How to close bad clusters on a flash drive. Recovery of SD-cards and USB-flash drives in the Windows environment. Utility for recovering a flash drive HDD Low Level Format Tool

How to restore an SD card or USB flash drive if the computer does not see them, does not read or write data? Problems with flash drives are rarely caused by normal wear and tear. More often, the causes of problems with them are ignoring the rules of safe removal of the device by users, experimenting with various software in which these flash drives are involved, as well as their initially lousy quality. Below we consider a list of possible actions carried out in the Windows environment that can solve the problem, unless, of course, the cause lies in a mechanical failure. And we, friends, will go from simple to complex.

Recovery of SD cards and USB flash drives in Windows environment

• Note: below we will only talk about restoring the performance of flash drives, but not about saving the data stored on them. This is a separate topic, and on this account the site has, you can still use this program for. Most of the methods for recovering SD cards and flash drives suggested below will result in the loss of their data.

1. Hardware lock

SD cards, MicroSD adapters and flash drives can be hardware-protected from writing data or completely blocked even for reading. These devices have a lock switch, which must be set to the "Unlocked" position accordingly.

2. Problems not related to the drives themselves

The cause of problems with SD cards and flash drives can be the Windows security policy. You need to find out if access to removable drives (in full or in part of writing data to them) is blocked by the computer administrator. You also need to check the card reader or USB ports of the computer. If everything is in order with the latter - the card reader reads other SD cards, but there are still problems with the flash drive, no matter how you connect it to other USB ports, let's move on.

3. Windows Explorer

Standard formatting using Windows Explorer can help in simple cases such as unsuccessful data writing to a USB flash drive. Or when for some reason a smartphone, tablet, camera or other device cannot handle this operation with respect to SD cards. In any of the current versions of Windows, in the Explorer window on the drive, we call the context menu, click "Format".

We leave the original file system and first try a quick format.

If it fails, we repeat the operation, but with full formatting (uncheck the quick one).

4. Windows Disk Management

You can try to format the format in disk management. To launch this tool, in the system search field, enter:

diskmgmt.msc

In the disk management window, focusing on the size of the drive, we are looking for it among the drives connected to the computer. And in the context menu called on it, we start formatting.

You can immediately choose full formatting.

If the flash drive has a partition structure like a hard drive, you must delete each of these partitions. This is done using the option in the context menu "Delete volume".

And then, in place of the resulting unallocated space, you need to create a single partition. To do this, in the context menu on this very unallocated space, we launch the “Create a new volume” operation and follow the instructions of the step-by-step wizard.

5. Programs for low-level formatting

Regular formatting tools may not help in difficult cases, for example, when flash drives are displayed (in the same Explorer or disk management) as unrecognized devices with the RAW file system. The latter means that either the Windows environment does not understand the file system of the drive, or there is no file system as such in principle. Actually, this is what causes problems with a flash drive or SD card when it works on other devices, with other operating systems. In such cases, third-party Windows programs designed for the so-called low-level formatting will help restore the USB flash drive.

In fact, low-level formatting is a procedure that is carried out either in the production environment of flash device manufacturers, or in serious narrow-profile services. Various Windows software that claims this kind of operation actually performs the usual full formatting, but by mechanisms different from those used by the operating system. Such programs are good at dealing with flash drive problems if these problems occur at the file system level. Let's look at two of these programs.

HDD Low Level Format Tool

http://hddguru.com/software/HDD-LLF-Low-Level-Format-Tool/

The shareware portable program HDD Low Level Format Tool can format various types of storage media, in particular, SD cards and USB flash drives. After unpacking the archive with the program, run it, agree to the license terms.

Choose free use.

Directly in the program window, specify the problematic drive and click "Continue".

We confirm the decision.

We are waiting for the operation to complete and check the operation of the media.

SDFormatter

http://flashboot.ru/files/file/355

The completely free little program SDFormatter is another tool for so-called low-level formatting. Works with both SD cards and USB sticks. We install SDFormatter into the system, launch it, in the "Drive" column we indicate the problematic flash drive. Click "Format".

The program wants to make sure the seriousness of our intentions, click "OK.

Asks not to touch the drive while the operation is being carried out.

