Top Methods to Recover Permanently Deleted Files from a Pen Drive?

In the digital age, we store important files and documents on portable storage devices such as pen drives or USB flash drives. These devices offer convenience, allowing users to carry files around easily. However, data loss, accidental deletion, or formatting errors can occur, potentially leading to the permanent loss of valuable files. If you’ve ever experienced the frustration of losing data from a pen drive, you’re not alone.

The good news is that in many cases, even permanently deleted files can be recovered with the right tools and techniques. In this blog post, we’ll explore methods to recover permanently deleted files from a Pen drive, providing both manual and software-based solutions. Whether you’ve lost work documents, precious photos, or essential files, we’ve got you covered.

Understanding File Deletion and Data Recovery

Before diving into the recovery process, it’s essential to understand how data deletion works and why it’s sometimes possible to recover “permanently deleted” files.

What Happens When You Delete Files from a Pen Drive?

When you delete a file from a pen drive, the operating system (OS) doesn’t necessarily remove the file’s data immediately. Instead, the OS marks the space where the file was stored as “available” or “free.” The file is no longer listed in the file directory, but its actual data still exists on the device until new files overwrite that space.

Even when you empty the Recycle Bin or use Shift + Delete (for permanent deletion), the file’s data remains on the pen drive until it’s overwritten. This is why deleted files can often be recovered, as long as the space hasn’t been overwritten by new data.

When is Data Lost Permanently?

The files on your pen drive become permanently unrecoverable once the data has been overwritten. This can occur when you store new files or make significant changes to the pen drive. However, as long as the original data hasn’t been overwritten, recovery is typically possible.

What You Need for File Recovery

To successfully recover permanently deleted files from a pen drive, you’ll need:

• A reliable data recovery tool.
• A computer with the necessary software installed.
• The pen drive from which the files were deleted.

With that in mind, let’s explore several methods you can try to recover deleted files from pen drive.

Method 1: Recover Deleted Files from Pen Drive – Check the Recycle Bin (If Applicable)

Although you may have deleted files from your pen drive permanently, it’s worth checking the Recycle Bin on your computer. Sometimes, files that are deleted from the pen drive might be temporarily stored in the Recycle Bin, especially if you were working with the files on a Windows PC before deletion.

How to Check:

1. Open the Recycle Bin on your desktop.
2. Look for the deleted files.
3. If you find the files, right-click on them and select Restore.

This method is effective only if the files have been deleted but not permanently removed from the pen drive.

Method 2: Use File History or Backup (If Enabled)

Many users enable file history or automatic backup features on their systems. If you’ve set up a backup system, you might be able to recover your files from these backups.

How to Restore from Backup:

1. On Windows, open the Control Panel and navigate to Backup and Restore.
2. If you have a backup, select Restore my files and follow the prompts to restore the lost files.
3. On Mac, check Time Machine for any available backups.

While this method works only if you’ve already set up backups, it’s worth checking to ensure you can recover deleted files from your backup system.

Method 4: Recover Permanently Deleted Files from a Pen Drive – Method 3: Use Data Recovery Software

If the Recycle Bin and backup options don’t work, the next best solution is to use SysTools Pen Drive Recovery. These programs can scan the pen drive for deleted files and recover them even if they’ve been permanently deleted.

If software recovery methods fail or if the pen drive is physically damaged, you may need to consider professional data recovery services. These services specialize in recovering data from damaged or corrupted devices, including pen drives.

Here are the steps to recover deleted files using recovery software:

Step-by-Step Guide to Data Recovery Software:

• Download and install the data recovery tool of your choice on your computer. 
• Make sure to install it on a different drive than your pen drive to prevent overwriting the deleted files.
• Launch the recovery tool. You should see your pen drive listed as one of the drives available for scanning.

• Select your pen drive and choose the option to scan for deleted files. Depending on the size of the drive and the number of files, the scan may take some time. 

• The software will search for files that are marked as deleted but haven’t been overwritten yet.

• Once the scanning process is complete, the recovery software will display a list of recoverable files. Select the files you want to recover, and choose a safe location on your computer (not your pen drive) to store them. 
• This will ensure you don’t overwrite any other data on the pen drive.
• After recovery, make sure to save the files in a secure location on your computer. Avoid saving them back to the pen drive until you’ve finished the recovery process.

When to Consider Professional Services

• The pen drive is physically damaged (e.g., water damage, broken connectors).
• The software recovery method didn’t work, and the data is still inaccessible.
• The files are extremely important, and you don’t want to risk further data loss.
• While professional data recovery services can be costly, they offer the highest chance of retrieving your files, especially in cases of physical damage.

Tips for Using Data Recovery Software:

• Use the “Deep Scan” or “Advanced Scan” option if a quick scan doesn’t find your files.
• Make sure to save the recovered files to a different storage device to avoid overwriting the data on the pen drive.
• Act quickly! The longer you wait, the higher the chances that your files will be overwritten by new data.

Method 5: Recover Deleted Files from Pen Drive- Try a Command Prompt (Advanced Users)

If you’re comfortable with using the command prompt, there’s a built-in Windows utility that may help recover deleted files. The chkdsk (check disk) command can sometimes repair damaged file systems and make deleted files recoverable.

Steps to Use chkdsk:

• Click on the Windows + R, button type cmd, and hit Enter.

Type the following command and hit Enter:
bash
Copy
chkdsk X: /f

• Replace X with the letter of your pen drive (e.g., E, F, etc.).
• The command will scan and fix any issues with the pen drive’s file system. Once completed, check if your files are recoverable.

This method is less likely to recover lost files but can help in some cases where the file system has minor issues.

Conclusion

Losing important files from a pen drive can be a stressful experience, but with the right tools and techniques, it’s often possible to recover deleted files from pen drive. Whether you use a data recovery tool, check backups, or rely on professional services, there are multiple ways to recover permanently deleted files from a pen drive. For best results, act quickly to avoid overwriting the deleted data. In the future, consider creating regular backups of your files to prevent data loss and minimize the impact of accidental deletion.