I bought a new 256GB SanDisk Ultra USB flash drive and connected it to my Windows computer for the first time. After deciding not to use the included password-protection software, I tried to move important files from the computer to the drive using cut and paste. The transfer failed with an error, the drive disconnected, and reconnecting it only made it appear briefly before disappearing. Windows later offered to repair it, but the repair failed. Now the drive is not detected at all. The files are no longer in their original folder or the Recycle Bin, and they never appeared on the USB drive. What are the safest steps for recovering the files from the computer, and can the flash drive be repaired or should I return it?
4 Answers
The flash drive may have failed electrically or may simply be defective. Check whether it appears in Disk Management or Device Manager, but do not initialize or format it if recovery is needed. Since it is new, document the failure and request a replacement or refund after attempting data recovery.
Using copy instead of cut would probably have preserved the originals on the computer when the USB drive failed. In the future, copy the files first, verify that they open from the destination, and only then delete the originals. Important files should also exist in at least two separate backup locations.
There is also a possibility that the drive is counterfeit or has less usable capacity than advertised. Fake high-capacity flash drives can accept data until their real capacity is reached and then corrupt or lose files. Once the data issue is resolved, test the replacement with a full-capacity verification tool and buy storage from a reputable seller.
Stop writing to the computer or trying repair tools for now, especially if the missing files are important. File recovery software may be able to find the original data, but continued use can overwrite it. If the data is valuable, making a sector-by-sector image or using a professional recovery service is safer than repeatedly reconnecting the drive.
The missing files may still be recoverable, but avoid saving recovery results back to the same disk or attempting more repairs before scanning it.