Sandisk flash drive treatment. Instructions for restoring flash drives
Read, what to do if Windows does not display the connected device. How to restore functionality to such a device if this is the reason. A flash drive or any other USB drive should be automatically detected by the computer and displayed in Explorer and the “This PC” folder after connecting to the USB port.
Content:
Diagnosis of the problem
The first thing you need to do if connected USB disk not shown in file manager Windows, you need to check the tool Disk management.
To open Disk management in Windows 8/10, right-click on the menu Start and select "Disk Management". In Windows 7, press the combination Windows keys+ R to open dialog box "Run" and enter the command in it diskmgmt.msc.
Check the list of drives in the window Disk management and find the USB drive that is not detected. It should appear here even if it is not in the folder "This computer", and match in size. Sometimes it is defined as "Removable device", but not always.
![](https://i1.wp.com/hetmanrecovery.com/ru/pic/blog/a29/disk-management.jpg)
If you do not see your disk or flash drive even in Disk Management, then try the following:
- Turn on the disk, if there is such a function. Some external hard disks have a separate power cable or are turned on using a separate key designed for this.
- Connect the device to another USB port. Disconnect the flash drive from this USB port and connect it to another. Perhaps one of the USB ports on your computer has failed.
- Connect the device to your computer without a USB hub. If the flash drive is connected to the computer via an extension cord or USB hub, try disconnecting it from it and connecting it directly to the computer. Perhaps the reason is in the hub.
- Try another computer. Connect the flash drive to the USB port of another computer and see if it is recognized by it. If the device is also not detected by another computer, then most likely the problem lies with it.
Solution
If the problem options described above do not apply to your case, then your problem can most likely be solved using one of the methods described below. Depending on what you find in Disk Management, there are options for solutions to the problem that has arisen with identifying an external storage medium.
If Windows sees the disk, but cannot read it, then this means that it has a file system that it does not support. In this case operating system will prompt you to format the disk before using it. But don't rush to do it! This will destroy all your data.
![](https://i1.wp.com/hetmanrecovery.com/ru/pic/blog/a29/format-disc.jpg)
If other computers see the flash drive, but yours doesn’t
If other computers detect your USB drive, but yours does not, then most likely there is a problem with the device drivers.
To check this, open Device Manager and look for Disk devices And USB controllers. Look to see if these sections contain devices marked with a yellow exclamation mark. If there is such a device, right-click on it and select Properties. The properties will contain information about the error and driver status.
![](https://i1.wp.com/hetmanrecovery.com/ru/pic/blog/a29/device-manager.jpg)
To fix the driver problem, right-click on the device, select Properties / Driver / Update.
If the disk is visible in Disk Management
If the disc is visible in Disk Management, but it does not have a letter, then it is for this reason that it may not appear in Windows Explorer. In order for the system to start displaying it in Explorer, such a drive must be assigned a letter.
To do this, right-click on it and select "Change drive letter or drive path". If there is no such item in the pop-up menu, this may be due to the absence or unsupported file system type of the storage medium.
![](https://i0.wp.com/hetmanrecovery.com/ru/pic/blog/a29/disk-management-2.jpg)
In the menu that opens, you will see that the drive does not have a letter assigned - assign it. To do this, select Add / / Ok.
![](https://i2.wp.com/hetmanrecovery.com/ru/pic/blog/a29/disk-management-3.jpg)
If the disk is visible in Disk Management, but it is not allocated
If the disc is visible in Disk Management, but it is not distributed, which means that it is not formatted. In order for such a disk to become operational, right-click on it and select "Create Simple Volume".
Select the maximum suggested partition size and assign a drive letter suggested by the system. After this, the disk will be normally detected by the system and ready for use.
![](https://i0.wp.com/hetmanrecovery.com/ru/pic/blog/a29/disk-management-4.jpg)
If the disk is visible in Disk Management but cannot be formatted
If for some reason the disk cannot be formatted, then to restore its functionality, you can completely erase it and then re-create the partition.
Note. As a result of such manipulation, all data from the disk (as well as flash drives or memory cards) will be permanently deleted. Therefore, worry about their safety in advance - scan the disk or flash drive using Hetman Partition Recovery, and save your data in a convenient place.
To clean the disk, open Command line as administrator and clean it up using the command diskpart – "clean".
