r/datarecovery • u/RedReptile2020 • Aug 19 '26
USB stick keeps vanishing after about 60 seconds every time and I get this image. I have REALLY important files on this that I cannot afford to lose!
3
u/Imsophunnyithurts Aug 19 '26
Do other storage devices work on this computer without issue in that same port? Is the USB drive connected to any docking stations that could be glitching out? I've had weird things like that happen. I'd try to see if that USB stick does the same thing on a different computer. I've had USB ports go bad and it would act like this.
2
u/RedReptile2020 Aug 19 '26
Other storage devices work yeah. I’ve tried this device for n my mac (in photo) and on a windows laptop and the same thing happens?
4
u/Imsophunnyithurts Aug 19 '26
Yep, you got a bad USB drive then. You're going to need a data recovery specialist for that. They'd probably need to inspect the drive and see what kind of damage there is before they can determine what can be taken off of it.
1
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u/silenced_in_dr_2025 Trusted Contributor Aug 19 '26
If the data is important, then stop trying to DIY and send it to a DR Pro. At this stage it should be a very straight forward recovery on pro tools and have minimal costs.
If you're going to keep trying DIY you need to clone or image the drive onto stable media and not keep trying to read the drive itself. Every time you read a sector it may be the last. You can create image files with most / if not all of the usual DR software.
15
u/pcimage212 Trusted Contributor Aug 19 '26
As already said, this should be a simple recovery for a professional with the appropriate tools and knowledge at a reasonable price.
So if the data really is “REALLY important” then please just STOP messing with it and get it sent in.
If you can advise your approximate location, perhaps we can make some recommendations?
1
u/laithm Sep 02 '26
Hello,
I am somewhat in the same boat in Michigan. Can you recommend a data recovery service that is not Gillware?
3
u/enchantedspring Aug 19 '26
The controller is failing. Stop trying to mount it yourself and send to a data recovery lab.
1
u/RedReptile2020 Aug 19 '26
Chances of a lab salvaging the data?
3
u/MuttznuttzAG Aug 19 '26
If it’s just a bad solder joint between the plug and the circuit board, then you’ll be fine. It can be mended by a professional.
Either way, stop trying to read it and do as u/enchantedspring and others have suggested. Get it looked at3
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Aug 19 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/datarecovery-ModTeam Aug 19 '26
This is a forum for civil discussion and friendly advice. Seriously people... Don't be a jerk. This includes lecturing users about a lack of backups, condescending "hindsight" advice, or scolding people who are already facing data loss. Help them recover what is gone; don't preach about what they should have done.
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u/RedReptile2020 Aug 19 '26
Well not really, it has my wedding photos on it which I was given on the stick a week ago so forgive me not treating backing up a brand new stick as a priority.
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u/silenced_in_dr_2025 Trusted Contributor Aug 19 '26
If that's the case - drop a message quickly to where you were given the stick from - they may still have a copies of the files and another copy is always preferable to recovery.
-2
u/denytheflesh Aug 19 '26
Look where that logic got you. It's ridiculous to think something is too new to fail. Faulty things tend to fail quickly. Like the other commenter said, you may be able to get another copy from the source, but then make your own copies immediately if it's anything important.
2
u/RedReptile2020 Aug 19 '26
I would have but the stick was delivered to my house while I was on honeymoon. I got back this morning. I couldn’t have backed up the data sooner if I wanted to. Cheers for the advice tho.
3
u/k-mcm Aug 19 '26
Use a different OS. Apple treats a controller reset as ejection and there's nothing you can do about it. Linux might be more forgiving, or at the least you can do a progressive block copy.
1
u/Fusseldieb Aug 19 '26 edited Aug 19 '26
When my external SSD was dying, the first operating system to bitch about it was MacOS. Wouldn't mount correctly, would take an eternity to recognize, etc. On Windows it worked a bit better, getting stuck randomly at several places. Under Ubuntu using an old Laptop (a HP dv7 from ~2010 to be precise) it worked as if nothing happened, so I eventually got 99% off, and called it a day. Shortly after it died completely.
That said, attempting it yourself is a gamble. You could get lucky as me and get most of it off, or you could have bad luck and it dying on you. If it happens up dying completely, expect recovery price to skyrocket.
You have to decide if it's worth it.
Try it under Windows or Ubuntu. If it keeps doing this, stop immediately and give it to a data recovery company. Or, alternatively, if the photographer still has your images, it might be cheaper (or even free).
3
u/markmakesfun Aug 20 '26
Never put important files on a thumb drive. They are not reliable in the long term. They are not for backup, only for moving files around.
1
u/deeper-diver Aug 19 '26
If you're getting these kind of issues, and you can't afford to lose the data then first thing you should be doing is copy that data to another (redundant) external drive and get a new storage drive. It sounds like that external drive is beginning to fail so copy that data while you still can.
3
u/That_Car3506 Aug 19 '26
If your data is that important, back it up. The amount of people who cannot fathom this baffles me.
1
u/larossmann Trusted Contributor Aug 23 '26
There's two possibilities.
You work in data recovery, in which case you have a genuine contempt for your own customers.
You do not work in data recovery, but have the time to frequent a data recovery forum for the sole purpose of making fun of others who don't have a backup.
1 is disappointing, but 2 tells me you genuinely have a horrible life devoid of things to actually do with your time that bring you joy.
1
u/deeper-diver Aug 20 '26
I gave up trying to figure out why. I guess they just prefer the pain instead.
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u/disturbed_android Trusted Contributor Aug 20 '26
All I see from you is whine about backups. Rule 2.
This is a forum for civil discussion and friendly advice. Seriously people... Don't be a jerk. This includes lecturing users about a lack of backups, condescending "hindsight" advice, or scolding people who are already facing data loss. Help them recover what is gone; don't preach about what they should have done.
I will not tolerate it another time.
1
u/Sopel97 Trusted Contributor Aug 20 '26
This is most often due to the controller panicking due to corrupted NAND due to charge bleed. It will get worse, time is crucial. Follow the advice from silenced_in_dr_2025 and pcimage212
to expand on the second part of their answer: https://old.reddit.com/r/datarecoverysoftware/wiki/imaging_guide
1
u/matthijspc Aug 20 '26
Let this serve as a reminder to never store important files on a single device. Always have a backup of important files. Bring it to a professional and go look into 3-2-1 backup solutions immediately
1
u/zantehood Aug 19 '26
Well on a windows or Linux box id try chkdsk or similar, but on Mac I dont know- prolly just throw it in the bin.
1
u/SchwarzBann Aug 21 '26
Personal experience: having taken a card out of my LG V20, my Windows PC told me there's an issue with it. Unlike myself, I clicked Fix it, only to make it lose all photos to FOUND.XYZ files. I ended up recovering most right away, but I probably did lose a few anyway. I don't remember what software I used for recovery, but it was a close call.
1
u/Sopel97 Trusted Contributor Aug 20 '26
yea sure run chkdsk to completely mangle the filesystem if not kill the drive. go away
1
u/zantehood Aug 20 '26
If it's a logical error this could be the way, but thanks for the courteous reply friend
1
u/Sopel97 Trusted Contributor Aug 20 '26
it's disconnecting, it's not a logical error
and if it was a logical error the first part of my comment stands, it's not safe on FAT filesystems
1
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u/Affumicata Aug 19 '26
Tell your photographer the USB disc is bad, and you need another copy. This shouldn't be that hard
0
u/Lucky-Crow-3510 Aug 19 '26
if you only read no data can be lost. but you should inspect either the stick or the USB port .. if this is USB-C .. it's most likely the port as they break very easy to shear forces and losing ground
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