Compact USB-drive, known to most users as a flash drive, is today considered the most common device for storing and exchanging various data. Often there is a problem: “No files are visible on the flash drive” can have rather disastrous consequences. After all, important documents of a confidential nature, unique photographs and other types of valuable information often transferred to a USB flash drive can be in a single copy. If you are faced with a similar problem for the first time, do not panic. There is a high probability that the disappeared data is still there - on the USB flash drive. You just don’t see them, because they are hidden. To solve the problem of “invisibility”, we turn to the practical experience of experienced and consider the main aspects of digital recovery.
Two main reasons: why did the information disappear?
So, when you insert a USB drive into your computer, you find that no files are visible on the USB flash drive. In the vast majority of cases, it is the user who is responsible for this kind of trouble. And most often, it is as a result of improper operation that the Flash device starts working in the "magician" mode. Of course, you can not discount factory defects in the manufacture of the product and the unfavorable accidents of metaphysical properties. However, the harsh reality shows that the cause of the malfunction can be either hardware or software.
Files are not visible on the flash drive: solutions to the problem
The first thing to do is to conduct a visual inspection of the subject of our attention. Perhaps the information transfer device is purely mechanically damaged. A once spilled cup of coffee can also be directly related to the disappearance of files. Make sure the contacts on the flash drive are not oxidized. If the device is equipped with a signal LED - the operation should be confirmed by the glow of the indicator. However, if the computer detects a connected device, then, most likely, the "hero of the day" has software roots that can be spoiled by a malicious computer virus. Nevertheless, such “tricks” can be exposed as a result of using special software, but first of all ...
Standard methods of dealing with "invisibility"
If no files are visible on the flash drive, try the following:
- Connect the USB device to the computer.
- Using the “Win ​​+ R” key combination, call the “Run” window.
- Next in the checkbox, enter "cmd".
- In the “Command Editor”, write “Attrib -h -r -s / c /dk:\*.*”, where Latin k should have the literal meaning of your removable storage medium.
- Press “Enter” and the hidden files will again become visible.
Second Windows Solution: Change System Settings
It is quite acceptable that the folders and files that are on the USB flash drive have been assigned the "hide" attribute. In this case, the flash drive connected to the PC will be displayed blank.
- Go to the "Control Panel" menu.
- Now go to the “Appearance and Personalization” section.
- In the "Folder Options" section, activate the "Show hidden files" link.
- The last item in the list must be activated. That is, the item "Show hidden files, folders ..." must be marked with a marker.
If this method has not taken proper effect, and hidden files are still not visible , try the method described below.
Option three: checking the parameters of one of the registry branches
As a result of a virus infection, malicious code can modify entries in the Windows OS system log. Therefore, you must ensure the integrity of the parameters involved. It is worth noting that when working with the registry, extreme caution should be observed, since incorrect actions and incorrectly made changes can critically affect the full functioning of the Windows system as a whole.
- Using the Run menu, you must open the registry editor.
- Enter the command regedit.
- After the utility utility opens, follow the path: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ SOFTWARE \ Microsoft \ Windows \ CurrentVersion \ Explorer \ Advanced \ Folder \ Hidden \ SHOWALL.
- The key record “CheckedValue” (the right area of ​​the editor’s working window) must correspond to the value “1”.
- In the column "Type", except for "REG_DWORD", there should be nothing.
If the record did not match the specified sample, your PC is probably infected with a computer virus, which means that you need to check the system for the presence of a "destructive code".
A clear question: "How to open invisible files?" and an effective answer to it
Algorithm of actions:
- Download the Malwarebytes Anti-Malware Free antivirus utility on your PC.
- Run the installed software.
- Scan all sections of the PC hard drive and USB drive.
- If a "digital infection" is detected, remove the source of infection.
It is worth noting that in some cases, even after processing the hard drive and the flash drive’s storage area with anti-virus software, the problem will not disappear. Since, as a result of the destructive activity of adverse code, OS service files and even the structure of disks could be changed. In such cases, the recovery process, and in the case of the system, a complete reinstallation of Windows, simply cannot be avoided.
How to recover lost data
As a rule, as a result of incorrect manipulations with removable media, beginners have a question: “Why does the flash drive not see the files?” To resolve this kind of difficulty, you must download and install a special program on your PC. Among the huge amount of such software, the most attractive is the free utility for data recovery Recuva, which you will learn about from the section below, and also learn the basic techniques for working with it.
Recuva - Free Data Reincarnator
So what needs to be done?
- Download this software product from the official website.
- After installation, run the utility.
- Select the type of information you are looking for. The most acceptable option is all files.
- In the next window, select "On the memory card."
- Once you have confirmed your choice, the scanning process will begin.
- If the result was ineffective, go to the “Advanced mode” tab in a special program window.
- Mark all inactive items and repeat the start up process again.
- Files found in this way need to be restored. Click the button of the same name in the lower right corner of the program.
- Check the checkboxes opposite the found files.
- After activating the “Restore” button, your data will be saved in the directory you specified.
As you understand, this program will equally effectively cope with a possible difficulty when the memory card does not see the files. However, using Recuva, you can recover deleted information from virtually any type of medium.
Instead of an afterword
So, you have learned what to do if the flash card does not see the files. Nevertheless, do not forget about basic operating rules, compliance with which guarantees long-term operation of the storage device:
- Do not save information on a flash drive that has not previously been verified by anti-virus software.
- Remember that you need to disconnect the USB drive correctly by deactivating it using the Windows tool: “Safely Remove Hardware”.
- Do not use the same flash drive in different systems. This warning is especially relevant for mobile storage devices (for example, SD memory cards).
- Do not forget to make a copy of the data from the USB drive to the hard drive of your PC.
- In some cases, specific specialized software may be needed to recover lost files from a specific modification of the storage device.
All the best to you and flawlessly working Flash-devices!