Can you recover files from a corrupted usb? SanDisk Ultra flash drive

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Hello everyone,

I’m facing an issue with my USB drive ( SanDisk 512GB Ultra USB 3.0 Flash Drive), which seems to have become corrupted recently. I’ve tried plugging it into different USB ports and computers, but it’s not recognized or shows up as an unformatted drive. I had important files on it that I really need to recover.

The USB drive is not accessible on my PC (Windows 11). It doesn’t show up with a drive letter in File Explorer, and when I check it in Disk Management, it shows up as unallocated space.

Has anyone dealt with a similar issue and managed to recover files from a corrupted USB?

1 Like
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@Kennataxm
Have you checked our knowledge base articles?
(Get Support for Your SSDs and Flash Products | SanDisk)

Try this one.

Have you opened a Support Case?
If not, contact SanDisk Technical Support for assistance.
(Contact Support | SanDisk)

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Hi @Kennataxm

It seems like your USB drive’s file system might be corrupted. Here’s how you can attempt to recover your data:

  1. Use Data Recovery Software: Since your drive shows as unallocated, you can try using free data recovery software to scan the drive and recover files.
  2. Check Disk Management: Avoid formatting the drive; instead, use recovery tools directly.

For prevention, always safely eject drives. Let us know if this works!

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To recover files from a corrupted USB (SanDisk Ultra flash drive)? Why not use Command Prompt?

  1. Open Command Prompt as Administrator: Search for cmd in the Windows Search bar, right-click on Command Prompt, and select “Run as administrator.”

  2. Run Diskpart:

  • Type diskpart and press Enter.
  • Type list disk and press Enter. Check if your USB drive is listed.
  • If it appears, note down the disk number.
  1. Attempt to Recover Partitions: If the drive is recognized here, you can try the following commands:
  • Type select disk X (replace X with your USB disk number) and press Enter.
  • Type attributes disk clear readonly and press Enter. This might remove write protection if it’s enabled.
  • Attempt to assign a drive letter with assign letter=R (you can choose any available letter).
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Don’t rush into recovery right away. Sometimes, a simple fix can save you a lot of time and hassle. If your USB isn’t recognized, try plugging it into a different computer or USB port first. You wouldn’t believe how many issues can be fixed with a simple restart or plugging it into another device. I learned this the hard way when I was convinced my drive was toast but found it worked on another laptop.

If you’re expecting to recover files from a corrupted USB, avoid using the USB drive for anything else in the meantime. I made the mistake of moving new files onto the same drive while trying to recover data. It just made things worse and reduced the chances of retrieving what I had lost. Always keep the drive untouched until you are done with recovery.

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You can first try using CHKDSK to repair file system errors on the drive.
Step 1. Press Win + X, and then Open Command Prompt as an administrator.
Step 2. Type the chkdsk X: /f /r command and hit Enter. Replace X with the USB drive’s letter (if it appears in Disk Management).

Note that CHKDSK is an old disk repair utility. If your drive is severely damaged, running it could cause further harm. To minimize risk, consider cloning your drive or creating a disk image before using this built-in tool.

If you need to recover data from a corrupted USB drive, this guide might help: 4 Methods to Recover Files from a Corrupted USB Drive

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It sounds like your USB drive has become corrupted, but there are a few steps you can try to recover your files:

  1. Try Data Recovery Software: Tools like Recuva, EaseUS Data Recovery, or Disk Drill can help scan and recover files from unallocated or corrupted drives.

  2. Check for Drive Errors: Run the built-in Windows Check Disk utility to scan and repair errors on the USB drive.

  3. Use a Different OS: Sometimes, using a different operating system (like Linux) can help you access the drive, even if it’s not recognized in Windows.

  4. Format the Drive: If file recovery isn’t successful, you may need to format the drive to restore its functionality. However, formatting will erase all data, so try to recover files first.

If these steps don’t work, you may need to consider professional data recovery services.

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Try EaseUS recovery tool to regain the data on the corrupted SanDisk USB drive. Then you can try some DIY repair solutions like Windows Disk Error Checking tool, and CHKDSK command lines.

Here’s a more detailed guide to recover corrupted USB drive