How to Recover and Repair USB Drive Partition in 2023
Similar to internal drives, external USB drives can be partitioned for quite many reasons. Also, files could get missing from your partitioned USB drive; when that happens, you need a reliable tool to get the files back. USB partition recovery is very possible when you use a reliable data recovery software. This article explains the many possible ways to recover files from a partitioned USB storage device or disk.
How Can a Partition Get Deleted?
A USB partition can be deleted due to various reasons, including human error, software issues, or hardware problems. Here are a few common scenarios that can lead to the deletion of a USB partition:
1. Accidental deletion: It's possible to accidentally delete a USB partition while performing file operations. For example, if you format the USB drive or use disk management tools without being careful, you may unintentionally delete a partition.
2. Malware or virus infection: Malicious software can target USB drives and attempt to delete or corrupt the partitions. If your USB drive gets infected by a virus, it could result in the deletion of partitions or the entire drive becoming inaccessible.
3. Software errors or glitches: Sometimes, errors or glitches in disk management software or operating systems can lead to the deletion of USB partitions. If a software bug or a glitch occurs during a partitioning operation, it may cause unintended deletion of partitions.
4. Power failure or improper ejection: Abruptly disconnecting a USB drive from a computer while read/write operations are in progress can cause data corruption or damage to the partition table. This can result in the deletion of partitions or make them inaccessible.
5. Physical damage: Physical damage to the USB drive, such as a broken connector or a faulty controller, can lead to partition deletion or loss of data. If the USB drive becomes physically damaged, it may affect the integrity of the partition structure.
If you accidentally delete a partition on a USB drive or experience any partition-related issues, it's important to stop using the drive immediately to minimize the chances of data overwriting. You can try using data recovery software or seek professional assistance to recover the deleted partition or its contents.
How To Recover Lost Partitions on a USB Drive?
Both individuals and businesses often depend on an array of USB storage options like external hard drives, flash drives, and thumb drives. While the ability to create partitions on these USB devices is handy for organizing diverse kinds of data, issues crop up when these partitions—and the information they contain—go missing.
You may have unintentionally wiped out established partitions and their contents if you've ever reformatted an external USB device. Other frequent causes of partition loss include corruption of partition tables, malware attacks, and inadvertent deletions.
Though the loss of data can be a nerve-wracking experience, there's no need to panic excessively. Multiple recovery options exist for reclaiming those lost USB partitions and the files they held. This article will outline a variety of recovery techniques in depth.
We'll discuss a range of approaches, from leveraging built-in Windows utilities like the Attrib command, Diskpart, and Check Disk, to utilizing specialized third-party software like DiskInternals Partition Recovery, for restoring USB drive partitions and recovering missing data.
USB Data Recovery Methods
1. Try the CHKDSK Scan
The Check Disk (CHKDSK) utility is one of the many free tools available on all Windows computers for USB partition recovery. This Windows tool checks for errors on the USB disk connected to your PC and then try to fix them automatically. It is a CLI utility and requires admin access on the computer. Hereunder are the steps to launch and use this software:
- Right-click on Start and select Windows PowerShell (Admin) or Command Prompt (Admin)
- Enter the CHKDSK command and hit the Enter key: chkdsk /f D:
- Ensure to change the "D" to your USB disk's drive letter – it could be E, F, G, or any letter – check File Explorer to see the actual drive letter
- Wait for the Check Disk scan to run completely, then close the CLI and reboot the computer.
2. Use Windows Diskpart Utility to Recover Lost Partition On USB Drive
Similar to the CHKDSK utility is the Diskpart utility – a free-to-use Windows tool that helps to fix disk partition problems by assigning a new drive letter to the deleted partition. Also, you need to log in to an admin account on the computer to run this utility because it runs through the command prompt. Below are the steps to follow:
- Right-click on the "Start" icon and select Disk Management
- Look out for the USB device and check for the volume(s) marked as "Unallocated." Take note of the drive/volume letter/number
- Now, right-click on "Start" again and select Windows PowerShell (Admin)
- Type Diskpart and press Enter
- Type List Disk to view all connected disks on your PC
- Type Select Disk B (where B is the USB disk with the deleted partition)
- Type List Volume to list all available volumes on disk B
- Finally, type Select Volume O (where O is the unallocated/deleted partition)
- Now, type Assign Letter=g (where g is the new drive letter to use for the partition, no other volume on the drive must have this selected letter as the identifier)
- Close the window and exit, restart the computer, and check if the problem persists.
3. Use The ‘attrib' Command To Perform USB Drive Partition Recovery
Another method that works for USB partition recovery is by using the "Attrib" command, which is similar to the other two methods explained above. This command-line utility helps to change the attributes of your USB device and unhide any hidden folders and files on your USB drive. This method is best if you notice that your USB drive has executable shortcuts.
- Right-click on Start and launch PowerShell (Admin)
- Run this command: attrib x.x –h –s /s /d (ensure to replace "x" with the USB's partition letter)
- Wait until the command runs completely, then close the command prompt and restart your PC.
Free Download USB Partition Recovery Software
DiskInternals offers Partition Recovery, which are two powerful data recovery software that can help you to retrieve your lost and deleted files from a corrupt USB drive or a problematic one. The DiskInternals Partition Recovery software apps are downloadable for free, and they both come with many good features.
