Recover files from USB stick that doesn't work

USB sticks are still very useful for transporting data and files from one computer to another and from one place to another, but they are rather vulnerable especially if they are often detached and attached to different computers. It may therefore occur that the USB flash drive is no longer recognized or that it does not load the files inside it seeming empty or even that it does not give a connection signal.
There are two main ways to damage the USB flash drive : physically and logically. Physical damage occurs when the plug is bent or broken, bumped or pushed while connected to the computer. In this case, it may be difficult to recover anything, especially if the connector, memory chip or circuit board is broken.
Logical, non-physical damage occurs when errors are displayed when trying to open files inside it, so it may be that its internal firmware is corrupt or the NAND memory is damaged.
The most common causes of data corruption on USB sticks are sudden power loss, USB driver problems, wear of the NAND memory, crashes of the computer or program that uses USB stick files or an improper disconnection.
Even with a damaged USB stick, you can still try to recover the files inside it.

How to recover files from a physically broken USB stick

If parts of the USB flash drive head do not come into contact when connected to the computer, try to move it while keeping the computer speakers turned on and stop as soon as you hear the detection sound that is played by Windows when a USB device is connected. Be careful to make gentle and not excessive movements, as it could cause further damage to the device. If present, the LED light on the stick can also be the signal of a successful connection.
When the USB stick is detected by the computer, then open the file folder to quickly transfer them to the PC. You may need to hold the stick in the right position with your hand while making the transfer.

Open the metal USB connector

If the connector is broken and cannot fit into the USB port socket, you can try to open it using a pair of needle-nose pliers. This step really requires a lot of attention as it is possible to break the key permanently. Alternatively, you can take the stick to a computer repair lab to be able to recover the files. If the NAND memory chip inside the drive is undamaged, then file recovery is probably possible.

Check the USB port for debris or dirt

If the computer is very dirty, even an intact USB stick may not work because the port of the socket to which it is connected is full of dust or other dirt. In this case, check the USB port of the computer by gently brushing with a cotton swab inside.

Circuit welding and repair

If the key circuit board is damaged or the connector is broken, the power supply to the USB may be interrupted. In this case, a repair or soldering of the circuit is necessary which can only be done by a professional with specialized equipment.

Recover files from a logically damaged USB stick

If the key works, but when it is connected, error messages are displayed on the computer screen saying that the USB is not recognized or does not work, access is denied or other things, the problem lies in the fact that the NAND memory chip makes the flash drive and displays wrong size. This type of problem also occurs in case the drive controller software is damaged or the drive itself is corrupted by viruses.
In this case, you can use several methods to correct the problem, as seen in the guide to Repair a broken USB stick that does not open on a PC . You can then format the USB drive, or ask for professional repair to reverse the controller and recover the data.

Error checking

Without formatting the drive, the first thing to try is to scan the USB stick for errors, with Scandisk's Windows tool. To do this, insert the USB stick into the system port of the computer. From Windows File Explorer, under This PC, look for the removable disk icon from the list and then right click on it to open the Properties . Go to the Tools tab to find the error checking tool . You can then use the option to automatically correct file system errors and attempt to recover bad sectors.
You can also check for errors from a command prompt: In the search box, type CMD and open the command prompt. In the command prompt window, type chkdsk [USB drive letter]: / r and press Enter to start the scan.

Change the drive letter

Sometimes errors can be solved by reading the USB stick simply by changing the letter. To do this, open the Start menu and use the search box to search for Disk Management and start the tool create and format the hard disk partitions .
Then find the USB stick from the list of drives, right-click on it and select the Change drive letter and location option. Select a new letter for the drive and see if it works.

Reinstall the USB controller drivers

If your computer drivers are corrupt or incorrect, Windows may not be able to read the USB sticks and the files inside them.
Reinstalling USB drivers is pretty straightforward so it's worth trying this solution right away.
To reinstall the USB drivers, right-click on the Start button (in Windows 10) and press Device Manager . Expand the Disk drives category to see all the drives connected to your computer. Right click on the unit to be corrected and select Uninstall device . Remove the external drive, restart the computer and then reconnect the stick to automatically reinstall the driver and see if it is detected correctly.

Use file recovery software

If none of the solutions seen so far work, we can try external programs to download and install on your computer. There are many apps and tools that promise to recover data, but not all of them fulfill their promises. We have seen in another article the best programs to recover data from formatted or deleted disk, including Recuva and Photorec which are free.