Upon completion, we test a USB flash drive or SD card. If it doesn’t help, repeat the operation with the settings for a complete rewriting of sectors (nothing more than a full format). Press "Option", select "Full (OverWrite)". And also click on "Format" at the bottom.

If using the above methods it was not possible to reanimate the flash drive, and it is still under warranty, you need to stop at this stage. And do not take any more action, except to contact the seller with a request to replace the device. All the actions that are described below should be resorted to only when, in fact, there is nothing to lose. The instructions below apply to USB sticks, SD cards, and MicroSD cards. However, in the case of the latter, the probability of recovery is extremely small.

6. D-Soft Flash Doctor

D-Soft Flash Doctor performs the so-called low-level formatting, and along the way it also detects bad sectors (cells). Well, and, accordingly, knows how to block them and replace them with backup ones. The program can help when flash drives or SD cards have difficulty reading individual files that have fallen on bad sectors. The program is free and portable. I did not find the official site, but it can be freely downloaded on the Internet.

In the D-Soft Flash Doctor window, the first thing to do is run a scan for errors.

In my case, there were no damaged (broken) sectors.

But if in your case, friends, the scan results are different, and bad sectors are found, we start the recovery process.

The window for this operation promises that the process will not last longer than 10 minutes, but in fact, remapping bad sectors on a drive with a capacity of more than 4 GB can take quite a long time. So it is better to run the recovery operation at night.

7. Flashing the memory controller

Programs for the so-called low-level formatting or their analogues, in any other form declaring the function of resuscitation of all types of SD cards and / or USB flash drives, turn out to be powerless in the event of a software failure of the controller when it needs to be flashed. This problem may have different symptoms, but more often it is either the computer does not completely see the drive, or it sees, it can even read data, but cannot format it by any means. In particular, due to write protection, despite the fact that the drive is not blocked by hardware.

How to restore an SD card or USB flash drive if the computer does not see them, does not read or write data? Problems with flash drives are rarely caused by normal wear and tear. More often, the causes of problems with them are ignoring the rules of safe removal of the device by users, experimenting with various software in which these flash drives are involved, as well as their initially lousy quality. Below we consider a list of possible actions carried out in the Windows environment that can solve the problem, unless, of course, the cause lies in a mechanical failure. And we, friends, will go from simple to complex.

Recovery of SD cards and USB flash drives in Windows environment

• Note: below we will only talk about restoring the performance of flash drives, but not about saving the data stored on them. This is a separate topic, and on this account the site has, you can still use this program for. Most of the methods for recovering SD cards and flash drives suggested below will result in the loss of their data.

1. Hardware lock

SD cards, MicroSD adapters and flash drives can be hardware-protected from writing data or completely blocked even for reading. These devices have a lock switch, which must be set to the "Unlocked" position accordingly.

2. Problems not related to the drives themselves

The cause of problems with SD cards and flash drives can be the Windows security policy. You need to find out if access to removable drives (in full or in part of writing data to them) is blocked by the computer administrator. You also need to check the card reader or USB ports of the computer. If everything is in order with the latter - the card reader reads other SD cards, but there are still problems with the flash drive, no matter how you connect it to other USB ports, let's move on.

3. Windows Explorer

Standard formatting using Windows Explorer can help in simple cases such as unsuccessful data writing to a USB flash drive. Or when for some reason a smartphone, tablet, camera or other device cannot handle this operation with respect to SD cards. In any of the current versions of Windows, in the Explorer window on the drive, we call the context menu, click "Format".

We leave the original file system and first try a quick format.

If it fails, we repeat the operation, but with full formatting (uncheck the quick one).

4. Windows Disk Management

You can try to format the format in disk management. To launch this tool, in the system search field, enter:

diskmgmt.msc

In the disk management window, focusing on the size of the drive, we are looking for it among the drives connected to the computer. And in the context menu called on it, we start formatting.

You can immediately choose full formatting.

If the flash drive has a partition structure like a hard drive, you must delete each of these partitions. This is done using the option in the context menu "Delete volume".

And then, in place of the resulting unallocated space, you need to create a single partition. To do this, in the context menu on this very unallocated space, we launch the “Create a new volume” operation and follow the instructions of the step-by-step wizard.

