New memory stick needs formatting

anotheruser

You can format it safely in Windows.

Make sure the "Quick format" box is ticked. All this will do is clear out the index table (like the index of a manual), but the data isn't overwritten.

Then you can use another program to force read the data that's on there. I had a really good [program] that recovered Gb of data when my index table got corrupt and Windows came up with the same error as above.

Got all the data back no problem.

Whatever you do, make sure the "Quick Format" is ticked, and don't copy anything else to stick.

While messing about running linux can be fun, it's a bit OTT for a computer novice.

I'll have a look for the program I used to recover the data and report back if I can find it.

longwalks1

Thanks anotheruser, i made sure the ;quick format' box was ticked but it came up with another warning about erasing all data?

And should the file format be FAT32 ?

Fightsback

britishboy wrote: »

Thanks anotheruser, i made sure the ;quick format' box was ticked but it came up with another warning about erasing all data?

And should the file format be FAT32 ?

Ignore that advice, it's not a HDD. The FAT, MFT etc can get written anywhere on the USB memory stick and you risk overwriting your data.

longwalks1

so its OK to do the quick format, leave the file system as 'FAT32 (default) and then ignore the warning about overwriting all data on the disk?

poppellerant

Don't format the disk at all, whether using a quick or full format.

Fightsback

britishboy wrote: »

so its OK to do the quick format, leave the file system as 'FAT32 (default) and then ignore the warning about overwriting all data on the disk?

When you even do a quick format on solid state devices new data is written to the card/device and there is no pre-set area where this new data is placed so you run the risk of over writing one of the files you wish to recover.

Try the Linux method first as that is guaranteed to be non destructive to your existing data.

longwalks1

Thanks fightsback, ill try and find an idiot/simpleton guide on Linux and give it a go.

I followed a 'how to' on youtube that had hundreds of thousands of views, downloaded a free trial program that recovered a lot of the files, but when I go to open them (in Word or Excel) they open up but just as a load of rubbish (characters and symbols in totally random order)

[Deleted User]

The recovered files may have the wrong file extension.

Try renaming the file extension, to what it was originally.

tavernman

You don't say which "free trial product" you have used

tavernman

This thread gives some info on recovering data from an unexpected/unwanted format of an external HDD https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5181260