Corrupted memory cards and USB pen drives can be frustrating. But, with the right steps, you can often get your data back. This guide will show you how to find the problem and fix it.
Maybe your device got damaged, had a virus, or just got corrupted. This article will help you fix it. You’ll learn how to solve the problem and get your files back.
Identifying the Cause of Corruption
When a memory card or USB pen drive gets corrupted, finding out why is key. There are two main reasons: physical damage or a virus/malware. Knowing the cause helps you fix it right.
Physical Damage
Physical harm can happen in many ways. It might be from dropping it, getting wet, or just wearing out. This damage can mess up your data. You might see cracks and scratches, or it won’t show up on your computer.
Virus or Malware Infection
Viruses or malware can also mess up your storage. They can harm your files or delete them. You might see your computer crash, run slow, or find strange files.
Finding out why your device is broken is the first step. Knowing if it’s physical damage or a virus helps you fix it. This way, you can get your memory card or USB pen drive working again.
Repair Corrupted Memory Card/USB Pen Drive
If your memory card or USB pen drive is broken, don’t worry. There are ways to fix it. These methods can help you get your files back.
Try using your computer’s built-in troubleshooter. It can find problems and try to fix them. Just plug in the broken device and start the troubleshooter.
- Update the USB driver on your system. Old or wrong drivers can cause trouble. Go to the maker’s site to get the newest driver.
- Change the drive letter of the broken device. This might fix file system issues and let you see your files.
For more help, use antivirus software to check for malware. Special USB fix tools can also help with badly damaged drives.
“Remember, the key to successfully repairing a corrupted memory card or USB pen drive is to act quickly and try a variety of techniques. With patience and the right approach, you can often salvage your valuable data.”
By trying these fixes, you can get your files back. And your storage device will work again.
Connect the USB Device to Another Computer
If your USB pen drive is corrupted, connect it to another computer. This might help you find and fix the problem. Using a different system could give you clues on how to solve the issue.
Troubleshooting on a Different System
Here’s what to do when you connect your USB device to another computer:
- Plug the USB device into the second computer and wait for it to be recognized.
- See if the computer finds the USB device. If it does, you might be able to see your files or folder.
- If the second computer can’t find the USB device, it might have a hardware problem. This could be physical damage or a compatibility issue.
- Try to fix the corrupted storage on the other computer by running a scan or using a file recovery tool. This might show you what’s wrong.
Connecting your USB device to another computer can give you important information. It helps you understand if the problem is with the original computer or the storage device itself.
“Troubleshooting the corrupted storage on a different system can help pinpoint the cause of the issue and inform the next steps in the repair process.”
Using the Troubleshooter
If your memory card or USB pen drive is corrupted, start with the troubleshooter. Windows and other systems have these tools. They help find and fix problems with storage devices.
The troubleshooter is a great tool to fix your storage. Here’s how to use it:
- Open the Start menu and search for “Troubleshoot.”
- Select the “Troubleshoot” option to start the troubleshooter.
- Look for the “use troubleshooter to repair corrupted storage” option. It might be under “Hardware and Devices” or something like that.
- Choose the right troubleshooter and follow the instructions. It will try to fix your storage problem.
The troubleshooter will walk you through the steps. It might scan, check for updates, or try repairs. Letting it work can save you time and effort.
“The troubleshooter can be a powerful tool in your arsenal when dealing with corrupted storage devices.”
If the troubleshooter can’t fix it, don’t worry. You can try other things. Like connecting it to another computer, updating the USB driver, or using special repair software. We’ll talk about these options next.
Updating USB Driver
If you’re having trouble with a damaged storage device, like a memory card or USB pen drive, try updating the USB driver. Old or broken USB drivers can cause problems and lead to storage damage.
To update your USB driver, follow these steps:
- Open the Device Manager on your computer. Press the Windows key + R, type “devmgmt.msc”, and hit Enter.
- In the Device Manager, find the USB controller or USB host controller under “Universal Serial Bus Controller”.
- Right-click on the USB controller and choose “Update driver”.
- Click “Search automatically for updated driver software” and let Windows find and install the latest driver.
- If Windows can’t find an updated driver, download it from the manufacturer’s website. Look for your USB controller’s make and model and download the newest driver.
- After updating the driver, plug in your damaged storage device again. See if the problem is fixed.
By updating your USB driver to repair corrupted storage, you might fix the issue. This could help you get back to your files and data. If the problem still exists, you might need to try more steps. This could include scanning the device with antivirus software or using a third-party USB repair tool.
Changing the Drive Letter
If your memory card or USB pen drive is not working, try changing its drive letter. This simple step might fix the problem and let you access your files again.
Assigning a New Drive Letter
To change the drive letter, follow these steps:
- Connect the memory card or USB pen drive to your computer.
- Right-click on the Start menu and select “Disk Management”.
- In the Disk Management window, find the corrupted storage device.
- Right-click on the device and select “Change Drive Letter and Paths”.
- Click the “Change” button and pick a new drive letter.
- Click “OK” to make the change.
Changing the drive letter might fix your corrupted memory card or USB pen drive. If it doesn’t work, you might need to try other fixes.
“Changing the drive letter can often be a quick and effective way to resolve issues with corrupted storage devices.”
Always back up your important files before trying to fix your storage devices. This way, you won’t lose any important data.
Scan the Corrupted Memory Card with an Antivirus Program
If a virus or malware is the suspected cause of the corruption, scanning the affected storage device with an antivirus program can help remove the infection and potentially repair the damage. This approach can be an effective way to use antivirus to fix corrupted storage and restore your memory card or USB drive.
