Unrecognisable USB stick

#1 nigella

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Posted 05 February 2012 - 07:06 AM

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?

#2 risingphoenix1985

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Posted 05 February 2012 - 09:49 AM

Hello,

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

#3 nigella

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Posted 09 February 2012 - 05:35 PM

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

#4 risingphoenix1985

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Posted 10 February 2012 - 03:49 PM

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?

#5 nigella

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Posted 10 February 2012 - 04:07 PM

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.

#6 risingphoenix1985

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Posted 11 February 2012 - 05:41 PM

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.

#7 nigella

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Posted 11 February 2012 - 06:05 PM

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.

#8 risingphoenix1985

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Posted 11 February 2012 - 08:42 PM

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.

#9 nigella

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Posted 15 February 2012 - 05:53 PM

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

#10 risingphoenix1985

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Posted 16 February 2012 - 01:13 PM

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.

#11 phillpower2

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Posted 19 February 2012 - 09:55 AM

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.

#12 nigella

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Posted 19 February 2012 - 04:37 PM

phillpower2, on 19 February 2012 - 09:55 AM, said:

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!

#13 phillpower2

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Posted 20 February 2012 - 10:49 AM

Sorry the software didn`t work out for you.

#14 Passionateman

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Posted 21 February 2012 - 05:25 AM

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

#15 nigella

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Posted 23 February 2012 - 05:55 PM

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

Unrecognisable USB stick - Geeks to Go Forums