DiskInternals Partition Recovery works to recover lost files irrespective of the data loss scenario, and it is very fast. The interface is intuitive, and it features a built-in Recovery Wizard that guides the user throughout the recovery process.
Step One: Download and install DiskInternals Partition Recovery on your Windows PC
Connect the SSD drive to the same computer you installed the software, then launch the DiskInternals Partition Recovery software.
Step Two: Select the SSD from the list of connected drives on your computer, and choose between the three scanning modes
Fast Recovery (Quick Scan) mode may not get back all the files you want, but it is very fast and recovers a good number of lost files. If you want to get back everything and also repair the SSD, use Full Recovery (Deep Scan) mode and wait for the scan to run completely – it may take some time.
Step Three: Once the scan is complete, the recovered files will be marked with a red asterisk
You can easily differentiate between files that are still saved on the SSD and the ones that were just recovered by DiskInternals Partition Recovery. Click on the recovered files and preview them to ensure they're in good condition and equally the ones you needed back.
Note: To resave the recovered files, you need to purchase the DiskInternals Partition Recovery license.
Why Do USB Drive Partitions Get Lost/Deleted/Inaccessible?
The reasons are quite numerous, but the ones listed below are the commonest you may experience.
- Partition Table Corruption: If the USB drive's partition table corrupts, partitions and files on the USB device will be inaccessible. The partition table stores the type, size, and location of partitions on the drive.
- Accidental Deletion: This can happen to anyone – accidentally deleting a partition or file.
- Disk Repartitioning or Reformatting: trying to repartition or reformat the USB drive can cause existing data on the drive to be wiped off. Always back up your storage devices before reformatting or repartitioning them.
- Bad Sectors: Bad sectors on the USB drive could be the cause of the partition/data loss. Bad sectors are typically caused due to logical errors.
- Virus/Malware: If you mistakenly plug in the USB drive into a computer that is already corrupted with viruses or malware, the USB drive will contaminate the virus, which may encrypt all the files saved inside and create "shortcuts."
Can You Recover Data From a Hard Disk After Deleting the Partition?
Yes, but that calls for a professional data recovery solution like the DiskInternals Partition Recovery software. With such a tool, you can still retrieve lost files from a USB drive whose partitions were mistakenly deleted or reformatted. DiskInternals Partition Recovery comes with a wealth of tools and features, and it's pretty intuitive to use too. The software can run on any Windows OS computer and comes with a built-in Recovery Wizard.
Tips To Prevent USB Drive Partition
There are a couple of practices you can follow to ensure that the files and data on your USB storage don't just get deleted. Follow these tips:
- Never connect and use the USB drive on a virus-corrupted computer system or mobile phone (via OTG).
- Always ensure that a reliable antivirus tool is installed on any PC you regularly insert your USB device.
- Always use the "Safely Remove Hardware" feature to eject the USB device from a computer before removing it physically.
How to Repair Corrupted USB Drive
1. Check USB Errors and Repair
To check for errors and repair a USB drive, you can follow these steps:
- 1. Insert the USB drive into your computer.
- 2. Open File Explorer and right-click on the USB drive.
- 3. Select "Properties" from the context menu.
- 4. Click on the "Tools" tab.
- 5. Under the "Error checking" section, click on "Check".
- 6. Windows will scan the drive for errors and fix any issues it finds.
If Windows is unable to fix any errors, you can try using a third-party tool to repair the drive.
2. Repair Corrupted USB Using CMD (Run CHKDSK Command)
Repairing a corrupted USB drive using CMD (Command Prompt) and running the CHKDSK command is a common solution. Here are the steps to do it:
1. Check USB Errors and Repair
To check for errors and repair a USB drive, you can follow these steps:
- 1. Connect the corrupted USB drive to your computer.
- 2. Open the Command Prompt as an administrator. You can do this by pressing the Windows key + X, and selecting "Command Prompt (Admin)" from the list.
- 3. In the Command Prompt window, type the command "chkdsk [drive letter]: /f /r /x" and press Enter. Replace [drive letter] with the actual letter of your USB drive. The "/f" command will fix any errors found, "/r" will locate bad sectors and recover readable information, and "/x" will force the drive to dismount before the process starts.
- 4. Wait for the scan to complete. This may take some time, depending on the size of your USB drive and the number of errors found.
- 5. Once the scan is complete, type "exit" and press Enter to close the Command Prompt window.
FAQ
How Do I Recreate a Partition on A USB Drive?
Try to use Partition Recovery. With such a tool, you can still retrieve lost files from a USB drive whose partitions were mistakenly deleted or reformatted. DiskInternals Partition Recovery comes with a wealth of tools and features, and it's pretty intuitive to use too. The software can run on any Windows OS computer and comes with a built-in Recovery Wizard.
What Does Partition Recovery Do?
DiskInternals Partition Recovery works to recover lost files irrespective of the data loss scenario, and it is very fast. The interface is intuitive, and it features a built-in Recovery Wizard that guides the user throughout the recovery process.
Can you retrieve data from a damaged USB?
Yes, broken USB flash drive data recovery is possible using either the built-in Windows or macOS tools or a third-party solution.
How do I fix a corrupted recovery partition?
1. Go to Windows Search and type cmd.
2. Right-click "Command Prompt" and choose "Run as administrator"
3. Enter the following command and press Enter: chkdsk E: /f /r /x
4. On the Welcome screen, click "Repair your computer".