortcut called System Volume Information. This is a hidden folder that Windows creates on every drive to store information such as restore points, indexing, and encryption. Normally, this folder is not visible to users, and it does not take up much space. However, some viruses or malware can create a fake System Volume Information shortcut on your USB drive, and hide your files behind it. If you delete the shortcut, you might not be able to access your files, even though they are still there.

How to Show Hidden Files?

The first step to recover data from a corrupted USB drive is to show hidden files. This can help you see if your files are still on the USB drive, but hidden by the virus or malware. To show hidden files, you can follow these steps:

• Connect your USB drive to your computer.
• Open File Explorer and go to the USB drive.
• Click on the View tab and check the box for Hidden items.
• You should see some hidden files or folders on your USB drive. If you see your missing files, you can copy them to another location.

How to Use CMD to Recover Data?

If showing hidden files does not work, you can try to use CMD (Command Prompt) to recover data from a corrupted USB drive. CMD is a powerful tool that can execute various commands to manipulate files and folders. To use CMD to recover data, you can follow these steps:

• Connect your USB drive to your computer.
• Open Start menu and type cmd. Right-click on Command Prompt and select Run as administrator.
• In the CMD window, type diskpart and press Enter. This will launch the DiskPart tool, which can manage disks and partitions.
• Type list disk and press Enter. This will show you all the disks connected to your computer. Note the number of your USB drive. For example, if your USB drive is Disk 2, note 2.
• Type select disk 2 and press Enter. Replace 2 with the number of your USB drive. This will select your USB drive for the next commands.
• Type attrib -h -r -s /s /d *.* and press Enter. This command will remove the hidden, read-only, and system attributes from all the files and folders on your USB drive, and make them visible and accessible.
• Close the CMD window and open File Explorer. Go to the USB drive and check if your files are there. If they are, you can copy them to another location.

How to Use Data Recovery Software?

If none of the above methods work, you might need to use data recovery software to recover data from a corrupted USB drive. Data recovery software is a program that can scan your USB drive and recover deleted, formatted, or lost files. There are many data recovery software available online, some of them are free and some of them are paid. You can choose one that suits your needs and budget. To use data recovery software, you can follow these steps:

• Download and install the data recovery software on your computer. Do not install it on the USB drive, as this might overwrite your data.
• Connect your USB drive to your computer and launch the data recovery software.
• Select the USB drive as the source to scan and click on Start or Scan. The data recovery software will scan your USB drive and display the recoverable files.
• Preview and select the files you want to recover and click on Recover or Save. Choose a different location to save the recovered files, such as your computer or another external drive.

How to Prevent Data Loss on USB Drive?

To prevent data loss on USB drive, you should always follow some best practices, such as:

• Backup your important files regularly to another location, such as your computer, cloud storage, or another external drive.
• Use antivirus software to scan your USB drive and remove any viruses or malware that might corrupt your data.
• Safely eject your USB drive before unplugging it from your computer, to avoid any damage or corruption caused by sudden power loss.
• Avoid exposing your USB drive to extreme temperatures, moisture, dust, or shock, as these can damage the physical components of your USB drive.

Conclusion

Losing

data on USB drive can be frustrating and stressful, but it is not impossible to recover. By following the methods in this article, you can try to fix the USB drive and restore your data. However, you should always backup your important files regularly and protect your USB drive from any potential threats or damages. We hope this article has helped you recover data from a corrupted USB drive that shows less free space than expected. If you have any questions or suggestions, please feel free to leave a comment below.