Here are the steps to scan a corrupted memory card with an antivirus program:
1. Connect the corrupted memory card or USB drive to your computer.
2. Launch your antivirus software and select the “Scan” or “Scan Device” option.
3. Choose the corrupted storage device from the list of available drives.
4. Start the scan and allow the antivirus program to thoroughly check the device for any malware or viruses.
The antivirus software will attempt to detect and remove any harmful files or infections that may be causing the corruption. This can help repair the corrupted memory card and restore its functionality. If the scan reveals any malware, the antivirus program should be able to quarantine or delete the infected files, potentially resolving the issue.
“Using antivirus to fix corrupted storage is a crucial step in recovering data from a damaged memory card or USB drive.”
It’s important to note that while scanning with an antivirus program can be helpful, it may not always be able to completely repair a corrupted memory card, especially if the damage is due to physical issues or severe data loss. In such cases, additional troubleshooting steps or specialized data recovery tools may be necessary.
Reinstalling the Device
If you’ve tried other fixes and still have problems, it’s time to reinstall your device. This means taking out and putting back the device drivers. It can solve many storage issues.
Uninstall and Reinstall the Device
Here’s how to do it:
- First, take out the memory card or USB pen drive from your computer.
- Then, open the Device Manager. You can find it by typing “Device Manager” in the Windows search bar.
- Find the bad storage device in the list. It might be under “Disk Drives” or “Universal Serial Bus controllers”.
- Right-click on it and choose “Uninstall device”.
- Then, say yes to uninstall it.
- Put the storage device back on your computer. Windows will find it and start reinstalling it.
- If Windows doesn’t do it automatically, you might need to get the drivers yourself. You can find the latest ones on the maker’s website.
By uninstalling and reinstalling the device, you can often repair corrupted storage. This can fix problems with your memory card or USB pen drive. It might make your storage device work right again.
Repairing Pen Drive Using Windows Explorer
If your USB pen drive is broken, Windows Explorer can help fix it. This easy method can solve many problems without extra software.
To fix a pen drive with Windows Explorer, do this:
- Plug in the broken pen drive.
- Open Windows Explorer and find the pen drive.
- Right-click on the pen drive and choose “Properties”.
- In the Properties window, click on the “Tools” tab.
- Under “Error-checking”, click “Check” to scan for errors.
- If errors are found, Windows will try to fix it. Click “Repair” to start.
Using Windows Explorer’s repair tool can fix corrupted USB pen drives and repair pen drives. It’s a simple and useful way to fix a broken pen drive.
“The Windows Explorer repair tool is a simple and effective way to address many common pen drive issues without the need for complex third-party software.”
If Windows Explorer can’t fix it, don’t worry. There are other ways to try and fix a broken pen drive. But, Windows Explorer’s repair is usually the first and easiest thing to try.
Using Command Prompt (CMD)
For those who know a lot, the Command Prompt (CMD) has tools to fix storage problems. These tools are strong and direct. They help find and fix issues with memory cards or USB drives.
Command Line Utilities for Repair
Here are some tools to help fix a corrupted memory card or USB drive:
- chkdsk (Check Disk): This command checks a volume for errors.
- diskpart: This tool helps manage disk partitions.
- format: This command prepares a device for use by the OS.
- bootrec: This tool fixes boot problems by rebuilding the BCD and MBR.
To use these tools, open the Command Prompt (CMD) on your Windows computer. Then, type the right commands to fix the storage issue.
“The Command Prompt offers powerful tools for repairing corrupted storage devices, but it’s important to use caution and understand the commands you’re executing to avoid further data loss.”
Using the Command Prompt’s tools can solve many problems with memory cards or USB drives. You won’t need extra software or hard steps.
Using USB Fix Software
When Windows tools don’t work, special software can help. These tools fix and recover data from damaged devices.
Third-Party Repair Tools
Some top USB fix software includes:
- Recuva by Piriform – This tool scans and finds files on damaged USBs and cards.
- EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard – It can get data back from many devices, even if they’re broken.
- Wondershare Data Recovery – It finds lost files on flash drives, cards, and more, even if they’re corrupted.
These third-party tools to fix corrupted memory cards/USB pen drives help you find and fix problems. They guide you to scan, find issues, and get your data back. Many also help use USB fix software to repair corrupted storage.
“Using specialized USB fix software can be a lifesaver when dealing with corrupted or unreadable storage devices.”
With these tools, you can often save your data. You can make your memory card or USB pen drive work again, even with big problems.
Conclusion
We’ve looked at many ways to fix memory cards and USB drives that don’t work right. We talked about what might be wrong, like physical damage or viruses. We also shared steps and tools to fix these problems and get your data back.
There are many things you can try, like using a different computer or updating drivers. You can also change the drive letter or use special tools. This guide shows you how to solve many problems with your storage devices.
Remember, you can often fix these issues yourself with the right steps. You don’t always need to call a professional or pay for help. Being informed and taking action can keep your digital stuff safe and working well.
FAQ
How can I connect the USB device to another computer?
You can connect the USB device to another computer. This helps you find and fix the problem. It lets you check the issue on a different system.
How do I use the troubleshooter to repair the corrupted storage device?
Windows and other systems have troubleshooters for corrupted devices. These tools can find and fix problems. They are a good way to solve the issue.
How do I update the USB driver to repair the corrupted storage device?
Old or broken USB drivers can cause problems. Updating the driver might fix the issue. This can help your storage device work right again.
How can I change the drive letter to repair the corrupted storage device?
Sometimes, changing the drive letter helps. A new drive letter might solve the problem. This can fix the issue.