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Unrecognisable USB stick


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#1
nigella

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I have a 32GB memory stick that isn't recognised when plugged in. Is there anything I can do to recover the data on it?
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#2
risingphoenix1985

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Hello,

Does the drive work on other PC's? Some OS's have trouble reading larger drives depending on their formatting.
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#3
nigella

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I have tried it on two pcs and a laptop and it isn't recognised at all
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#4
risingphoenix1985

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Hello,

What is the file system of the drive?

Also, when plugged in, can you see it in the device manager or in the disk management section of computer management?
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#5
nigella

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I cannot remember what type of filesystem is on the stick. It is not visible at all. Looking at device manager whenit is plugged in does not display that it is plugged in.
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#6
risingphoenix1985

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Hello,

If it's not in the device manager, I'm sorry to say that it's had it.

You can't run data recovery on a drive that can't be picked up by the PC.
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#7
nigella

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Yes I know. I am looking for a way of accessing a dead USB memory stick. Software or third party, whatever method I only want to pay a reasonable amount.
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#8
risingphoenix1985

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Hello,

The problem with recovery software is that they use the same method to read the drive that Windows does. If Windows (device manager) doesn't even acknowledge the USB, then recovery software won't be able to see it.

You could try booting your PC using a Linux Live CD such as Ubuntu; I've found that Linux can read drives that Windows has difficulty with.
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#9
nigella

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I'veplugged it in to a mac and it is still not visible
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#10
risingphoenix1985

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Hello,

In that case, I think it's safe to say that it completely broken.

Only a specialized data recovery company may be able to help recover the data.
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#11
phillpower2

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Some free recovery software http://www.snapfiles...tarecovery.HTML
Try Recuva first as it has a good success rate, good luck.

I am only suggesting the free downloads and in no way suggesting that you use any other product or service at the link.
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#12
nigella

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Some free recovery software http://www.snapfiles...tarecovery.HTML
Try Recuva first as it has a good success rate, good luck.

I am only suggesting the free downloads and in no way suggesting that you use any other product or service at the link.



Hi Phillpower2

thanks for the link, the problem is that the USB stick is not visible in when looking at windows explorer. I have also gone to the device manager and started a scan for new hardware and it is not groped!
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#13
phillpower2

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Sorry the software didn`t work out for you.
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#14
Passionateman

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Have you tried to plug the USB stick to other computer to see whether it is on the stick itself or incompatibility?
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#15
nigella

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yes it's been plugged into a Vista machine XP and an G4 ibook
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