Recovering data from a flash drive after formatting

Any loss always causes only negative emotions, leads to disappointment. The person begins to actively regret that he did not make attempts to prevent such losses. You can lose not only specific items, but also important data, which the user preferred to store on a USB flash drive. Unfortunately, in this world, nothing lasts forever, therefore, if it is very important for you to ensure the reliable storage of some information, content, we recommend that you make sure to make backups in order to avoid incredible disappointment later.

By saving important data to a memory card, some unpredictable consequences cannot be ruled out. Many users decide to back up their files, ensuring their storage on special resources on the Internet. However, some users are afraid of information leakage, so they reject this method. Of course, you can use a second digital medium on which you can record all the important information.

However, even in this case, it is impossible to guarantee one hundred percent data retention. Life is sometimes accompanied by an evil fate, the coming of which is difficult to predict. For this reason, at some point it may be necessary to learn how to recover files from a flash drive after formatting. Fortunately, software developers are kind enough to share software products with which it is possible to carry out recovery after formatting a flash drive.

Recovery process

So, wishing to figure out how to recover a formatted USB flash drive, you should understand that the software is a skillful assistant for solving problems when you need to recover files after formatting from a USB flash drive. However, such programs cannot be considered as a magic wand that will be able to restore the data of a flash drive after formatting in any cases.

First of all, information can be restored from a flash drive that has undergone formatting, but then subsequently no information is written to it. Otherwise, when the formatted flash drive continued to be practically used, data recovery from the flash drive after formatting would be simply impossible.

It is also quite problematic, and in most cases it will be definitely impossible to return the lost information if the removable media had to be formatted not in a quick way, but by resorting to deep formatting. There are several programs that will act as a lifesaver for those who are looking for an answer to the question of whether it is possible to recover a formatted memory card.

When it is possible and impossible to recover data

It is important to understand that not in all situations, armed with even the most effective recovery programs after formatting, it is possible to achieve a positive result.

The outcome is likely to be successful if:

• information from the computer was manually deleted by the user;
• formatting was performed by the built-in tools of the operating system;
• files disappeared from the computer as a result of a virus attack;
• data disappeared when the drive was split into pieces;
  
• there was a logical failure in the file system.

Such situations are very common. Therefore, after them, it is usually possible to successfully recover all the lost data. Or at least most of them.

At the same time, there are cases when it is hardly worth counting on recovery.

This includes the following factors:

• physical disk failure;
• removal was performed by powerful shredding programs;
  
• the flash drive was low-level formatted or re-flashed;
• the data is encrypted, but there is no decryption key.
  

One way or another, you should always try. This is not difficult. In addition, many effective recovery programs are distributed free of charge.

Using RS Partition Recovery

If a program such as RS Partition Recovery is not yet installed on your computer, we recommend that you download it and then install it. After completing a successful installation, launch the program. Next, in the window that opens, select the digital drive on which the lost information was previously stored.

After that, the following window will appear on the screen, in which you will be asked to select the option that suits you for analyzing the state of the digital medium. Of course, it is best to give preference to the first option “Full analysis”, in this case the chance of recovering lost data from a flash drive will be higher. The program will then proceed to automatically search and organize the content that it can be guaranteed to recover.

After completing this process, the folders to be “resurrected” will appear on the screen. You just have to study them, find those that are of particular importance to you. This program contains filtering functions that provide a more comfortable and successful search.

After you have discovered what is so important for you to recover, in the upper horizontal panel you can easily find the “Recover” option, click on it and the automatic process of recovering an important loss will be carried out without your participation.

If you are trying to figure out how to recover several documents from a flash drive after formatting, there is nothing complicated and there is nothing in these actions either. It is enough just to drag all the documents one by one to the recovery panel, and you can just right-click on them and select the “Add for recovery” option.

If you use this method, it becomes possible to return all the necessary documents at once. It is only important to take into account that the files to be restored should be saved in a folder that is located on the PC; it is strictly forbidden to create it on the digital drive that is used by the program.