5. Programs for low-level formatting

Regular formatting tools may not help in difficult cases, for example, when flash drives are displayed (in the same Explorer or disk management) as unrecognized devices with the RAW file system. The latter means that either the Windows environment does not understand the file system of the drive, or there is no file system as such in principle. Actually, this is what causes problems with a flash drive or SD card when it works on other devices, with other operating systems. In such cases, third-party Windows programs designed for the so-called low-level formatting will help restore the USB flash drive.

In fact, low-level formatting is a procedure that is carried out either in the production environment of flash device manufacturers, or in serious narrow-profile services. Various Windows software that claims this kind of operation actually performs the usual full formatting, but by mechanisms different from those used by the operating system. Such programs are good at dealing with flash drive problems if these problems occur at the file system level. Let's look at two of these programs.

HDD Low Level Format Tool

http://hddguru.com/software/HDD-LLF-Low-Level-Format-Tool/

The shareware portable program HDD Low Level Format Tool can format various types of storage media, in particular, SD cards and USB flash drives. After unpacking the archive with the program, run it, agree to the license terms.

Choose free use.

Directly in the program window, specify the problematic drive and click "Continue".

We confirm the decision.

We are waiting for the operation to complete and check the operation of the media.

SDFormatter

http://flashboot.ru/files/file/355

The completely free little program SDFormatter is another tool for so-called low-level formatting. Works with both SD cards and USB sticks. We install SDFormatter into the system, launch it, in the "Drive" column we indicate the problematic flash drive. Click "Format".

The program wants to make sure the seriousness of our intentions, click "OK.

Asks not to touch the drive while the operation is being carried out.

Upon completion, we test a USB flash drive or SD card. If it doesn’t help, repeat the operation with the settings for a complete rewriting of sectors (nothing more than a full format). Press "Option", select "Full (OverWrite)". And also click on "Format" at the bottom.

If using the above methods it was not possible to reanimate the flash drive, and it is still under warranty, you need to stop at this stage. And do not take any more action, except to contact the seller with a request to replace the device. All the actions that are described below should be resorted to only when, in fact, there is nothing to lose. The instructions below apply to USB sticks, SD cards, and MicroSD cards. However, in the case of the latter, the probability of recovery is extremely small.

6. D-Soft Flash Doctor

D-Soft Flash Doctor performs the so-called low-level formatting, and along the way it also detects bad sectors (cells). Well, and, accordingly, knows how to block them and replace them with backup ones. The program can help when flash drives or SD cards have difficulty reading individual files that have fallen on bad sectors. The program is free and portable. I did not find the official site, but it can be freely downloaded on the Internet.

In the D-Soft Flash Doctor window, the first thing to do is run a scan for errors.

In my case, there were no damaged (broken) sectors.

But if in your case, friends, the scan results are different, and bad sectors are found, we start the recovery process.

The window for this operation promises that the process will not last longer than 10 minutes, but in fact, remapping bad sectors on a drive with a capacity of more than 4 GB can take quite a long time. So it is better to run the recovery operation at night.

7. Flashing the memory controller

Programs for the so-called low-level formatting or their analogues, in any other form declaring the function of resuscitation of all types of SD cards and / or USB flash drives, turn out to be powerless in the event of a software failure of the controller when it needs to be flashed. This problem may have different symptoms, but more often it is either the computer does not completely see the drive, or it sees, it can even read data, but cannot format it by any means. In particular, due to write protection, despite the fact that the drive is not blocked by hardware.

We choose the best programs for recovering flash drives. We tell you how to restore a usb flash drive, reanimate it using free utilities.

Flash drive- a small device for storing information (documents, music, videos, files), convenient for carrying and connecting to a usb port, extracting from a computer, laptop. It contains a controller and special chips that store information inside the chips.

Sometimes we copy files and forget about them, and when we remember, we find that valuable files are either erased or deleted forever. Either the device is broken, you formatted the partitions. What to do, often a digital flash drive (most often, the controller in it) breaks down, generates errors, the flash drive does not open on the PC - not even a month will pass. One day, the flash drive may need to be restored. The reason that may be:

• incorrect, inaccurate operation of the flash drive
• incorrect media formatting
• low-quality flash drive bought on the market or cheaply from a Chinese (probably by mistake)
• physical or software failure of the flash drive (most likely cause)
• also, an incorrectly removed flash drive from a computer or laptop can serve as a reason for inoperability. This happens when an impatient user literally rips the flash drive out of the usb socket in the process of copying or transferring files.

