"How to recover lost/deleted files from USB Drive without buying anything?"
- From Reddit
Have you ever accidentally deleted important files from your USB flash drive? Don't panic. Whether it's precious photos, crucial work documents, or school projects, there's a good chance you can get them back. In this guide, we'll walk you through 5 easy methods to recover deleted files from a USB flash drive, even if you're not a tech expert. Let's dive in.
First, let's tackle a common question: Can deleted files from a USB stick really be recovered? The short answer is: Yes, you can. When files are deleted from a USB flash drive, they aren't immediately erased. Instead, the space they occupied is marked as available for new data. This means that as long as you don't overwrite the drive with new files, your deleted files can still be recovered. The key is to act quickly and use the right tools or methods.
There are a few ways to get those deleted files back. Some methods involve software, while others are free and built into your computer. Let's take a look at each approach and see which one works best for you.
If you're looking for a fast and reliable way to recover deleted files from your USB drive, Coolmuster Data Recovery is your best bet. This tool is specifically designed to recover lost files from SD cards, USB flash drives, external hard drives, and more. With an easy-to-use interface, even beginners can navigate the recovery process without any hassle.
Why choose Data Recovery?
Steps to recover deleted files from USB flash drive with ease:
01Download and install Data Recovery on your computer. Then, connect your USB flash drive to the computer.
02To start the software, select the "Deleted Recovery" mode from the left side, choose the partition you wish to recover, and then click "Start Scan" to proceed.
03Once the scanning is complete, all data from the USB will be displayed on your computer. You can check the files either by file type or file location.
04After selecting the files you want to recover, click the "Recover to Computer" button to begin recovering the lost data. A dialog box will then pop up, allowing you to specify an output folder to save the recovered data. Simply customize a folder and click "OK" to automatically initiate the recovery process.
If you're using Windows, there's a built-in feature called Previous Versions that might be able to help you recover deleted files from your USB drive. This feature works by using restore points to recover files from past versions. This method is free and doesn't require any third-party software. However, it's only available if you've set up System Restore on your computer beforehand.
Steps to recover USB stick from Previous Versions:
Step 1. Connect your USB flash drive to your computer.
Step 2. Open "This PC" and right-click on the USB drive.
Step 3. Select "Properties".
Step 4. Go to the "Previous Versions" tab. Browse through the list of available versions and select one that contains the files you need.
Step 5. Click "Restore" to recover the files.
For those who prefer not to use software, the Command Prompt (CMD) offers a built-in way to attempt file recovery. While it's not as effective as using dedicated recovery software, it's a good option if you're in a pinch. While this method can sometimes work for minor file loss issues, it's not guaranteed to recover everything, especially if the files were overwritten.
How to recover files from USB for free using CMD?
Step 1. Open Command Prompt as Administrator (search for CMD in the Start menu and select "Run as Administrator").
Step 2. Type "chkdsk E: /f" (replace "E" with the letter of your USB drive) and press "Enter".
Step 3. Next, type "ATTRIB -H -R -S /S /D X:\*.*" and hit "Enter".
Step 4. Check your USB drive to see if the deleted files are recovered.
For Windows 10 and later, Windows File Recovery is a powerful tool that can help you recover files from a USB drive. It works through a command-line interface, and while it's a bit more technical than the previous methods, it can often retrieve files that were lost due to deletion or corruption.
Steps to recover deleted files from USB flash drive using Windows File Recovery:
Step 1. Download and install Windows File Recovery from the Microsoft Store.
Step 2. Open the tool and type the command: winfr X: C:\RecoveryDestination /regular (replace "X" with your USB drive letter).
Step 3. Press "Enter" and wait for the process to complete.
If you've backed up your USB files using Windows Backup, you can easily restore them without any third-party software. This is especially useful if you set up a backup system before the data loss occurs.
How to recover deleted files from USB without software from Windows Backup:
Step 1. Go to Control Panel and select "Backup and Restore (Windows 7)".
Step 2. Click on "Restore my files".
Step 3. Browse for the files you want to restore and select them.
Step 4. Follow the prompts to complete the restoration process.
Recovering deleted files from a USB flash drive is possible, even if you're not a tech expert. Whether you choose the reliable Coolmuster Data Recovery or explore free built-in options like Previous Versions or Windows File Recovery, you have several methods at your disposal. However, for the best results, Coolmuster Data Recovery offers the most efficient and user-friendly solution, ensuring you recover your lost files with ease. Download Coolmuster Data Recovery now and restore your precious data in minutes.
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