Command Prompt Guide for Accessing USB Files

Command Prompt Guide for Accessing USB Files

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A USB flash drive, commonly known as a pen drive, is a versatile tool for file transfer, backup, and data sharing. However, data loss on these devices can occur due to various reasons such as viruses, corruption of the file system, software operations, or user errors. This article presents two methods to retrieve files from a USB flash drive using Command Prompt (CMD) and introduces a user-friendly alternative, WinfrGUI.

Method 1: Recover Hidden or Corrupted Files Using attrib and chkdsk

1. Connect the USB flash drive to your computer.
2. Open Command Prompt as Administrator:
3. Press Win + R, type , and press Enter.
4. Or search for "cmd", right-click, and select "Run as administrator".
5. Run the disk check command: Replace with your USB drive letter. This attempts to fix file system errors.
6. Change to the USB drive letter by typing:
7. Run the attrib command to remove hidden, read-only, and system attributes from files: This command makes hidden files visible again recursively.
8. Check your USB drive for the recovered files.

This method helps when files are not deleted but hidden or file system errors make them inaccessible[3].

Method 2: Recover Deleted Files Using Windows File Recovery (winfr)

Windows File Recovery is a Microsoft tool used via CMD to recover deleted files including permanently deleted ones.

1. Open Command Prompt as Administrator.
2. Use the syntax:
3. SourceDrive: USB drive letter (e.g., E:)
4. DestinationFolder: A folder on another drive where recovered files will be saved, e.g.,
5. /mode: for non-corrupted NTFS drives, for all file systems or corrupted drives
6. /n Filter: To specify which files to recover (e.g., , , or specific filenames)

Example commands: - Recover deleted Word documents: - Deep scan to recover photos: - Recover videos by signature:

1. Press Y when prompted to start the recovery scan.
2. Wait until the process finishes; recovered files will be stored in the destination folder.

Windows File Recovery offers flexibility and supports various recovery scenarios, but requires command-line familiarity[1][2].

Alternative: WinfrGUI

For those seeking a smoother and easier-to-use alternative to CMD for USB file recovery, consider using WinfrGUI. This free file recovery software eliminates the need to use complicated commands, making it accessible to a wider audience[4]. Download and install WinfrGUI from its official source, and start the application from the desktop icon or the Start menu. Select your USB flash drive in the WinfrGUI interface and start the scanning process[5].

Important Notes: - Always recover files to a different drive than the source USB to avoid overwriting data. - The method can restore hidden files but may not recover permanently deleted files. - The is best for deleted file recovery, especially when files have been permanently deleted or after formatting. - Recovery success depends on file system state and whether data has been overwritten. - Use these CMD tools cautiously; improper commands can cause further data loss.

This combined overview covers how to recover files from a USB flash drive using CMD comprehensively. Access recovered data via Explorer files, and rest assured that WinfrGUI supports various file formats and works with any flash drive file system. However, it's essential to remember that Windows File Recovery has limitations in terms of supported file formats and recovery results[6].

In the realm of technology, Method 1 suggests using Command Prompt (CMD) to retrieve hidden or corrupted files from a USB flash drive, while Method 2 employs Windows File Recovery (winfr), another CMD tool, for recovering deleted files. In a more user-friendly approach, WinfrGUI, an alternative software, eliminated the complexity of command-line interface and provides a smoother experience for USB file recovery.

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