How to Recover Files From A Formatted Memory Stick?

Sometimes, you accidentally delete important files from your memory system. It can be due to the RAW file system, system corruption, or USB corruption; you need to adopt the right strategies on how to recover files from formatted memory stick.

Formatting your memory stick can lead to significant data loss. Once you have formatted it, only consider using it if you have recovered the data. You can recover files from formatted memory stick using different methods. This helps add security and ensures you receive and retrieve the best data easily.

This blog explores all the possible ways through which you can recover lost data from formatted memory stick.

Part 1: Is It Possible To Recover Files From Formatted Memory Sticks?

Yes, you can recover files from the formatted memory stick. Formatting the memory stick will overwrite the file director. However, this does not necessarily mean that it would remove all the data. The files that have been deleted will be available on the device. It will become difficult to find the location where the data is recovered.

You can use data recovery software to locate where the data is stored. However, the chance to recover files from formatted memory stick without losing data will become easier if you continue to use the stick. After you have formatted, you must not use the same memory stick if you want to recover the information. This is because the new data will overwrite the deleted files, making it difficult to reverse them.

Part 2: Does Formatting A Memory Stick Delete Everything?

Formatting a memory stick will delete everything. When you format the device, you will clean the entire storage area. As a result, you will end up removing the files and data. Formatting a memory stick is a permanent action.

Therefore, you should get a backup of all the files. Once the data is formatted, you won't be able to get back the information. You can get a backup of data on your PC to save the data.

Part 3: How to recover files from a formatted memory stick

Once you have formatted the files from a memory stick, you need to be very careful about the data being overwritten. If you have some important data in it that you want to retrieve, make sure not to use the memory stick again and again. This puts your device data at risk of being overwritten.

In the sections below, you will come across the top methods through which you can recover files from formatted memory stick:

Method 1: Use Recoverit Data Recovery Software (Recommended)

Wondershare Recoverit Data Recovery Software is a reliable data recovery tool that speeds up the process. Once you have formatted the memory stick, you can use this software to recover all your important data. It is a free-to-use software available for download for your MacOS and Windows OS.

The undeleted files from a formatted USB device can be quickly recovered even if they were infected. It will restore all storage drives such as SD Cards, HDDs, Floppy disks, and Pen drives. The free software version will allow you to recover up to 100 MB of files.

After installing and launching the Wondershare Recoverit Data Recovery Software on your computer, you may follow the steps given below to recover lost data from a formatted memory stick:

Step 1: Click on the “SD card” on the Recoverit Data Recovery Program home page.

Step 2: Since your device has also read the corrupted memory stick, click on it. Initiate the scanning process.

Step 3: All necessary information and data from the data recovery software will be available on the screen after the scan. Search the data.

Step 4: Once the scan is complete, you will receive a Preview option for all the recovered options. Select the files you want to restore and click the ‘Recover’ option.

Note: You will have to choose the location in which you want to recover the data. Restore the data in a different location than that of the memory stick. You can save the information on your PC. All the recovered files will be updated in the new storage location.

Method 2: Use the CMD ATTRIB Command

Corrupted memory stick files can be formatted by mistake but can't be recovered. If you haven't accidentally deleted the files, there is a chance that their attributes were modified. As a result, you end up losing the files because they become hidden from the view.

You can use the ATTRIB command on the control panel to reveal the hidden files. Here are the steps you need to follow to recover file from formatted memory stick without losing data:

Step 1: Open the Command Panel on your device from the Start Windows.

Step 2: On the command panel enter the command: attrib -h -r -s /s /d I:\.. Hit the enter button.

Note: The device will assign a letter to the memory stick. In this case, it is I. However, your device may assign another letter to the memory stick. So you can check the letter assigned to your drive and edit the command accordingly.

Method 3: Seek Help of Professional Data Recovery Service

If you are still not able to recover the data from the memory stick using the above steps, you may consider getting help from a professional data recovery service. A professional data recovery service will help you in the following scenarios:

• A physically damaged memory stick which isn't being ready by the computer.
• Formatting of the memory stick also led to hardware problems. In this case, the data recovery software will not be able to recover the data.

You need a professional data recovery service if you have highly important files saved in your memory stick that were lost due to formatting. After all, losing that data would prove to be more expensive than hiring professional services. These professional services have a controlled environment where they can safely address and fix hardware issues of formatted memory stick. Most of these professional data recovery services offer free evaluation, which can help you save some extra money.

You need to work with a data recovery center reputed in the market. If unavailable in your area, you can ship the memory stick to them in an anti-static bag. However, make sure that the stick is protected with a bubble wrap. The expert would provide an estimate of how long it would take. After the recovery process is complete, the recovery service center will ship the recovered data back to you in a new memory stick.

Note: How you receive the new data will depend on your negotiations with the data recovery center. Therefore, you discuss the budget to restore lost data from a formatted memory stick and the method of receiving the recovered data early on.

Part 4: Tips to Restore Lost Data From A Formatted Memory Stick

Once you have lost data, you may feel that it will be difficult to recover it. However, some of the major tips that can help you to recover data from formatted memory stick are as follows:

• Do not use the memory stick immediately: Once you have knowingly or unknowingly formatted the memory stick, don't use it immediately. Constantly using the formatted memory stick increases the risk of data being overwritten.
• Look for backups: Backups are one of the most reliable sources for recovering lost data. You will not need a data recovery tool if you have backed up the memory stick data to any other source. Thus, you can directly restore the data from the backup.

• Avoid reformatting: Many people commit the mistake of reformatting the device. Reformatting the device increases the risk of data being overwritten. As a result, recovery will become impossible.
• Use cloud storage: Many people integrate automatic cloud storage which takes backup. You can upload the files into a memory stick from the cloud storage. Thus, it will help to recover the data faster and more efficiently.
• Use the undelete software: Undelete programs will help recover deleted files from the formatted memory stick. It will search the deleted signatures and work towards restoring them.

Conclusion

Recovering data from the formatted memory stick can seem difficult, but it is not. Adopting the right strategies for recovering deleted from the formatted memory stick is extremely important. You can either rely on backup or use data recovery software. Fast data recovery software can help recover data from formatted memory stick in an accurate location with a lesser risk of data loss. So, research and choose one software that caters to all your needs.