I have a flash drive with a number of items on it that I need.

When I go to access the drive, which I have used for the past couple of months, I now get an error message saying that the drive is not formatted and needs to be formatted. I know that if I re-format it, I'll lose all my work on it.

Is there any way to restore the drive so that I can still access the files?

I'm sorry to not be able to be encouraging, but that message is a strong indicator that the drive has gone bad.

There are a variety of software products that claim the ability to restore data from bad drives... but frankly I've rarely had luck with them.

If it were me I'd try searching for "recovery" software at www.download.com...try a few of them out and cross my fingers big time.

Hi, I've had some luck with PC Inspector file recovery - freeware:

http://www.pcinspector.de/file_recovery/uk/welcome.htm

Worth a try!

Never install the recovery software onto the drive you're trying to recover files from!

Hello,

EaseUs DataRecoveryWizard (http://www.easeus.com) utility can help. Speaking about me, it was
Easily able to restore deleted, lost file and unformat drive,
So I think you will also find it quite useful. Really recommended
Tool, give it a try.

Follow these steps, and your problem will be solved:
1. Go to Run by pressing 'Windows' + 'R'
2. Write 'cmd'
3. Now write 'chkdsk /f h:'
('H' is the name of your hard drive)
Follow ordinary steps, and your hard will be recover everything without formatting it.
Best wishes

WaseemOnLine
Waseem Dabbas

I did what you said but it gives following error message:

The type of the file system is RAW.
CHKDSK is not available for RAW drives.

I used the CMD command on a flash pen drive when it was giving me the "this drive needs to be formatted" message. It told me that there were errors in the boot files. I ran data recovery, got what I could, and reformatted. Now, when I run the chkdsk command, it tells me everything is working fine. However, the drive still wants to be formatted a 2nd time when I use it in PCs other than my laptop at home.

If it was corrupted to begin with, can a format actually fix that corruption? I'm not sure if I should be wary of this drive after its previous behavior. It made me lose nearly all the photos and videos of my children and family-- a lot of priceless memories.

If chkdsk /f h: doesn't work, you may format it and then recover your files by a recovery software like 'recover my files'

Same experienced! The file system is raw, chkdsk is not available for raw

I tried chkdsk /f g: and got the message
"
CHKDSK is not available for RAW drives.
"
:(

Thanks, it really recovered my data.

Follow these steps, and your problem will be solved:
1. Go to Run by pressing 'Windows' + 'R'
2. Write 'cmd'
3. Now write 'chkdsk /f h:'
('H' is the name of ur hard drive)
follow ordinary steps, and your hard will be recover everything without formatting it.
Best wishes

WaseemOnLine
Waseem Dabbas

Thanks it recovered my data.

You can try the following two steps to let everything be OK.

1. You need to apply a recovery program to restore all your data, such as iCare Data Recovery Free (http://download.cnet.com/iCare-Data-Recovery-Free/3000-2248_4-75628752.html) and Recuva (http://www.piriform.com/recuva) can be the good ones of them, they are both professional and efficient I restoring your data and they are both free.

2. You need format your disk to make it work well again in the future after the recovering.

Under this circumstance, you can only choose to format your memory card, if you want to use it well again as before. But for the safety of your data on it, you need a recovery program to restore all your data at first, such as iCare Data Recovery Free and Recuva, they are both professional and efficient I restoring your data and they are both free.
You can get them :
Recuva - Undelete, Unerase, File and Disk Recovery - Free Download (http://www.piriform.com/recuva)
iCare Data Recovery Free - CNET Download.com (http://download.cnet.com/iCare-Data-Recovery-Free/3000-2248_4-75628752.html)

In the same prompt error message you will Scan and fix (recommended) option.
Go for it and it will automatically scan and fix file system errors.
So now your flash drive is restored with available data.

According to your description, you need to format your drive as the message says, if you want to let it work well again.
However, in order to access your files there, you need a recovery program, which often can scan your drive and restore your lost data there.
Actually, there are a piles of recovery programs out there, especially as you search on the internet.Some of them are good recovery programs (http://www.squidoo.com/tested-data-recovery-freeware-recommendations-for-you), you could have a try before you forma the drive.

I tried I tried chkdsk /f e:
And got this message:
Can not open volume for direct access

Hey.. my removable drive become 0KB.
What I going to do?
Always say need to format
I don't want to format it

All right! I had experienced the same problem a few days ago. So, I come here to share my story with you.