Using R-Studio

R-Studio is another software product that provides lost documents recovery. If you want to figure out how to recover a formatted memory card, you can use such a program and make sure that there are no difficulties when using such software either.

After installing and launching the program, you must select the digital storage device that previously contained your lost documents. Just click on it once to display it in the media selection bar. Additionally, in the same window, you can enter the format of the files that are important for you to return. This will significantly limit the scope of the search, as well as contribute to its acceleration.

An excellent program that perfectly copes with the task of recovering data from a variety of media, formatted and damaged.

The only downside is that you have to pay for its use. Russian language support is available.

The same developer offers a simplified R-Undelete utility. But its peculiarity is that it works according to the same algorithms, while restoring data only from FAT32 drives.

When you click on the “Scan” button, the process of searching for the files you have defined will start. You can be nearby and visually observe all the changes taking place on the screen, but you are definitely prohibited from interfering with this automatic process so as not to provoke a software failure.

After scanning is complete, you can find the line “Extra Found Files” on the screen, when you click on it, all documents that the program can successfully recover in a short period of time will be displayed.

You can select all of them, or you can check the checkboxes next to those that are of information value to you. It remains to click on the “Restore” button and wait a while for the program to be able to complete the process.

R.Saver

A popular and at the same time easy-to-use utility from Russian developers, which is distributed free of charge. The creators themselves note that their custom utility was created on the basis of a powerful software product in the face of Recovery Explorer.

No installation required. The archive is simply unpacked and the program is launched. Moreover, it works on all versions of Windows, starting from Windows XP.

The utility is able to reanimate data from a flash drive and hard drive.

Using the tool is extremely simple:

• during the first launch, read the instructions and confirm the familiarization with the corresponding button;
• press the start button;
• select the media on which the recovery will take place;
• click on the “Continue” button;
• mark all objects that need to be returned (they are displayed upon completion of scanning);
• press the restore key, and wait for completion.

Most analogs work on the same principle. I just chose the section for reanimating the information, pressed a couple of buttons and waited for the result.

PhotoRec

Initially, only the console version of the program was offered, but then the seventh graphical edition appeared. This greatly simplified the work with the utility for beginners and ordinary users.

Interestingly, this program was developed as a tool for recovering memory cards on cameras and camcorders. But then, as it developed, the functionality affected ordinary flash drives, hard drives.

It is distributed free of charge and supports all popular operating systems. It is not only Windows, but also MacOS, Linux.

To recover data, you must:

• extract the contents from the archive;
• run the file with the extension exe;
• select recovery media;
• specify the location to save the reanimated data.

Attracted by the fact that the program is free. At the same time, it works no worse than many paid competitors.

Wise Data Recovery

Works with stationary and portable media, that is, with flash drives, memory cards, hard drives. The downside is that the program is adapted only for Windows operating systems. No installation required.

The advantages include high scanning speed even on not the most powerful computers.

When scanning, you should pay attention to the color of the circle near the file. They point to the following:

• Green. Such a file has not been overwritten, and therefore it can be restored without problems.
• Yellow. This indicates a partial overwrite. There is a chance of recovery, but there are no guarantees.
• Red. Such data has been completely overwritten. Recovery is impossible.

Plus, the interface is made with Russian language support. So this is a good option for those who need to get back the lost data after formatting.

To work, just start the program, press the scan button, and then select the files for resuscitation and click on the Recovery button.

Disk Drill

A utility that is especially popular among users of the Apple operating system MacOS. Only recently became available for Windows.

There is a certain drawback in the form of restrictions on the amount of data recoverable in the free version. It is 1 GB.

Another drawback is the need to install the application. It is strange, since such a procedure leads to data overwriting, and the utility itself may eventually prevent the recovery of some of the lost data.

At the same time, regular use of the program allows you to organize a full accounting of all deleted files, restore them through backup. Works with a large number of file systems. There is no Russian interface language here.

