Suppose, you were to plug in your pen drive just to discover it wasn’t being read by the computer. Frustrating, right? In the worst-case scenario, if you have been in such a position, you should not worry because this is not a unique case and there are various ways to make the lost data recoverable. Here, you will learn why your pen drive might not be recognized and what measures you should take to fix this issue, as well as how to recover files from not recognized pen drive.
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What Causes My Pen Drive Not to Be Recognized?
You might be wondering why your pen drive is not showing up, there are several possibilities that could possibly make your pen drive undetectable. Some common causes include:
Faulty USB Port: The USB port might have some problems that lead to a connection failure of the port itself.
Driver Issues: Incorrect or old drivers can cause the computer to fail to perceive the device.
File System Corruption: Sometimes typing the wrong code corrupts the file system in a pen drive and then the computer does not recognize the pen drive.
Virus Infection: Malware can also be a reason due to which the pen drive becomes unrecognizable.
Physical Damage: Perhaps in cases where the pen drive has been physically damaged in some way, the connection to the device is reduced.
Step-by-Step Troubleshooting Tips – Not Recognized Pen Drive
1. Switch to Another Port of the USB or Another Computer
More often than not, the problem is not with the pen drive in question but with the USB port, or with the computer in use. Never mind you try using the pen drive in another USB port or even in another computer if you have any. This simple test will assist in knowing whether the issues are from the port or the device.
2. Update USB Drivers
Open the Device Manager of your computer by searching it in the Start menu bar of your computer.
Type: universal> In the Device Manager, locate and click the Universal Serial Bus Controllers section, and then click + to open it.
Go to any item containing the word “USB” and click right, then select the option to update it.
More often than not, updating the drivers will be of key importance in addressing the compatibility problem that is causing the problem.
3. Detect Disk Management (Windows)
In Windows, it can be installed, but not assigned a drive letter, thus this kind of drive cannot be seen in File Explorer.
Open Disk Management by creating a search in the Start Menu and typing diskmgmt.msc.
Check the list to find your pen drive. It would be nice if it was and appeared on My Computer but failed to show a drive letter in its properties; right-click it and select Change Drive Letter and Paths.
Try another letter and check if it is visible in File Explorer after that.
Recovering Data from Pen Drive by Following Approach
However, if troubleshooting has not succeeded, it is now time for data recovery to recover files from not recognized pen drive. Here are two reliable methods:
First Approach: Try Data Recovery Tool
When your pen drive is unrecognized, the only chance to recover deleted files is to use a professional tool. Software such as BLR Data Recovery Software is developed for such incidents. Here’s how to use a recovery tool effectively:
Step 1: Proceed to the download of the data recovery software and install it on the computer.
Step 2: Plug in your unrecognized pen drive.
Step 3: Run the recovery software. Select either External Drive or Removable Disk and then click on SCAN button.
Step 4: The software will show files that can be recoverable. Choose the files of your choice and then copy or download them in a suitable folder on your computer.
Note: Avoid saving the recovered files back to the pen drive to prevent overwriting any remaining data. For file recovery, you need to activate the license to enjoy its unlimited features.
Second Approach: Try Command Prompt (CMD) for File Recovery
- Open Command Prompt as an administrator.
- Type the command attrib -h -r -s /s /d [drive letter]:\*.* (e.g., attrib -h -r -s /s /d E:\*.*).
- Press Enter. This command will unhide files if they’re hidden due to corruption or viruses.
Final Thought
Dealing with a not recognized pen drive can be rather annoying particularly when there are files that need to be recovered. However, if the steps are adjusted correctly you are likely to regain your data and come out of the problem. You should first try simple problem-solving techniques, and then use professional data recovery software to get your files back.