Here is my issue:
I have a WD external hard drive that contained all of my files. However, after plunging it to my computer as usual, a message popped out and asked me to format it at first.

But, I knew I could not do that, if I still wanted to access my inner files. So, in order to restore my data, I have tried a great number of drive data recovery freeware online, such as Recuva, TestDisk and iCare Data Recovery Free, etc.
Fortunately, they all worked well on my drive and restored all of my data back, especially the last free one that has eventually retrieved the largest amount of my data.

So, I hope my words also could help others.

All right! I had experienced the same problem a few days ago. So, I come here to share my story with you.

Here is my issue:
I have a WD external hard drive that contained all of my files. However, after plunging it to my computer as usual, a message popped out and asked me to format it at first.

But, I knew I could not do that, if I still wanted to access my inner files. So, in order to restore my data, I have tried a great number of drive data recovery freeware online, such as Recuva, TestDisk and iCare Data Recovery Free, etc.
Fortunately, they all worked well on my drive and restored all of my data back, especially the last free one that has eventually retrieved the largest amount of my data.

So, I hope my words also could help others.

Ok! The dread “not formatted error” message generally indicates hard drive problems. This can occur for many different reasons including a computer virus, hard drive problem, power surge, or problems with the operating system. If you receive this type of error message, it is important that you act carefully to keep your important data safe.

1. Do NOT say "yes" to format the drive in case it could make things much more complicated.

2. Do NOT attempt to write anything new on this hard drive in case that new data would overwrite your drive data and make it gone forever.

3. Download data recovery freeware to help you. There are many data recovery tools out there. But, no all of them could be efficient and useful enough. You should pay much attention to opt for a proper one.

Read more information about hard drive data recovery freeware here:
http://geeksdo.com/freeware/data-recovery.html

4. Run the selected hard drive recovery tool to retrieve your inner files and pictures.

5. Save and back up all your restored data on another storage device in case of data recovery failure.

Note: Actually, in your case, if you have backed up everything important on another drive before, you would not have so many troubles. Therefore, you should learn a lesson to do regular data backup.

Ok! The dread “not formatted error” message generally indicates hard drive problems. This can occur for many different reasons including a computer virus, hard drive problem, power surge, or problems with the operating system. If you receive this type of error message, it is important that you act carefully to keep your important data safe.

1. Do NOT say "yes" to format the drive in case it could make things much more complicated.

2. Do NOT attempt to write anything new on this hard drive in case that new data would overwrite your drive data and make it gone forever.

3. Download data recovery freeware to help you. There are many data recovery tools out there. But, no all of them could be efficient and useful enough. You should pay much attention to opt for a proper one.

Read more information about hard drive data recovery freeware here:
Best 6 FREE Data Recovery Software with each tutorial to recover deleted data (http://geeksdo.com/freeware/data-recovery.html)

4. Run the selected hard drive recovery tool to retrieve your inner files and pictures.

5. Save and back up all your restored data on another storage device in case of data recovery failure.

Note: Actually, in your case, if you have backed up everything important on another drive before, you would not have so many troubles. Therefore, you should learn a lesson to do regular data backup.

OK! You are right!

1. The formatting process often would increase the difficulty of complete data recovery. So, it is really right not to format it before you are really to restore your data.

2. Do not save anything new on this drive in case that new data would rewrite your needed data.

3. Download a drive data recovery freeware (http://www.freeware-fix.blogspot.com/2013/03/external-drive-need-to-be-formatted.html) that has ever successfully restored all the data of my boyfriend from his “not formatted” hard drive. It is really worth a shot.

4. Save all your restored data on a different drive in case of data recovery failure.

5. Back up everything important at least on two drives or locations from now on.

Hi,


You can easly get it from Google. There is a recovery program named remo recover toolkit. I think they are providing free demo tool kit. Worth a try.
Wishing luck for getting back your files.

Tnks

Hi,,

You can easly get it from Google. There is a recovery program named remo recover toolkit. I think they are providing free demo tool kit. Worth a try.
Wishing luck for getting back your files.

Tnks..

Oh no! No one has figured this out since 2005!

@WaseemOnLine... Genius! Thank you soooooo much! This worked to get my flash drive back. Was able to recover all of my files and move them to another location just in case something is wrong with the flash drive. Awesome. Can't thank you enough.