Thank you for being a valued part of the CNET community. As of December 1, 2020, the forums are in read-only format. In early 2021, CNET Forums will no longer be available. We are grateful for the participation and advice you have provided to one another over the years.

Thanks,

CNET Support

General discussion

Flash Drive issue: "Needs to be formatted"

Nov 2, 2006 4:25AM PST

I recently just plugged in a flash drive or jump drive (whatever you want to call it) and it gives me an error message stating "drive needs to be re-formatted" or something like that. Anyway, as you can imagine I had some data on their that I need...anyway to recover or is it lost forever? This is a password protected jump drive so the first thing it requires is my password and then goes right to the error message I stated above.

Any ideas anyone?

Thanks in advance,
Michael

Discussion is locked

- Collapse -
Try the rear USB port or another machine.
Nov 2, 2006 4:31AM PST

But I've read that issue with "password protected" usb devices many times. Hope you have a backup.

Bob

- Collapse -
Recovery
Nov 2, 2006 4:39AM PST

Think it may be possible to use a file recovery program and get back the data even though it's password protected or that really doesn't have anything to do with it?

Thanks.

- Collapse -
Rarely. This has to do with the "protection" used.
Nov 2, 2006 5:29AM PST

It's usually nonstandard and as such only it's maker may know how to "crack it."

Bob