Category: Data Storage

How to Fix USB Device Not Recognized Windows 10 Issue

If the message “USB device not recognized” keeps popping up on your Windows 10 computer, it will deprive you of the data stored in USB. Unfortunately, you are not the only with this issue, many users encounter the same problem when they are using a USB and this could be infuriating. Luckily, you can stop the error message popping up by the following solutions explained in this article.

Overview:

When you are trying to access data on an external USB hard drive, you may receive the following error:

“USB Device not recognized: One of the devices attached to this computer has malfunctioned and windows does not recognize it.”

What causes will make USB unrecognized:

The unrecognized USB error can be caused due any of the following situations:

• Loading of an unstable or corrupt USB driver
• PC requires an update for issues that may collide with old Windows and USB external hard drive
• May be Windows missing other important hardware or software updates
• USB controllers may have become unstable or corrupt
• Your PC motherboard may need updated driver.

Solutions: How to Fix USB Ports Not Recognized Windows 10

One of the easiest way is to connect your USB device directly to your computer, if you are using any USB Hubs. Remove the USB from the HUB and restart your computer. Once your computer reboots into the Windows system, re-connect your USB device to your computer directly through the built-in USB port. But if the error keeps still popping, proceed to try the following solutions.

To fix the above mentioned error many manual methods are available. But, it is recommended to use a proficient recovery tool to resolve the issue.

While performing any of the manual steps, if any procedure goes wrong you might be at the risk of losing your important data permanently, don’t worry!! You can easily recover data from USB drive with the help of an efficient recovery tool and later can try performing any of the manual methods.

SFWare USB Recovery Software is a secure pen drive data recovery tool. It is implemented with a powerful algorithm to identify and recover different file types. To recover lost/deleted data from USB drives, you just have to download and install the software on your computer and then follow the simple on-screen instructions. And you are done!

Recover Lost Files with SFWare USB Recovery Tool

Download and install the SFWare USB Data Recovery Software and follow the steps given below:
Step 1: Launch the application, main screen displays “Recover files” and “Recover Formatted/Corrupt” options. Select any of the preferred option and go to next.

USB data recovery home screen
Step 2: Select the drive to recover files from USB drive. Click on “Next” option

Select USB Drive
Step 3: Software scans drive and displays the recovered partition data. Double click and preview the recovered data and validate them.

Save Recovered Files
Step 4: If data is appropriate and willing to save the results, then get the licensed activated and get the access to Save button

End Screen

Note: The below given solution doesn’t assure complete guarantee to retain the data safe in your processor. It certainly helps in fixing the error if it is related to the particular issue say problem in the system driver or Windows updates etc.

Method 1: Uninstall USB driver and then reconnect the external hard drive

This method resolves issues where the loaded USB driver has become unstable or corrupt.

1. Go to This PC and right click on it
2. Click on Manage > Device Manager > double-click Disk Drives
3. Right-click on the name of your USB external drive. Click Uninstall
4. Disconnect your USB cable and restart your PC
5. Reconnect your USB cable, the driver should automatically load.

Remember: Plug USB directly into your computer. Connecting your USB external hard drive into a non-powered USB hub can cause a lack of enough power to operate the external drive. If this method does not resolve your issue, proceed to Method 2

Method 2: Install the latest Windows Updates

This method will install the latest device drivers for your USB external hard drive.

1. Search Check for Updates in search box. Select Install updates available.
2. Follow the on-screen instructions to download and install the updates.
3. If indicated, reboot your computer.

If your problem still exists, proceed to Method 3.

Method 3: Re-installation of USB controllers

This method resolves steps where the currently loaded USB driver has become unstable or corrupted.

1. Select Start, type device manager in the Search box and then select Device Manager.
2. Expand Universal Serial Bus controllers. Right click on a device and select Uninstall. Repeat for each device.
3. Once complete, restart your computer. Your USB controllers will automatically install.

If your problem still exists, proceed to Method 4.

Method 4: Disable USB selective suspend setting

This method prevents your USB external drive from powering down.

1. Select Start, type power plan in the search box and then select Choose a power plan.
2. Select Change Plan Settings and choose Change advanced power settings.
3. Select the box to expand USB Settings > USB selective suspend settings.
4. Select Plugged in, select the drop-down menu, and then select Disable.
5. If you’re using a laptop, first select battery, select the drop-down menu and then select disabled.
6. Select Apply > OK.

If this doesn’t resolve your issue, proceed to Method 5.

Method 5: Install your motherboard’s latest chip set drivers

This method updates your motherboard’s chip set drivers, so your computer will recognize your USB external hard drive.

1. Check for the name of the motherboard manufacturer on your computer’s documentation.
2. Go to your computer manufacturer’s support website. See Computer manufacturers’ contact information.
3. Navigate their website to find the appropriate drivers for your motherboard. For assistance, contact your computer manufacturer.

Conclusion:

“USB device not recognized” This is a common error that occurs with USB devices. According to users, they are completely unable to read their files stored on the USB. Sometimes USB problems can stop you from transferring files. Perform the solutions that are described in the article if any of the solutions did not help you, make use of SFWare USB Data Recovery Software which is a secure USB drive recovery tool. It is implemented with a powerful algorithm to identify and recover different file types. It resolves any External device-related issues without making the things go complicated.

How to Recover Shortcut files from Pen Drive?

A Pen drive or USB drive is the most commonly used external storage device. These Pen drives are easily affected by a virus that creates shortcut files. This virus hides all the files and folders present in drive and creates a shortcut. These shortcuts keep appearing even after deleting them multiple times. To get back original files, you have recover shortcut files using a USB data recovery software.

The shortcut virus doesn’t give any option but to click on it to access the files in them but, once the file is opened it would multiply itself and eventually occupies the entire drive until its full.

This virus cannot be deleted even after formatting the drive, hence, there is a risk of losing data by doing so. A completely different approach has to be taken to recover shortcut files in Pen drive which has been discussed in this article.

What is a Shortcut virus?

As the name indicates shortcut virus is a program that creates a shortcut of a particular file or folder and hides the original file present in the storage drive. This virus mainly affects external storage devices such as SD cards, USB drive, and External Hard Drives. The virus enters the drive while it is used in a computer that is affected by the virus and Pen drive starts showing shortcut virus. This virus is capable of multiplying itself every time the folder or the file is opened.

Types of shortcut virus:
1) Flash drive shortcut virus: It is a Trojan virus that enters the drive and hides. The virus then wraps all the folders and files in a shortcut that looks exactly like the drive. If the drive is clicked the virus will replicate itself and eventually occupy all the storage space
2) Folder and file shortcut virus: The folder and file shortcut virus affects the Pen drive by hiding all the files and folder in it and creating a shortcut for the folders and files. The files and folder can only be accessed by clicking the shortcut virus, this action will initiate the duplication of the files and folders.

What are the reasons for Pen drive showing shortcut virus?

  1. The antivirus in the computer might have not recognized the Trojan virus because it was not updated. Updated Antivirus can help avoid any virus on the computer.
  2. Downloading content from an distrusted source on the internet can bring in a virus to the computer.
  3. If a virus affected Pen drive is used in a computer without scanning for any potential virus this virus would enter the computer. Further, when a new Pen drive is inserted in the computer this virus enters the USB.
  4. By downloading and installing an application from an distrusted source that has a virus.
  5. Using the Pen drive in another computer that was infected with the virus.

“The shortcut virus keeps appearing even after deleting it many times. You might have also used antivirus to get rid of the shortcut virus but, the antivirus will not be able to recover the lost or deleted files. A data recovery software is needed to retrieve the lost data. Download the SFWare USB Data Recovery Software to recover data that has been lost because of the shortcut virus.”

How to remove shortcut virus in command prompt?

Before deleting shortcut virus it is important to the virus from the file, to do so follow the below steps.

  1. Click on start and type “cmd” in the search box.
  2. Right-click on command prompt and select run as administrator.
  3. Now type the drive letter(example. F: if the letter assigned to the drive is F) followed by a colon.
  4. Now, type the following “attrib -r -a -s -h *.*” in the command prompt.

By doing this you will be able to unhide the hidden shortcut files. Next, follow the below steps to delete the shortcut virus.

  1. Now, type the assigned drive letter followed by a colon on the command prompt.
  2. To delete all the shortcut files type, “del *.lnk” on the command prompt.
  3. To restore all the folder on the drive type, “attrib -s -r -h /s /d *.*” (without double quotes).
  4. “Attrib” is a command that alters the attribute of the folder.
  5. -s in the command removes the “system file” status from all matching files and folders.
  6. -r in the command removes the “read-only” status from all matching files and folder.
  7. -h in the command removes the “hidden” status from all matching files.
  8. /s makes the command recursively apply to all files in the current drive and all sub folders.
  9. /d makes the command apply to folders as well.
  10. *.* means all file names and folder names should be considered the match.

Despite performing the above steps the virus can still be present in the computer, and in certain cases, you might lose the data from the drive. Use an antivirus to remove the shortcut virus completely. If there is a data loss, it is better to recover data from pen drive using a USB data recovery software Download the SFWare SD card recovery software and follow the steps below to recover deleted files

How to recover data from a Pen drive infected with shortcut virus?

Download and install the SFWare card recovery software.

  1. Double-click to open the application.
  2. Next, you will be able to find the two options “deleted file recovery” and “formatted/reformatted recovery”.
  3. If you have formatted the Pen drive click on “Formatted/reformatted recovery”,
  4. If the pen drive is not formatted click on “Deleted file recovery”.
  5. Next, choose the drive that is associated with the Pen drive, and click on it and hit on “scan” option
  6. Once the scanning process is done, all the lost data will be listed.
  7. Click on the data to preview,and then click on “save” to use the data.

    Note: Before using the data recovery software make sure that all the virus in the Pen drive is removed with the help of an antivirus.

    Conclusion:
    A virus can affect the computer and storage devices in many ways. These viruses can corrupt the Pen drive or permanently delete the data present in them. Once affected it can be quite tricky to recover shortcut files in Pen drive. In order to avoid such situations in the future here are a few preventive measures to be followed.

    1. Always download files and applications from a trusted source
    2. Make sure you use antivirus in the computer and keep the antivirus updated
    3. Scan the Pen drive for antivirus before using it.
    4. Never use the Pen drive in computers that have high chances of being infected with virus.

How to Recover Data after Windows Reinstall

Windows operating system has become a part of every computer users day to day life. Any corruption to the operating system will leave you no option than reinstalling Windows. However, reinstalling operating system will erase all existing data on the drive. Therefore it is recommended to take a backup of data before you reinstall operating system.
What if you forgot to take a backup and lost important data? Is it possible to recover data after Windows reinstall? Go through the article below to know more about recovering lost data after Windows reinstall.

Scenarios that lead to Windows reinstallation:

  • If the computer show error that “operating system is not found” it means the MBR is corrupted so the Windows has to be reinstalled.
  • Virus infections might have made the computer function very slow so reinstalling the Windows might be the only option to remove the virus completely.
  • Corruption in the hard drive due to bad sectors makes the hard drive inaccessible, making it necessary to reinstall the operating system.
  • A latest Windows update might have brought the computer’s performance down.
  • A hard drive corruption could have erased the operating system, making it necessary to reinstall the operating system.

“SFWare data recovery software is the best at recovering lost data after windows reinstallation. The uses powerful algorithm that recovers data securely without damaging the original data .Download and try the SFWare data recovery software to recover lost data .”

What are the ways to recover the data after reinstalling Windows?

Before reinstalling Windows it is good practice to backup the data so that it can be recovered after the format process, but if the data is not backed up there are fewer chances of recovering the data unless a data recovery software is used. Here are two ways to recover the data after reinstalling.

Method 1: Recover data using the Backup File History

A Backup File History is an image data of the hard disk that holds recovered data in the hard disk from its previous state, the benefit of creating an image disk is that the important data can be stored and recovered after a reinstallation. Here are the steps to recover using the backup file history.

  • Click on “start” at the bottom left corner of the screen.
  • Next, click on the “settings” option.
  • Now find the “update and security” option and click on it.
  • On the left side of the screen look for the “Backup” option and click on it.
  • In the “Backup using file History” section click on “more option”.
  • Next, select “Restore from a current backup”
  • Browse for the files and click on restore.

Method 2: Recover data using Data recovery software

In case you have not backed up the data using a disk image, you may need the aid of a data recovery software. Download and install the SFWare Data recovery software and follow the below steps.

  • Launch the application after installing
  • You will be able to find two options on the main screen “Partition recovery” and “Formatted/Reformatted recovery”
  • If you have selected “partition recovery”, in the next screen select the disk from which you want to recover the partition.
  • If you have select “Formatted/Reformatted recovery, select the partition to be recovered.
  • You will be shown the option to select the file format of the file that you want to recover, select the appropriate and click next.
  • Once the scan is complete, all the recovered files will be shown click on the file, to preview the recovered and then save the file.

Steps to avoid data loss after reinstalling Windows

  • Take a backup of files by using disk image before reinstalling the windows.
  • Make a list all the necessary applications software and have a backup of the same, which can be used to restore after the Windows is installed
  • Have a list of all the product activation keys of various products that need to be restored after the re-installation.
  • Make sure that you have an updated windows installation kit because windows keep updating every year. It is better to have a updated installation kit for better performance.

Conclusion:
Reinstalling the windows will certainly improve the performance of the computer when its done right you will be able to recover data as well. But if not,  you could lose the data on the computer.
Before reinstalling the operating system keep a data backup of application files as well as personal files to avoid data loss. Despite taking  preventive measures if there is data loss after windows reinstall, use a data recovery software to recover lost data.
Do let us know if you were able to recover lost data after Windows reinstall in the comment section below.