There are many reasons when it is necessary to restore a flash drive that does not open on a computer or is recognized with reading errors. Fortunately, today specialists from service centers will help you return valuable files and restore device performance without any problems or errors. Recovery programs will return files safe and sound, or at least partially reanimate data on a usb flash drive. The flash recovery procedure costs not so little money, which makes you think about self-recovery of a usb flash drive. Alas, free utilities are not always useful.

For a flash drive, sd memory cards, all the symptoms and consequences of deleting digital information are equally characteristic. This can be accidental deletion, unconscious or deliberate deletion of files from a usb drive, damage to the structure, physical or mechanical damage to the controller or memory chips... One way or another, but restoring a flash drive and sd card is a task more than relevant for PC owners. Therefore, first of all, read the contents of this section.

The flash drive does not open: we study the symptoms of damage

In the recovery section, we will talk about the main problems associated with recovering information on a flash and secure digital drive. As a rule, this is due to hardware or software damage to the flash drive - if it does not come off or is not recognized correctly. Sometimes the memory wears out, sometimes the controller fails. And the usb controller drivers have nothing to do with it. In some cases, you can solve the problem yourself and as a result save files on a flash card or repair a chip, device, ignoring reading errors on the computer. We list only some of the symptoms that indicate a drive failure:

• The PC does not see the flash drive in the list of readable devices
• the flash drive is not displayed when connected to a laptop or computer (OS does not matter)
• flash drive is not readable: although files can be seen on the usb drive

Help with Flash Recovery content

• A small guide related to the question of how to find the reasons why the card does not work or the PC does not see the flash drive on a par with other disks (the device is not recognized, it reads with problems, it needs to be formatted, it freezes, it gives an error when copying to the card, etc.) flash -storage device. Troubleshooting is important in such situations, because without identifying the disease, it is impossible to cure the patient, or even easily ruin his life, using the wrong tools, using the wrong methods and programs that can revive the drive. In this article, we analyze the causes of damage and possible symptoms that lead to the need to restore a flash drive, secure digital, controller, memory chip and flash card.
• We try (with the help of instructions and utilities posted on the site) and at the same time qualitatively - how to solve problems with our own hands - fix the breakdown on the sd card, reanimate the controller, format it correctly, solder a loose contact or memory chip, scan information and process bad sectors on flash "Ke, sections with reading errors. True, the methods described require a certain skill and experience in using these tools.
• if it does not open on the computer or does not display correctly. What is "VID & PID", how this abbreviation stands for and what to do when the device is not recognized or opened. Explanation of terminology, without which it is difficult to imagine flash drive recovery, data and digital information on it.
• - testing of 5 high-quality programs, each of which has remarkable features when working with memory or a drive chip.

Recovery of usb flash drive and memory card. Formatting utilities

One of the best ways to revive a Jetflash flash drive is to reformat it again, at a low level. As a rule, such measures are taken when the flash drive is not readable. If possible, you should ask the memory manufacturer (say A Data, Seagate, Transcend SD, Datatraveler, etc.) if they have proprietary utilities or fresh drivers for reconstruction. Scroll through the contents of this section for help and you will see several articles on the topic of low-level formatting a drive. Fortunately, Windows 7 and higher operating systems have tools to format a flash device without using third-party computer applications. One such flash drive program is HP USB Disk Storege Format Tool.

Diagnostic formatting of a flash card in the HP USB Disk Storege Format recovery program

Utility for recovering a flash drive HDD Low Level Format Tool

Many people know that the HDD Regenerator program is used to help revive hard drives (HDDs), but not many people know that it is also suitable for a device such as a flash drive. The essence of the program is the detection of broken bad sectors on the device with subsequent processing of the information received, depending on the controller and memory model, at a low usb access level. As a result, you get a working device that can copy files without read and write errors. This greatly contributes to the recovery of flash drives if the computer does not see them. The HDD Regenerator program is provided with recovery instructions, in addition, on the recovery website you can find a guide on using the utility and correct formatting (see through the search). You can download the flash drive recovery program directly from the link posted on the HDD Regenerator overview page.

