How to restore deleted files from a usb drive？

​I. How to Restore Deleted Files from a USB Drive

Data loss from a USB drive can be a distressing experience. Whether it’s due to accidental deletion, formatting, virus attack, or hardware failure, there are often ways to attempt to recover those precious files. In this comprehensive guide, we will explore various methods and tools to restore deleted files from a USB drive, covering both free and paid options, as well as the technical concepts behind file deletion and recovery.

II. File Deletion on a USB Drive

How File Deletion Works: When you delete a file from a USB drive, the operating system doesn’t immediately erase the data from the physical storage. Instead, it marks the space occupied by the file as available for new data to be written. The file’s entry in the file system’s directory structure is removed or modified to indicate that the file is no longer present. As long as the data on the USB drive hasn’t been overwritten by new data, there’s a good chance of recovery.

Factors Affecting Recovery:

Time: The longer it has been since the file was deleted, the higher the risk that the data has been overwritten. For example, if you continue to use the USB drive to store new files after deletion, the new data may overwrite the space where the deleted file was located.

USB Drive Usage: Heavy usage of the USB drive after deletion, such as running disk – intensive applications or constantly adding and deleting other files, reduces the likelihood of successful recovery.

III. Pre – Recovery Precautions

Stop Using the USB Drive Immediately: As soon as you realize that you need to recover deleted files, it’s crucial to stop using the USB drive. Any further write operations can overwrite the data you’re trying to recover.

Backup the USB Drive (if possible): If you have the means to create a bit – by – bit backup of the USB drive, it can be a good precaution. This backup can be used for recovery attempts without risking the original data on the drive. You can use disk – imaging software to create such a backup.

IV. Using Built – in Operating System Tools

Windows:

Previous Versions: Windows has a feature called “Previous Versions” that can sometimes be used to restore deleted files from a USB drive. To access this, right – click on the USB drive in File Explorer, select “Properties,” and then go to the “Previous Versions” tab. If there are any previous versions available (which depends on system settings and backup configurations), you can restore the files from there.

Recycle Bin: If the USB drive was set up to send deleted files to the Recycle Bin (this is not the default for removable drives in Windows), you can check the Recycle Bin for the deleted files and restore them as you would with files deleted from the local hard drive.

Mac:

Time Machine: If the USB drive was included in Time Machine backups, you can use Time Machine to restore the deleted files. Plug in the USB drive and open Time Machine. Navigate through the backup history to find the point in time when the files were still present on the drive and restore them.

V. Free Data Recovery Software

Panda Assistant is a powerful and user-friendly data recovery software designed to assist individuals and businesses in recovering lost or deleted files. Whether you’ve accidentally erased a document, lost data due to a system crash, or need to retrieve files from a formatted or damaged drive, Panda Assistant offers a range of tools to help you recover valuable information.

One of the standout features of Panda Assistant is its deep scan capability, which can locate and recover files even after they have been permanently deleted or the storage device has been reformatted. The software employs advanced algorithms to search for fragments of lost files, making it one of the most effective tools for data recovery.

VI. Technical Approaches for Advanced Users

Using the Command – Prompt/ Terminal:

Windows Command – Prompt: For advanced Windows users, the command – prompt can be used to attempt file recovery. The “chkdsk” command can be used to check and repair file system errors on the USB drive. For example, running “chkdsk [USB drive letter]: /f” can fix some file system – related issues that may be preventing file recovery. Another option is to use third – party command – line – based data recovery tools that can be executed from the command – prompt.

Mac Terminal: On a Mac, the Terminal can be used to access disk utility commands. The “diskutil” command can be used to check the status of the USB drive and perform basic repair operations. Additionally, there are some command – line – based data recovery tools available for Mac that can be run from the Terminal.

Working with Disk Images:

Creating a Disk Image: As mentioned earlier, creating a disk image of the USB drive can be a useful step. You can use software like dd (on Linux and Mac) or third – party disk – imaging tools for Windows to create a bit – by – bit copy of the USB drive. This disk image can then be used for recovery attempts without risking further damage to the original USB drive.

Recovering from a Disk Image: Once the disk image is created, you can use data recovery software to scan and recover files from the image instead of the actual USB drive. This provides an added layer of safety and can be more convenient in some cases.