O/T PC wont recognise Flash drive

[DIFFBROOK]

I wonder if any IT guys can help me. I have a 16 GB flash drive that when I slot into the USB port of my Windows 7 laptop is not recognised. Any other flash drive works fine.

The flash drive has some important docs on it which I would like to recover.

Any suggestions?

Looking on the internet there are data recovery downloads, but I'm a bit scared to download just in case these are back door ways for viruses, adaware etc.

 

[El Sid]

What make of flash drive is it?

 

[DIFFBROOK]

16gb bytestor

What make of flash drive is it?

 

[El Sid]

16gb bytestor

had a quick look on the web at this. Most likely an issue with Windows 7, not the flash drive.

maybe email yourself the docs from a non Windows 7 machine.

 

[TotallyFreaked]

I wonder if any IT guys can help me. I have a 16 GB flash drive that when I slot into the USB port of my Windows 7 laptop is not recognised. Any other flash drive works fine.

The flash drive has some important docs on it which I would like to recover.

Any suggestions?

Looking on the internet there are data recovery downloads, but I'm a bit scared to download just in case these are back door ways for viruses, adaware etc.

The easiest way to test where the problem lies is to try and plug your USB drive into another computer and see if it appears there. However the fact that you see other flash drives working points to a problem with your flash drive. Unfortunately they are not the most reliable of equipment both with the usb connector and memory module. If the device is not recognised then any recovery programs is unlikely to help. Data may be recoverable by a third party company but will charge you a fortune. Good luck and hope it works on another computer

 

[Deleted member 22389]

Another option is to download a Linux Distro burn the image file to DVD. You can then run the linux distro off the DVD without having to install the operating system to your hard drive. You can then plug in your USB drive and see if it mounts.

I have managed to rescue data from Windows machines before, where the operating became corrupted and would not boot.

It's worth a shot.

 

[Laptop Ell]

Another option is to download a Linux Distro burn the image file to DVD. You can then run the linux distro off the DVD without having to install the operating system to your hard drive. You can then plug in your USB drive and see if it mounts.

I have managed to rescue data from Windows machines before, where the operating became corrupted and would not boot.

You've just said exactly what I would suggest also.
I've been successful recovering data this way....not for the fainthearted though...