How do I fix corrupted files on my flash drive?

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How do I fix corrupted files on my flash drive

Flash drives, also known as USB drives or thumb drives, are convenient ways to store and transfer files. However, like all storage devices, they can become corrupted or damaged, leading to lost or inaccessible data. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to try to fix corrupted files on a flash drive and recover your valuable information.

What causes file corruption on a flash drive?

There are several potential causes of file corruption on a flash drive:

  • Improperly ejecting the flash drive – Always use the “Safely Remove Hardware” option before unplugging a flash drive from your computer. Otherwise, data transfer may be interrupted, leaving files partially written and corrupted.
  • File system errors – The file system manages how data is stored on the drive. If this gets corrupted, it can make files inaccessible.
  • Bad sectors – If there are physically damaged areas on the flash drive, they can prevent files from being read or written properly.
  • Malware or viruses – Malicious software can sometimes directly damage or corrupt files.
  • Power failure or unplugging flash drive during file transfer – This can interrupt the process and corrupt data.
  • Exceeding storage limits – Writing more data than the flash drive’s storage capacity can overwrite data and cause corruption.

How to check for corrupted files on a flash drive

Here are some signs that your flash drive may have corrupted files:

  • Error messages when trying to open files saying the file is corrupted or cant be accessed
  • Inability to open certain files that were previously working
  • Strange file sizes (significantly larger or smaller than expected)
  • Files that display generic “icon” images rather than their normal icon
  • Flash drive is very slow to load files
  • Unusual activity like flashing LEDs on the flash drive

To confirm, you can scan for errors using your computer’s error checking tool:

  • On Windows – Right click on the flash drive, go to Properties > Tools > Check
  • On Mac – Open Disk Utility, select the flash drive, click First Aid > Run to scan for errors

This will detect and report any corrupted files or issues with the file system.

How to fix corrupted files on a Windows PC

Here are some steps to attempt recovery of corrupted files on a flash drive using built-in Windows tools:

  1. Try copying corrupted files off the flash drive – Even if you can’t open corrupted files, you may be able to copy them to your hard drive.
  2. Run CHKDSK – This built-in error checking tool scans for file system errors and bad sectors, then attempts to recover data.
  3. Check the Recycle Bin – Corrupted files may get automatically sent to the Recycle Bin.
  4. Use SFC – The System File Checker can scan for and replace corrupted system files.
  5. Try data recovery software – If the above steps don’t work, third party software like Recoverit can scan the drive and recover lost data.

Here is more detail on each of these steps:

Copy corrupted files off the flash drive

Even if you can’t open the corrupted files directly, simply copying them off the damaged drive may allow you to access them from your hard drive. To do this:

  1. Insert flash drive into your computer
  2. Open Windows File Explorer and navigate to the corrupted files
  3. Select and copy the corrupted files (Ctrl + C)
  4. Paste them to your desktop or another location on your hard drive (Ctrl + V)
  5. Try opening the corrupted files now from the hard drive rather than the flash drive

Run CHKDSK

CHKDSK (short for Check Disk) is a built-in Windows command line tool that can scan drives for errors and attempt to recover readable data. To use it:

  1. Open the Command Prompt (search for cmd in the Start menu)
  2. Type “chkdsk X: /f” where X is the letter of your flash drive
  3. Press Enter and let it scan; this may take some time
  4. Type “Y” if it finds file system errors and asks to fix them
  5. After completion, restart your PC and reopen the flash drive to check files

Check the Recycle Bin for deleted corrupted files

Windows may automatically move corrupted files it can’t read into the Recycle Bin. You can check if any corrupted files were moved here:

  1. Open the Recycle Bin icon on your Desktop or File Explorer
  2. Look for files that were deleted from the flash drive and may be corrupted
  3. Try restoring them to attempt recovery

Use System File Checker

The System File Checker (SFC) scans Windows system files for errors and can replace corrupted files with a cached copy. This may help with corrupted system files on a flash drive.

  1. Open Command Prompt as admin
  2. Type “sfc /scannow” and hit Enter
  3. Let it scan and repair any issues – this may take some time
  4. After completion, restart and check the flash drive again

Try data recovery software

If the above methods are unsuccessful, you may need dedicated data recovery software to restore your corrupted files. Programs like Recoverit Data Recovery scan the full contents of the flash drive and use advanced techniques to recover lost and corrupted data. Follow these general steps:

  1. Download and install the data recovery program on your computer
  2. Run the software and select the flash drive to scan
  3. Select file types you want to recover
  4. Let the deep scan run to search for lost data
  5. Preview and select the recoverable files to restore
  6. Save the recovered files to another hard drive (not the flash drive)

This gives you the best chance to rescue corrupted files from the damaged flash drive.

How to fix corrupted files on a Mac

On macOS, you can use the built-in Disk Utility application to check for errors and recover data from a corrupted flash drive.

  1. Connect the flash drive to your Mac
  2. Open Disk Utility (search for it in Spotlight or Applications > Utilities)
  3. Select the flash drive volume on the left sidebar
  4. Click First Aid at the top and choose Run
  5. Allow Disk Utility to scan and repair any issues found
  6. When complete, disconnect and reconnect the flash drive
  7. Try accessing the recovered files again

If Disk Utility is unable to repair all of the corruption, you can try third-party software like Recoverit Data Recovery for Mac to scan the drive and restore data.

Tips to avoid corruption on a flash drive

You can help prevent file corruption by properly ejecting and handling your flash drive:

  • Always safely eject – Use the Safely Remove Hardware option on Windows or Eject from the Finder on Mac before disconnecting.
  • Handle carefully – Don’t bend, drop, or otherwise apply physical shock to the drive.
  • Store properly – Keep in a dry, cool location away from heat, liquids, and debris.
  • Scan regularly – Occasionally scan your drive using error checking tools.
  • Ensure sufficient storage – Don’t attempt to write more data than the drive’s capacity.
  • Password protect – Add a password to encrypt and prevent unauthorized access.
  • Back up important files – Maintain backups so you can restore data if corrupted.

Conclusion

Corrupted files on a flash drive can often be recovered using built-in Windows or Mac utilities like CHKDSK, SFC, and Disk Utility to detect and repair file system errors. If these tools are unsuccessful, data recovery software provides a good chance of restoring lost data from even severely corrupted flash drives. Following best practices for safe flash drive use can also help prevent file corruption from happening in the first place.