![](https://i1.wp.com/hetmanrecovery.com/ru/pic/blog/a29/cmd.jpg)
A flash drive is one of the options for successfully storing content that is required to perform production tasks and to organize your own leisure time. Flash drives can have sufficient volumes, allowing the user to accumulate large volumes useful information, video and photo. Unfortunately, it also happens that this reliable storage one day fails, preventing you from subsequently downloading the recorded material, or, of course, recording new material.
By using special utilities You can revive your Sandisk drive.
Experienced users know that there are special programs that can be used to restore a flash drive, return it to functionality, and, if necessary, restore files previously written to it.
Unfortunately, the Sandisk flash drive is not the best example for solving such a problem, since the manufacturer did not accompany it special programs on restoration. For this reason, sometimes you have to work hard, scour the Internet before you find useful tips and, even more so, necessary programs. But do not rush to be disappointed, everything is not hopeless, in fact, you can use some programs that will help you successfully restore your Sandisk flash drive.
There are several software options available to solve the problem of recovering your Sandisk flash drive. We suggest you try the capabilities of several utilities. Don’t be confused by the fact that one of them is not focused on Sandisk flash drives, and the second is completely paid. These minor obstacles can be easily eliminated and the utilities can be adjusted to suit you, achieving the stated goal.
SanDisk RescuePRO utility
The SanDisk RescuePRO utility can be considered as an excellent tool with which you can recover Sandisk removable media. Surprisingly, the name of this utility practically corresponds to the name removable media, but the manufacturers of these two products are completely different and have nothing in common. However, since for us the most important problem is to find a program that will help restore a flash drive, then the history of the creation of the SanDisk RescuePRO utility and its manufacturers can be omitted.
So, first download it to your computer. This can be done with different sources, but so that you do not burden yourself with unnecessary additional hassle, we suggest you go to the website of LC Technology International. This site will be the easiest place to find and download such a utility. Although you will have to fulfill some requirements. In particular, you will need to enter personal data by indicating your email, to which you will receive a link to download the utility.
Or rather, initially you will download an archive with the program. Unzip it and install the program itself. In most cases, the utility has an English-language interface, so we tell you to look for the button labeled “Wipe media”.
By clicking on this button, you will be asked to select the removable media that you want to format. Select, specify the path to it and start this process, upon completion of which all information will disappear from the media, and the drive itself will be restored.
It’s so easy to restore functionality to removable media if you download and install this Sandisk flash drive recovery program.
Formatter Silicon Power Program
If your Sandisk flash drive has stopped working, the Formatter memory card recovery program Silicon Power can try to bring her back to “life”, but, unfortunately, not in all cases. Read the instructions for the Formatter Silicon Power program. It clearly states that it works with all removable media that have PS2251-03 controllers.
ADVICE. For this reason, if you connect your computer to your computer working flash drive, and the program does not want to see it and perform any actions, which means that the program does not work with this type of flash drive. You will have to use other options to solve the problem.
If, after connecting the removable media and launching Formatter Silicon Power, the program window opens, you are lucky, which means you can try to restore the functionality of your digital drive. To do this, you just need to click on the “Format” button, the program will do the rest on its own, you just need to wait for its actions to complete.
USB Disk Storage Format Tool
Another good option for restoring digital drives is the USB Disk Storage Format Tool. This program also benefits from the fact that it allows you not only to format a flash drive, restoring its functionality, but also to check the drive, immediately correcting detected errors.
After you install the program, open it. In the dialog box that opens, select your flash drive at the top in the “Device” line. In the middle part open window check the checkboxes next to the lines “Correct errors”, “Scan drive” and “Check if dirty”.
ADVICE. It is important to understand why you are checking these boxes. In particular, by confirming the need to execute the “Correct errors” parameter, you express your wishes regarding the correction of detected errors.
The “Scan drive” parameter directs the program to scan your removable drive, and the “Check if dirty” parameter is designed to check the flash drive, even if it is damaged. Now just click on the “Check disk” button, after which the automatic process of correcting identified errors will begin and restoring the functionality of your removable storage device.
Unfortunately, if after finishing the program your flash drive is still not detected by the computer, then you will have to run the program again, but this time click on the “Format Disk” button. Once the process is complete, in most cases the flash drive can be restored, breathing a second “life” into it.
On the Internet you can find other ways to restore the functionality of flash drives of this model. You can, of course, use alternative programs, having first thoroughly studied the recommendations regarding their use.
So, you were able to see that the process of recovering flash drives is not as complicated as it may initially seem to the ignorant. If you strictly follow all the recommendations, format removable storage Everyone succeeds.