By the way, in other sections on the Softdroid website you will find other programs for recovering flash drives (for example, Flash Recovery or JetFlash Recovery Tool), but we advise you to first study all the information collected in this section. We hope that after the measures taken, the computer will see the flash drive.

Why don't you indicate the cost of the product before downloading the flash drive recovery program and installing it?

Answer. You can download all the mentioned programs for flash drive recovery on the official website. Only reviews are published on Softdroid - we do not have the physical ability to update information about the cost of the products presented. When you download the trial version of the program, it is free. Next, see the information about the cost from the developer or at the end of the trial period you will receive a notification.

Ask us a question about flash drive recovery

Site site specialists will help you recover data. You ask a question - we answer it for free (you will receive an answer by mail).

The question may not be related to file recovery. The main requirement is to describe the problem in detail, formulate it in such a way that you do not have to decipher your message.

Flash Drive Information Extractor - a program for obtaining information and diagnosing a usb flash drive

Information about the flash drive (model, manufacturer, firmware version) helps to better understand the device, the features of its operation. In turn, this allows you to diagnose, restore files or fix the device.

How to recover deleted files from usb flash drive: step by step guide

One of the burning problems associated with deleting files relates to the flash drive. Let's talk about how to recover deleted files from a flash drive using Unformat. What free software to install on a computer, what program, in addition to Unformat, is effective when working with a flash drive. The methods described below will be relevant for usb drives, memory cards, sd cards of digital cameras in the Windows OS environment. We will try to help you, even if the situation is difficult.

What to do if the computer does not see the USB flash drive? We solve problems and fix errors

If the file system of the memory card / usb flash drive is not compatible with the computer OS, the contents of this memory card will not be displayed when connected to a PC. Accordingly, you will not be able to work with the device until you correct the format. In addition, there are a number of other reasons why the computer does not display the usb flash drive (sd card) as a separate drive in Explorer.

How to restore a flash drive with your own hands: instructions for owners of flash drives

In this article, I want to tell you how to restore a flash drive: about all the available methods for recovering damaged, non-working, failed, faulty usb drives. I offer the most complete instruction, which includes all available methods, as well as programs that optimize flash drive recovery.

Do-it-yourself usb flash drive repair: fix hardware and software problems

What to do if the computer does not see the flash drive? Let's agree: the question is painful and often asked. Another of the most popular issues that flash drive owners face is repair as a result of a breakdown. A USB drive has its own characteristics of repairing a controller, memory that has failed: in some cases, the storage device is not detected by the PC. What to do if the flash drive is not detected on any computer? This guide describes the operation to resuscitate an "invisible" flash drive for correct recognition on a computer.

Overview of programs for restoring the usb flash drive

Errors in the operation of USB flash drives are not common. Almost all of them boil down to the inability to read or write the necessary information to the device's memory due to software damage.

Specialized programs provided by device manufacturers will help to fix the problem and restore the memory card.

To restore the operation of noname flash drives and those that do not have their own recovery software, the built-in Chkdsk in Windows and the formatting system are suitable.

Choosing the best program to recover deleted files from a usb flash drive

Damaged portable USB flash drive or memory card? These best-of-breed programs will help you save and recover information, and here you will find out what data recovery from a flash drive is all about. Applications include Undelete 360, CardRecovery, PhotoRec, Recuva Professional and other candidates. You will also learn how to reanimate the flash drive of each of the programs.

EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard Free 11 - free data recovery software

EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard supports many SSD data deletion scenarios. We will launch the Recovery Wizard and explain in a step-by-step manner how the recovery is performed. There are limitations in the free version of Easeus Data Recovery Wizard Free, let's talk about them in more detail. Using the EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard program, you can recover files, deleted information from a formatted disk, laptop or removable devices like a USB flash drive or SD card for free.

Where to download PhotoRec for free (for Windows)

The free PhotoRec program is designed to recover multimedia data on HDD, USB flash drives, sd cards and other storage devices. Overview of PhotoRec recovery functions, scanning options. Where to download PhotoRec for Windows and other OS.

