Quick question i have a usb with important files on it was working fine until yesterday i put it in my computer and now it is saying i have to format it, it does not let me access it is there any possible way i can get the data off.

 

Your usb sockets arent working, or you have an external usb drive that isn't?

Did you click the disconnect hardware button before you last pulled the plug out?

 

External usb, I have tried it on my computer and two laptops, recently no i did not use the disconnect button

 

Does it do it in any computer? It sounds as if it's go corrupted (Was it unplugged without "Removing the device" by any chance ?)

There is free data recovery software, that aside you will probably need a data recovery specialist to look at for you, expensive but needs must if the data is that important to you.

Another thing you can do is try running "Chkdsk" on the drive.

Martin

 

Its got my uni work on it and deadlines are this week, i unplugged it without click the safely remove hardware, is it possible if i drop it down to a computer shop they can take the data off

 

That is almost certainly why, next time if you look by the system tray (Where the clock is bottom right of screen) you will see an icon appear when a mass storage device is connected such as the USB stick. If you click on this a sub menu appears with the device(s) connected, if you click this then select your stick then say ok a baloon will appear saying it is now safe to "Disconnect the device".

As to the PC shop I am doubtful to be honest but worth a shot, I am in this line of work myself not a PC shop that is. (I would have a look for you but your no where near me unfortunatly) generally most PC shop's will only deal with PC'S, certainly do not go to the likes of 'Tech Guys' if A) You value your data B) You don't want a wasted journey.

A "Check disk" may well help you and is something you can do yourself?

Martin

 

i tried to do the check disk, but it says the disk has not been formatted would i like to format it now, it does not seem to allow me to check it

 

Try the command prompt...

Goto start then click run (Hoping you don't have Vista/7 as Microsoft in there wisdom removed this from the start menu unlike all previous versions of Windows and you have to turn it on) Windows + R=Shortcut

In the run dialogue box type "cmd" (Without the quotations) this will launch a box with a black background and white writing, type E: and press enter (Where E: the letter applicable for your device)

Then type "chkdsk /f" again without quotations.

Again this will only work if you don't have Vista/7 as you then need "Run as Administrator") at least you do for the hard drive can't remember for additional drives but thats a different story, so let me know if you do have either of these as your OS.

Martin

 

Im running windows vista 7

 

Click Start go to All Programs> Accessories> right click "Command Prompt" then click "Run As Administrator" then do as I said above.

Martin