I was uploading photos to my USB, and in the middle of it, I got an error saying there was a problem and it couldn’t read the USB. Now it’s not showing up on any computer. I’m really stressed because it has a lot of important photos on it. Is there anything I can do? Please help urgently!
If the USB drive has a removable plastic cover, try to remove it and look for visible damage like broken connections or burn marks on the chip.
It doesn’t seem to have any of that.
Flash memory can be quite fickle, and USB contacts are not very robust. If it’s not being recognized by Windows and you’ve already tried other computers, the drive may be damaged.
It’s best to take it to a data recovery specialist. Do NOT try to open it yourself; most people, including technicians, can make things worse.
If you want to try a non-destructive method, you can clean the contacts inside the USB with a soft brush and 85% isopropyl alcohol.
Let it dry for at least an hour before plugging it back in. However, if the data is important, I recommend sending it to a specialist with a proper clean room.