USB flash drive saying it must be formatted before use

I have a jump drive that is prompting me everytime I plug it in it needs to be formatted to use ... There is data on there .. Alot and I need it off (not formatting) what are my options ?


I know it sounds like a boob'd filesystem but ...

 

try using it on another computer.

Edit: also try it in linux .

 

I have 3 different ones and tried manually mounting it in Linux

 

Hmm, you could try see if a program sucessfully reads the Disk etc (partitions, types and so on.)

Give partition splitter a shot (it can do other things too ) and prehaps we can break away the valubles without loosing any data and isolate any problems it may have.

If i recall, you can convert filesystems too without data loss, but you'l have to bear with me on that one.

 

copy all files off the stick onto your desktop, then replug it in, follow the guide about having to format it, and then copy the data back.

then it should not report the need to format anymore.

 

I think the OP can't copy any files off the drive, that is the problem.

 

i know it may be that way, but it wasn't 100% clear formulated, and as i've encountered that situation before, and solved it that way..

sometimes the most easy ways get overlooked.

well, and if the files aren't accessible, some of the other posts may help. i've no other idea really.

maybe one then has to accept they are lost? just maybe..

 

I don't think it's time for that ^^^ yet.

There must be software that would be able to get the files.


Or if you do format it, make it a "quick format".

Then you may be able to get some files back with file recovery software (the kind you use if you deleted something by accident).

 

Mind you, another idea could be if windows recovery console would work and you could just use simple copy to commands prehaps?

 

Does any file recovery programs work at all?

 

The same thing came up to me. I have a Toshiba 1GB stick with all my (very very) important information on. I have u3 installed, and it is secured by a password. Every time I plug it in it says that I must format it before using, but when u3 application loads and I enter my password I can use it

 

this one doesn't have any software ...

what file recovery program do you reccomend?

 

If the drive is assigned a drive letter, maye some software from easeus may do the trick.
http://www.easeus.com/

Certain programmes are free and do not rely on the file system.
http://www.easeus.com/disk-copy/
From the description this may work...
(no guarantee)

 

Thanks I got it on my jump drive and imma try later

I'll try renameing it to

 

Don't rename it.

Change as little as possible.

 

now i can't format it ?

i cant read or format it

 

Is it still being detected on your computer though moo?

 

Yea detected and reports correct disk size

 

If its detected recovery software that is independent of the file system should work.

Have you tried it wit one of the Easus products? (free ones) - or searched for free recovery tools?

 

Tried a forensic recovery specialist n he couldn't ....

 

OK.
This sounds bad...

(Maybe this is why we shoul trust HDDs rather than SSDs?)

 

Hey Moo, have you tried the HP recovery tool? It has been shown to be able to format a flash drive when nothing else could. You should give it a try...

http://files.extremeoverclocking.com/file.php?f=197

Too bad you lose all your data when you format.

 

Try using http://pcinspector.de/Sites/file_recovery/download.htm?language=1
Once, it helped me get some data off the HDD with damaged file system.

Also, I've used Easy Recovery in other cases.

 

I'll try all these when i'm laid in bed after the sugery !

Thanks !!!!!

 

usb sticks don't have wear leveling and not much storage. ssds have wear leveling and much storage to balance out the write-limits.

but still, i know what you mean. hdd's are nice "backup tapes"

 

I had moderate success (about 1/3 of my files were recovered) by using the suggested HP format tool on a messed up SD card then using Piriform's Recuva.

Best of luck man.

Or maybe, this is why to always have redundancy!

 

I had a back up Sd card and I was making a dos disk to overvolt my gpu and I evidentally had it plugged in before my jump driver so It got drive letter e instead of the jump drive ....:..

Formatted the wrong one

I keep 3 backups but freaks of nature and human errors killed them all

 

Moo, I'm sure you've tried this already, but in case you haven't, try plugging it in a windows vista machine and see if it asks you to "scan and fix (recommended)".

It has fixed non working flash drives on occasion before. It might work, but if all else fails there are software that can regain files from a flash drive, my old boss used it already. If the vista route doesn't work I'll try getting the software name for you

 

Hey moo, try this:

http://www.x-ways.net/winhex/index-m.html

 

win hex is pretty hard to get the hand of

 

It's actually a fairly simple program to use.

 

I went ahead and tried it on one of mine, wasn't that hard.

 

no i mean it will not open the file due to the filesystem not being recognized

so i need to figure out how to treat it as a physical drive


ok got it ..... i need some unusual file types

least i got my favorite picture back

 

ok i searched for lost partitions

i found the lost partition but i do not know how to restore it

 

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH

ok

i repaired the BS in DOS
I repaired the MBR in DOS

then i mounted the drive as a physical one


but !!!!! i could not recover the folder i needed ...... is there any one or anything that can help me reconstruct it ?

 

Use a partition software, and zero out the drive.

Last resort.

 

Thats doesn't get you any files.

On an HDD a specialist could possibly still read the bits below, but I don't think that would work on a Flash drive.

 

Glad I could point you to the right program, I wish I could do more, but unless you sent me your usb, I'm afraid my knowledge is just to limited.

 

this happens often to usb sticks sad to say most of the time a lot of stuff can not be recovered ive been through this myself.. it sucks

 

data doctor recovery pen drive
easy recovery professional

 

take the flash drive, plug it into an xbox 360, transfer the files to there, get another more trustworthy flashdrive or connect your 360 to your computer and transfer the files back that way.

my friend did this last year when the same thing happened to me.

 

Nice Levenly, I'm interested if that would work.

 

You may be able to use File Scavenger or Zero Assumption (Something) utilities. I don't think they are free but free to try and will at least tell you if the folder is recoverable.

 

I use testdisk/photorec and have had really good luck with it

http://www.cgsecurity.org/wiki/TestDisk

 

u cant open it as a FAT drive in linux or osx?

thats sucks bro, hope u figure something out. and good luck on ur surgery if its still going on. ;x

 

thanks

but i haven't been able to work on it again ...... main prblem now is reconstructing the data on the drive

 

how do you reconstruct data from stuff that doesn't exist?

 

You don't recreate that data.
Files are made up of lots of sectors. Think of it more like assembling a puzzle that is missing a few pieces. Not all is lost.