USB Folders not showing - any solution?! Lot's of work gone

Forums › Desktop computing › USB Folders not showing - any solution?! Lot's of work gone

jumcc87

40 posts

Geek

#148525 21-Jun-2014 21:52

Hello

I have a usb wiht about 30 folders each containing about 20 images each.

I had to get a file off an old computer and used this usb. I put it back in my computer and the folders were all then showing a strange file path and not opening. I ran the scanner and now the folders are showing as files (the icon is a folder but the properties say the file tipe is a file. When I try to open the folder of images, im prompted to choose how I want to open the folder.

There is so much work on this usb stick. Does anyone have any solution as to how to save the files?

Thank you very much

gzt

17111 posts

Uber Geek

Lifetime subscriber

#1071892 21-Jun-2014 22:05

First of all - do not in any circumstance write any more files to this USB stick. You best chance in recovering the data is don't alter anything. I will post some specific suggestions tomorrow if I have time. In the meantime someone with more recent experience might come along. Good luck!

jumcc87

40 posts

Geek

#1071895 21-Jun-2014 22:18

gzt: First of all - do not in any circumstance write any more files to this USB stick. You best chance in recovering the data is don't alter anything. I will post some specific suggestions tomorrow if I have time. In the meantime someone with more recent experience might come along. Good luck!

thank you so much, im feeling a bit desperate. I dont know if ive tried to do too much already with the files. ive taken it out.

the funny thing is that the folder icon shows for the folder and you can see the files inside are the photos (you know a peak at whats inside) but its showing as a file type.

I also have excel sheets in a folder that i can see the excel icons inside but again the folder is being recognised as a file.

I would appreciate any help!

Thank you!

Dynamic

3867 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#1071898 21-Jun-2014 22:25

Couple of things you can try:

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-gb/sysinternals/ee656415 Disk2VHD. Copy the flash drive to a VHD file then disconnect the USB. COPY the VHD file so you have a backup. Mount the VHD file and run CHKDSK on it to see if that helps.
Try http://www.piriform.com/recuva on the VHD drive to see if it can get the files.
Try http://www.icare-recovery.com/data-recovery-free.html on the VHD file to see if that can recover the files.

Note I have done data recovery a number of times for clients but never on a flash drive and never with a VHD file.

If that doesn't work, you could try these disk copying tools to copy your troublesome drive to a new one and then try recovery utilities on the new one:

The idea is to preserve the original drive so you can send it to the professionals if necessary.

Good luck.

“Don't believe anything you read on the net. Except this. Well, including this, I suppose.” Douglas Adams

Referral links to services I use, really like, and may be rewarded if you sign up:
PocketSmith for budgeting and personal finance management. A great Kiwi company.

jumcc87

40 posts

Geek

#1071903 21-Jun-2014 22:39

Dynamic: Couple of things you can try:

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-gb/sysinternals/ee656415 Disk2VHD. Copy the flash drive to a VHD file then disconnect the USB. COPY the VHD file so you have a backup. Mount the VHD file and run CHKDSK on it to see if that helps.
Try http://www.piriform.com/recuva on the VHD drive to see if it can get the files.
Try http://www.icare-recovery.com/data-recovery-free.html on the VHD file to see if that can recover the files.
Note I have done data recovery a number of times for clients but never on a flash drive and never with a VHD file.

If that doesn't work, you could try these disk copying tools to copy your troublesome drive to a new one and then try recovery utilities on the new one:

http://hddguru.com/software/HDD-Raw-Copy-Tool/
http://www.easeus.com/disk-copy/feature.htm
http://www.roadkil.net/program.php/P22/Raw%20Copy
The idea is to preserve the original drive so you can send it to the professionals if necessary.

Good luck.

Wow, thank you so much for the reply!

Im a bit shattered right now so will try these suggestions tomorrow. I'm not very techy so it might take me awhile to do them!

Really appreciate your help. Hopefully i can figure out how to do the above and one of them works.

way to ruin your weekend losing a weeks worth of work!

Cheers

Dynamic

3867 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#1071905 21-Jun-2014 22:42

Pleasure to help - hope it works. Google how to mount the VHD (virtual hard drive) on your version of windows.

“Don't believe anything you read on the net. Except this. Well, including this, I suppose.” Douglas Adams

Referral links to services I use, really like, and may be rewarded if you sign up:
PocketSmith for budgeting and personal finance management. A great Kiwi company.

jumcc87

40 posts

Geek

#1071915 21-Jun-2014 23:14

Dynamic: Pleasure to help - hope it works. Google how to mount the VHD (virtual hard drive) on your version of windows.

Cheers!