Micro SD memory cards are quite popular due to their portability: you can use it in your phone, and if you insert it into an adapter, you can easily place it in a computer, digital camera and any other devices. Such memory cards have a low cost, but cases of their breakdown are not uncommon. Micro SD suddenly stops responding and does not show any data. In this case, do not rush to throw out the USB flash drive and buy another one, as you can restore it with basic Windows tools or third-party programs. Bring your Micro SD flash drive back to life with this article.

How to restore Micro SD flash drive without third-party programs

The surest way and the first of those that you should immediately take is to format the USB flash drive in Windows via an external USB adapter. The thing is that the built-in adapters for Micro SD do not always cope with their task, it is best to buy a USB adapter for memory cards and use it or ask friends for a while.

• Insert the USB flash drive into the adapter, and then connect to the computer. Wait until the device is detected by the system. It's okay if the type of flash drive is displayed incorrectly, because it is broken.

• Right-click on it and select "Format".

Select formatting options:

• The file system must be Fat32.
• The cluster size is 32 KB.
• Check the box next to "Quick Format".

Click "OK" and wait for the procedure to finish. Remove the device when finished and insert again.
Of course, after formatting, all files from the flash drive will be deleted, but, nevertheless, its performance may return to normal.

How to recover Micro SD flash drive using the program

This option is suitable not only for restoring the performance of a flash drive, but also for recovering files from it. Try this procedure after formatting to restore all photos and files.

• Download the Card Recovery program on the official website at the link https://www.cardrecovery.com. There are several options of one program for recovering different files and memory cards.

• Please note that the program is distributed only in the trial version. You will have to pay for the full.
• Installation is fairly simple and straightforward: agree to the license agreement and select the installation directory for the program.

• Immediately open the program through Start or a shortcut on the desktop. First, insert your memory card into your computer.

• Click "Next" and you will see the next step. Here you need to choose the drive letter on which the flash drive is now. Expand the first list and select it.

• Once you set the device letter, in the bottom line, set the path to save the recovered files. It is in this folder that all photos and other documents will appear.

• Click "Next" again to get started. If the program itself could not indicate the amount of memory of the device, write it down manually.

• Confirm the restoration and click "Yes".

• Wait for the scan to complete. In the process, all lost files will be found, as well as problems in the flash drive. As soon as the line is completely filled with green, the scan was successful. In the lower window you will see everything that was recovered.

• The program will tell you how many files were found in total.

• Click "Next" to view them.

• Check the boxes for the ones you want to recover. Click “Next” again. The recovery will take several minutes, depending on the capabilities of your computer.
• Now you can use the Micro SD flash drive and the files recovered from it again.

Perhaps, every user sooner or later faces the problem of the performance of a flash drive. If your removable drive has stopped working normally, do not rush to throw it away. With some failures, performance can be restored. Consider all available ways to solve the problem.

It should be said right away that all procedures are performed quite simply. Moreover, the problem can be solved without even resorting to some unusual means, but only with the capabilities of the Windows operating system. So let's get started!

Method 1: Check Flash Program

This software effectively checks the performance of a flash device.

1. Install the program. To do this, download it from the link above.
2. In the main window of the program, perform a few simple steps:
   • In chapter "Access type" select item "Like a physical device...";
   • to display your device, in the field "Device" click on the button "Update";
   • In chapter "Actions" mark the item "Reading Stability";
   • In chapter "Duration" indicate "Endlessly";
   • press the button "Start".



3. The check will begin, the progress of which will be displayed in the right part of the window. When testing sectors, each of them will be highlighted with the color specified in the Legend. If everything is in order, then the cell glows blue. If there are errors, the block will be marked in yellow or red. In the tab "Legend" there is a detailed description.



4. At the end of the work, all errors will be indicated on the tab "Magazine".

Unlike the built-in CHKDSK command, which we will discuss below, this program erases all data when it performs a flash device check. Therefore, before checking, all important information must be copied to a safe place.

If even after checking the flash drive continues to work with errors, then this indicates that the device is losing its performance. Then you need to try to format it. Formatting can be normal or, if that doesn't help, low-level.

Our lessons will help you complete this task.

You can also use standard Windows formatting. The corresponding instructions can be found in our article on how to record music on a USB flash drive for a car radio (method 1).

Method 2: CHKDSK Utility

This utility comes with Windows and is used to check the disk for file system errors. To use it to check the health of the media, do the following: