How to Retrieve Files in USB Using CMD
Many people rely on cmd to retrieve files from USB flash drives. The USB flash drive, which is widely known as pen drive. It is usually used for file transfer, backup, and data sharing. However, it is possible to lose files on the flash drive due to viruses, corruption of the file system, software operations, or user errors.
So what is certain is that the Command Prompt (CMD) CMD is the default command letter of Windows. While most users prefer the graphical user interface, the CMD has powerful features for tasks such as flash drive recovery. In this document we will explore how to repair files using CMD.
There are four ways you can use to retrieve files in usb using cmd. Try deepening into each method:
Method 1: Get the recycling tank.
This method is ideal for recovering files that are still in the recycle tank to access the recycled tank using CMD. Follow the following steps:
- Open the Start menu, type "cmd" and press Enter.
- In the Command Prompt window, enter "start shell:RecycleBinFolder" and press Enter.
- Select the file you want to recover from the recycle tank. Right click on the selected file and select Recover. Or you can drag it back to the desired location or flash drive.
Please note that this method only works with files in the recycled cistern. If the file does not exist, this method cannot be used for recovery.
Method 2: Use the ATTRIB command.
The ATTRIB command helps restore malware-infected files. File properties can be deleted by malware on flash drives. However, the files stay concealed. Follow these methods to fix this problem using CMD and Attrib:
- Press Enter after typing "cmd" in Start.
- Enter your USB flash drive typeface and a column (e.g. "E:" or "D:") and hit Enter.
- In the Command Prompt window, type "attrib -h -r -s /s /d" (change "DRIVE_LETTER" with your flash drive character) and hit Enter.
- Start the file browser and find your flash drive. Files should be viewable again.
The ATTRIB command removes hidden and read-only system file attributes, allowing access.
Method 3: Use CHKDSK command.
The CHKDSK command is useful for retrieving files from USB using CMD when the data on the flash drive is corrupted. File access can become challenging. To perform file repairs using CHKdSK, follow the following steps:
- Open the Start menu, type "cmd" and press Enter.
- Enter the command "chkdsk DRIVE_LETTER: /r" (replace "DRIVE_ LETTER" with the character specified on your flash drive) and press Enter.
- CHKDSK will start scanning and repairing the flash drive.
After scanning, CHKDSK will save any missing files specified as CHK files on a flash drive. You can use utilities such as UnCHK, FileCHK or CHK-Mate to recover these CHK files.
Method 4: Windows File Recovery
For permanently deleted file recovery, Microsoft has a CMD program called Windows File Recovery which can be downloaded for free from the Microsoft Store. Here's how to use it:
- Install Windows File Recovery from Microsoft Store
- Open the Start menu, type "cmd" and press Enter.
- Enter the command "winfr DRIVE_LETTER: C: /x" (replace "DRIVE_ LETTER" with the character specified on your flash drive) and press Enter.
- Windows File Recovery will start scanning your flash drive.
- Open the file scanner and go to the destination folder to access the recovered files.
There is also a more smooth option to retrieve files from USB using a CMD known as WinfrGUI. WinfrGUI is an easy-to-use graphical interface for USB file recovery that supports various file formats and works with any flash drive file system. By downloading and installing WinfrGUI, a free file recovery software, you can easily scan and retrieve the files from the USB using CMD. Here are step by step instructions:
- Download and install WinfrGUI from official source
- Start an application from the desktop icon or the Start menu.
- Select your USB flash drive in the interface and start the scanning process.
- Call through the recovered file and select the file you want to recover.
- Click the Recover button and select the destination directory outside the flash drive to avoid duplication.
- The recovery process is complete.
- Access recovered data via Explorer file
WinfrGUI is a smoother and easier-to-use alternative to CMD for USB file recovery. It makes the process easier and eliminates the need to use complicated commands. Makes finding and retrieving your information easier.
It is also worth noting that Windows File Recovery is still in its early stages and may have limitations in terms of supported file formats and recovery results. For more comprehensive data recovery solutions, consider using modern programs such as WinfrGUI.