To work you need:

• install software on a computer;
• run the application with administrator rights;
• select a medium with formatted data;
• determine the appropriate scan option;
• click on the Recovery button;
• upon completion of the scan, select the files to recover;
• click on Recover.

The likelihood of getting lost information back with this application is quite high.

RS File Recovery

And this is a paid application that has a Russian-language menu. It can not only recover after formatting, but also save and work with images of this data.

After analyzing a USB flash drive or disk, the program displays a detailed report about them, indicates the possibility of resuscitation.

The free version only offers a scanner, and the recovery tool itself is only available in the paid version. The minimum price is from 999 rubles. Installation on a computer is required.

Ontrack Easy Recovery

It is considered one of the leaders in terms of efficiency and functionality in its segment. Repeatedly saved data even from damaged disks and removable media. Supports over 250 formats.

This is exclusively paid software. The home version is the cheapest. But for a year of use, you need to pay about $ 80. Enterprise and specialized editions cost between $ 300 and $ 3,000 in just a year of operation.

Despite its unique capabilities, working with the tool is extremely simple. A built-in assistant helps you every step of the way. It’s hard to make a mistake. There is a Russian-language version.

Active Undelete

Paid, but very effective utility that can recover lost information as a result of formatting a disk or flash drive. Works with a large number of different file formats, of which there are more than 200.

In addition to recovery, it offers functions for correcting errors, deleting volumes, formatting, etc. Creates virtual images of drives.

There is a free demo with a complete list of tools. But there is a limit on the amount of files recoverable. You won’t be able to reanimate too much. You will have to buy a license.

There is no Russian-language interface. But built-in support and intuitive menus solve this problem. Requires installation on a computer.

Recuva

One of the most popular programs in its segment. But at the same time, in terms of efficiency and performance, it is inferior to many competitors. This makes it a little unclear why there is such a demand.

Yes, the program has a Russian-language interface, it is distributed free of charge. At the same time, there is a paid version, but there is not much difference, in addition to technical support, between them.

The tool works well, provided that after formatting the hard disk or flash drive is practically not used. If formatting takes place on a different file system, the chances of successful data resuscitation are significantly reduced.

DMDE

If you need to recover a disk that is detected in the RAW format, return data from a formatted media (flash drive or hard disk), this will be one of the best solutions. The program is really effective.

The utility is made with a Russian-language interface. Most of the features are offered in the free version. For a fee, you can expand the capabilities. For home use, the usual free version is quite enough.

Some difficulties are caused by the recovery process itself. Here you have to understand all the functions and sections of the menu before getting started.

Puran File Recovery

Not the most famous program in its segment. And largely underestimated by users.

The software is absolutely free, has a Russian-language interface, an intuitive menu for beginners and advanced users.

The problem with the tool is that the developer hasn’t updated it for a long time. But the functionality is still at a high level. Numerous tests confirm the continued effectiveness of the product.

With this application, you can recover lost data from a flash drive, memory card and hard drive.

Pandora Recovery

Completely free software development that has repeatedly helped users recover data lost as a result of formatting or damage to the media.

One of the best in its segment, according to a number of users. Easy to use. A convenient and functional recovery wizard is built into the utility. An ideal choice for a beginner.

But there is a certain drawback. Like the previous program, this utility has not received an update for a long time. But even this does not prevent you from working normally on computers with operating systems from Windows 10 to Windows 7.

Stellar Data Recovery

With its help, you can find and recover data lost as a result of damage and formatting. Works with a wide variety of file types and file systems. Reanimates flash drives, hard drives, memory cards and optical disks. But RAID does not rebuild.

There is a preview function when scanning. Due to this, the user can decide whether to spend time returning a particular file or not.

All work on restoring the user is accompanied by a built-in wizard. He gives all the necessary explanations and tips. Therefore, even in the hands of a beginner, the process is extremely simple and straightforward.

So, as you could see, there are no difficulties in returning lost data from digital drives, if you use the necessary programs and strictly follow the proposed instructions.