How to Recover a Broken Thumbdrive

A thumb drive, also referred to as a flash drive, is a portable memory device that connects to a computer's USB port. Once connected, you can access stored files by clicking "Start," selecting "Computer" and opening the removable drive. Some thumb drives will fail to display all of the stored files, or it is physically damaged. You can send the flash drive to the manufacturer or a specialist to have the data recovered or drive repaired, or you can recover files with software and reformat the disk.

Instructions

1. Recover Functional Thumb Drives

   • 1
     Purchase a thumb drive recovery software like those offered by RescuePro, Pen Drive Data Recovery or CardRecovery.
   • 2
     Download and install the recovery software onto your computer. Connect the thumb drive to the computer's USB port and launch the recovery software.
   • 3
     Select the connected flash drive in the recovery software interface.
   • 4
     Click the option to search for files on the thumb drive.
   • 5
     Choose where on your system to store the recovered files when prompted. The software will recover the files and store them on the computer. After the files are recovered, reformat the drive.
   • 6
     Send the thumb drive back to the manufacturer for repair if the drive can't be recovered. You can reformat the drive without recovering it, but reformatting the drive will delete all of the files currently stored on it.

   Reformat Non-Functional Thumb Drives

   • 1
     Go to the manufacturer's website and access the support section. Find a key boot utility for that particular thumb drive. For example, HP offers a key boot utility application for their flash drives; it also has been known to work on other thumb drive brands.
   • 2
     Download the key boot utility to your computer's desktop. Double-click on the key boot utility icon to start the application.
   • 3
     Select the thumb drive, if prompted. Choose the file system that you want to reformat -- FAT32 or NTFS. If using the HP Drive Key Boot, check "Quick Format" and click "Start." The thumb drive will be reformatted.