Do you have an inoperative USB flash drive or other storage device and are you wondering what program to choose for recovery?
We reviewed the most popular utilities. Which of the above programs is suitable for you and will restore a flash drive with a 100% guarantee?
A one-of-a-kind program will help you extract all the data. Hetman Partition Recovery. It is loved by both beginners and professionals for its convenience, speed and advanced information recovery algorithm. Your files will be found and copied even when the media’s FS is no longer accessible or is damaged.
JetFlash Recovery Tool- That proprietary utility, which has the maximum simple interface and support for working with Transcend drives, JetFlash and A-DATA. Controlled by just two buttons, you will definitely like it. Do not forget that cleared data cannot be restored, so pre-saving information from a flash drive will not be superfluous.
If you have a need to constantly have a universal program with you, which is convenient to use both on home computer, and beyond, we recommend D-Soft Flash Doctor, its platform does not imply pre-installation, launches instantly on any PC. Software Suitable for repair, unlocking,
restoring the volume of the flash drive and its performance.
If you need to recover SD cards, we recommend downloading F-Recovery SD, which has an effective set of simple options for working with damaged flash drives from digital cameras and others portable devices. From the point of view of a professional approach to Flash drives, it will be interesting to use the Flash Memory Toolkit; the application contains a whole range of additional functionality that can test flash drives; in addition, the program works with any version of the Microsoft OS.
Recognize maximum quantity various types Flash Drive flash drives, among the above utilities, and also quickly restore the drives’ performance, the formatting utility and USB recovery Disk Storage Format Tool, which has a very clear and user-friendly interface. Repair program USB flash drives Disk Storage can quickly recover data from damaged partitions hard drive even if problems with the flash drive firmware are detected.
If no flash drive recovery program has helped, we recommend checking the status of the memory controller using the ChipGenius utility. The program works with USB, micro SD, SD, SDHC and USB-MP players from Kingston, Silicon Power, Transcend, Adata, PQI. Further actions to correct errors and recover lost data are only advisable if
The flash drive is detected in Chip Genius.
Recovery of SanDisk flash drives
Removable media from SanDisk is one of the most problematic types of equipment in the history of this type of device. The fact is that the manufacturer has not released a single program that could help restore the drive. Therefore, those who have such flash drives can only wander through the forums and look for posts from other users who were able to fix failed SanDisk devices.
We tried to collect all those programs that actually work with media from this company. There were very few of them.
The set of solutions turned out to be very strange and unusual. So, one of them is completely designed for flash drives from another company, but for some reason it also works with SanDisk. Another utility is paid, but you can try it for free.
Method 1: SanDisk RescuePRO
Although the name of the company appears in the title, it seems that SanDisk representatives themselves know nothing at all about it. You can download it on the website of a certain company LC Technology International. In any case, this program copes with the recovery of removable media, and for us this is the most important thing. To use RescuePRO, do the following:
Download the utility from the website of the aforementioned LC Technology International (this link is intended for Windows users, if you are using Mac OS, download the program from here). The site offers three versions - Standard, Deluxe and Deluxe Commercial. You can try using Deluxe first. To do this, click on the button " Try FREE Evaluation" to download the demo version.
You will be redirected to a page where you need to provide personal information. Fill out all the fields - you can enter the information as you wish, but the e-mail must be real. At the end, click on the button Submit" to confirm your consent to receive a demo version of SanDisk RescuePRO.
Further on the mail will come link. Click on the inscription " RescuePRO® Deluxe" to download the program.
The archive with the installation file will be downloaded. Launch it and install the program. There are photo and video/audio recovery buttons here. Judging by the reviews, these functions do not work, so there is no point in launching them. The only thing that could be used is formatting. There is a button for this Wipe media"(if you installed RescuePRO on English language). Click on it, select your media and follow the instructions.
Interestingly, in some cases the format button appears to be grayed out and unclickable. Unfortunately, it is not particularly clear on what basis the division occurs into those users who have this function available and who do not.
If you manage to use SanDisk RescuePRO, all data from the flash drive will be erased. It will be automatically restored and ready for future use.
Method 2: Formatter Silicon Power
This is exactly the same program that for some reason works with some media from SanDisk. The description for it says that it works with devices that have PS2251-03 controllers. But not all SanDisk flash drives that Formatter Silicon Power can service have such a controller. Overall, it's definitely worth a try. To do this you need to do a few things simple actions:
Insert the USB flash drive and run the program.
