possibly corrupted usb, any shot?

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Troubleshooting a Corrupted USB Drive: Seeking Solutions

Hello, fellow tech enthusiasts!

I’ve been grappling with a frustrating issue involving a flash drive that seems to be on the brink of failure. The device is recognized at the kernel level via the Linux terminal, which suggests it has not completely succumbed to corruption. However, it remains elusive when accessed through the file system, only appearing intermittently after multiple attempts and trying various USB ports.

To troubleshoot the problem, I’ve engaged a plethora of recovery programs without success. The drive is consistently identified as a 15GB device, but unfortunately, it lacks a valid partition table. I attempted to use TestDisk, both the quick and deep searches, in addition to PhotoRec, but they yielded no recoverable files. I also tried R-Studio with similar results—no data was found.

In a last-ditch effort, I connected the drive to my Windows laptop where it finally showed up, albeit after a few frustrating tries. Unfortunately, the operating system prompted me to format the drive before I could access it.

My primary concern now is recovering important files stored on the drive. Would formatting it actually make the recovery process faster and easier? What are the chances of retrieving data post-formatting? Presently, I am using EaseUS Recovery on my Windows machine. It has completed 50% of the scan but hasn’t provided any feedback, showing zero recoverable files after four long hours.

I would greatly appreciate any insights or advice from anyone who has faced a similar situation. Thank you in advance for your help!

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BCAdmin1 Comment on 2 questions: 1. How to test a Backup Windows System Image, to ensure it’ll actually recover your backed up data? 2. If your backup skips some files because they are deemed “corrupt”, what are your options? Thanks! 😊

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  1. Data Recovery Tips for Possibly Corrupted USB Drives

    Hi there, interesting case! When dealing with a USB drive that is recognized at the kernel level but not accessible through your file system, it often indicates partition table issues or corrupted file structures.

    Since your drive appears intermittently and shows as a 15GB device with no valid partition table, I recommend the following steps:

    • Use Disk Management or GParted: Examine the drive’s current partition layout. If partitions are missing or corrupted, you might consider recreating the partition table. Warning: Recreating the partition table can overwrite existing data, so this step should be a last resort and ideally after data recovery attempts.
    • Run Data Recovery Utilities: Since TestDisk didn’t yield results, try more in-depth scans or alternative tools such as MiniTool Partition Wizard or DiskGenius. Sometimes, different tools recover different data.
    • Deep Scan with PhotoRec: You mentioned using PhotoRec, but ensure it’s scanning the entire drive sectors thoroughly; sometimes, partial scans might miss files.
    • File System Repair: If Windows prompts to format the drive, do NOT proceed with formatting before attempting recovery. You can use tools like chkdsk with
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