How to Fix/Repair USB Flash Drive and Recover Data

Part 1. How a Flash Drive Gets Damaged

You have to admit that, during the usage of your USB flash drive, you have faced all kinds of issues. Before we show how to perform a USB flash memory repair, you need to know that a flash drive can become damaged due to various factors, leading to errors such as:

• USB Device Not Recognized

This issue commonly occurs due to corrupt or outdated USB drivers, preventing the computer from identifying the flash drive. Power surges through the USB port can also damage the drive’s internal components, making it unreadable.

• Unknown Drive, Port Reset Failed

This problem may happen if the connection between the drive and the system is unstable, often due to a loose or faulty USB port. Hardware-level failures within the flash drive, such as memory chip malfunctions or controller corruption, can also lead to this error.

• Unknown Device, Descriptor Request Failed (Error Code 43)

Error code 43 typically occurs when the USB descriptor, which contains essential identification information, cannot be retrieved. This can result from faulty or outdated USB drivers, preventing proper communication between the flash drive and the system.

• The Device You Connected to This Computer Malfunctioned, and Windows Does Not Recognize It

Internal component failures, such as a broken controller chip or corrupted firmware, may cause this issue. Sudden disconnections during data transfer can lead to corruption, also making the device unreadable.

• One of the Devices Attached to This Computer Has Malfunctioned

Overheating is a common cause of flash drive failure, especially if the device is used extensively without adequate cooling. Physical damage from accidental drops, water exposure, or excessive bending can break internal connections, leading to device malfunction.

Do these look familiar? In fact, you are more likely faced them all. There are many simple ways can get rid of the USB flash drive problems. Move to the next part and it will tell you some basic trying to repair flash drive.

Part 2. How to Fix USB Drive

Flash Drive Repair - Fix Flash Drive Can't be Recognized

Flash Drive Repair - Fix Flash Drive can't be Rejected Safely

Method 1:

Method 2:

Flash Drive Repair - Fix USB Flash Drive with CMD

If the regular trying can't help you repair your flash drive. You can try using CMD to fix flash drive corruption.

After that, you will see the message that saying "Windows has made corrections to the file system". That means your corrupted USB flash drive has been repaired.

Flash Drive Repair - Fix Raw USB Drive

Flash Drive Repair - Fix USB Device not Showing

Flash Drive Repair - Fix Broken USB Port

1. If the USB port is only slightly damaged (such as bent pins), you may be able to fix it yourself by gently straightening the pins with a small tool like a needle or tweezers.

2. If the USB port is dirty, causing the USB stick cannot be recognized, you can also blow gently into the USB port to remove any dust or debris. You’d better turn off your system and clean the port using a cotton swab dipped in a small amount of isopropyl alcohol (90% or higher). Allow the port to dry completely before powering your system back on.

3. Gently blow on the metal USB connector to remove any dust or debris. Plug the USB drive into a USB 3.0 port, as a USB 2.0 port might not provide adequate power.

Flash Drive Repair - Fix USB Drive not Detected

Flash Drive Repair - Fix Bent USB

1. Use a small, flat tool (such as tweezers or a precision screwdriver) to gently straighten the bent USB connector. Be very careful not to apply too much force, as this can cause the pins inside to break.

2. If the USB connector is severely bent or the pins are misaligned, check if any parts are loose or disconnected. If so, try gently pushing them back into place with a non-metallic tool to avoid short-circuiting.

3. Once the connector is straightened, plug the USB device back into a port to check if it works properly. If the device is still not recognized, it could indicate internal damage beyond what you can repair.

Flash Drive Repair - Fix Infected USB

Flash Drive Repair - Repair Corrupted USB

Part 3. Recover Data from Corrupted Flash Drives

However, the methods above might still can’t fix the flash drive with 100% success rate. And if you still can’t fix the disk, is there any way to help you get back the data on the corrupted flash drive? Don't worry. We will show you how to recover lost/deleted data in this part. To do it, you will need a powerful USB data recovering tool. Here we recommend the easy-to-use Data Recovery for you.

This USB drive data recovering software enables you to recover any frequently-used data type from like photo, document, email, audio, video and more. Besides restoring data from USB flash drive, it can help you retrieve files from computer, hard drive, memory card, digital camera, etc. Now you can take the following guide to find your missing data back.

Part 4. How to Avoid Data Loss on USB Flash Drives

Eject Properly: Always make sure to safely eject your USB drive before unplugging it. This prevents file corruption and damage to the drive.

Backup Your Data: Make a habit of backing up important files from your USB drive to another storage device or cloud service. This ensures that even if your drive fails, your data remains safe.

Protect from Physical Damage: Avoid exposing your USB drive to physical stress, moisture, or extreme temperatures, as these can cause damage and lead to data loss.

Enable Write Protection: Some USB drives have a write protection feature that prevents data from being accidentally deleted or overwritten. Use this feature when possible to safeguard your files.

Use Good USB Ports: Always plug your USB drive into a working, undamaged USB port. Faulty ports can lead to connection problems and potential data loss.

Update Drivers: Ensure that your USB drivers are up to date. Outdated drivers can cause connectivity issues and increase the risk of data corruption.