If nothing happens or some error appears, then your device is not suitable for this utility. And if it starts, just click on the “ Format" and wait until the drive is formatted.
Method 3: USB Disk Storage Format Tool
Working with a PC involves data exchange, which cannot always be realized via the Internet. Therefore, most users use flash drives for Reserve copy or transferring files. High recording speed and affordable price only add to their popularity. Another type of flash drive – memory cards – is widely used in smartphones, digital cameras and other gadgets. But flash drives, like any complex devices, can break. More often than not, the failure is of a software rather than hardware nature, which makes it fairly easy to restore the functionality of the card or flash drive.
Reasons for flash drive failure
The most common reason why a drive fails is that it was not safely removed from USB port. If you remove the drive while reading or writing, it may fail file system. They think: if the files on the flash drive are closed and no copying processes are running from (or to) the flash drive, then it can be safely removed from the port. However, background programs, antivirus programs, or, conversely, malware can work with the drive’s file system. Therefore, you can completely safely remove the SanDisk flash drive only after clicking the “Safely Remove Hardware” icon on the taskbar and selecting the memory card in the list USB devices connected to the computer. To prevent problems with the operation of SD and flash cards, you should do the same with gadgets connected to the PC (smartphones, cameras).
Recovering flash drives and SD cards by formatting
This is the simplest and quick way, applicable when the OS recognizes the inserted device and allows formatting to start. This action is quite feasible without third-party utilities. You can format both a flash drive and a SanDisk memory card inserted into the card reader. The procedure starts simply: right-click on the flash device and select the “Format” menu item.
After this, all that remains is to select the file system type, formatting method and click the “Start” button.
If standard way does not help, you can use the HDD Low Level Format Tool utility. It performs low-level formatting of any disk drives, so you must use it carefully: if you select the wrong disk, you can format the HDD instead of the flash drive.
Another option is recovery program HDD Regenerator. The utility can repair damaged sectors on flash drives and HDDs and supports the low-level SD card file system format. It can also be used to “rescue” data lost as a result of erroneous disk formatting.
Recovery by flashing the controller firmware
To flash the controller, you need to install its exact model of SanDisk flash drive and download the firmware software. This can be done by the VID and PID of the media. They are easy to identify. The only condition is that the computer must recognize the inserted equipment. Not necessarily as a drive, the definition as a USB device is enough.
To determine the device codes for this, go to the “Device Manager”, select “USB storage device” and open its properties. VID and PID codes are visible in the “Information” section after selecting the “Equipment ID” item in the drop-down menu.
The two codes received are enough to find the necessary utilities for flashing the controller firmware on the FlashBoot.ru website. Knowing the name of the program, it is not difficult to find it through a search engine and download it. There are many utilities for flashing; even for flash drives from the same manufacturer (SanDisk) there are several flashing programs. Using these applications is easy, all control is carried out with one or two buttons, so it’s difficult to get confused in them. If the cause of the failure was in the firmware, you will receive a working flash drive. Some utilities provide recovery of the controller firmware without deleting data or formatting the SD card. In this case, you should save the data and format the flash drive itself before further use.
If the utility does not work, you can find another one that is more suitable for your drive model. Sometimes you have to go through 2-3 utilities before the flash drive works.
Recovering memory cards
If memory cards (SD, micro-SD) malfunction, you can try formatting them in another gadget. If the format does not produce results, do not despair. It is worth trying several devices, since they all differ in the parameters for working with a memory card. In my experience, it is the top models of different brands that cope well with memory card problems.
Memory cards, unlike flash drives, do not have VID and PID. Restoration by selecting a “personal” program based on this data is not feasible. To low-level format SanDisk cards, you can use universal programs– SD Formatter, HDD Low Level Format Tool.
Important: Memory card recovery should not be performed using the built-in card reader. It is not designed to work with faulty micro-SD and format it. It is better to use an advanced USB card reader model.
If you don’t have such a device, you can buy one (cardreaders are inexpensive) or borrow one from a friend.
And remember that no flash drive, regardless of price, guarantees the preservation of your files. Any device can break down at the most inopportune moment, destroying its contents forever. Therefore, there is no need to “put your eggs in one basket.” Be sure to make backup copies of memory cards and important data on flash drives. cloud service, on your hard drive or DVD. This is the only way to protect important information. The more backup copies– the lower the likelihood of irreversible file loss.