Another Unexpected Flash Disaster

[wissamyoussif]

Hi all, suddenly my 2GB genx USB flash wouldn't be opened in any computer among those computer I trust for their powerful up-to-date antivirus and USB utilities software. All I get whenever I plug my thumb drive is a CD Drive (I:) icon (or similar, like what's in the attached image_1) and when I try to open it I get something like what's in image_2.
However, most file recovery software were able to restore some files.
I tried using virus scanning, chkdsk, reformatting, plugging on other computers with OS-es other than Windows, but in vain.
Is there any way I can restore what were into my thumb drive?
Thanks.

[Saving space, attachment deleted by admin]

[dahlarbear]

1. Disk Management.  Attempt to view the disk drive structure in "Disk Management" on a Windows XP (or newer?) system.
     a.  Was it a U3 flash drive?  (That would explain the CD-ROM component.)
     b.  Does it appear on bottom half of display twice?  Both its CD-ROM drive component and its removable disk drive component?
     c.  What is the capacity for each visible component?

To access:  Start -> Run -> type "diskmgmt.msc" without quotes and <Enter>.

2.  You can take a look at the "TestDisk" program.  Also Recuva".  Try both programs in a "read-only" mode first (meaning don't make any "writes" to the drive).  Decide which one, if any, will work for you.  Use it first.

Actually, it would be safer to run "Recuva" first as I don't believe it writes to the drive (just tries to recover data).  You may also use TestDisk to attempt data recovery; and if that doesn't work, use it to fix the drive (file system).

3.  Format?   At this point, I would not have formatted the drive.  Not yet...  I would have tried to "recover" the data first.
     a.  What do you think a "format" does?
     b.  Did you "quick" format or "full" format?
     c.  With what "file system"? 
     d.  What file system was the drive originally formatted with?

4.  Reference(s):
     a.  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Testdisk
     b.  http://www.cgsecurity.org/wiki/TestDisk
     c.  http://www.piriform.com/recuva

[patio]

How does it show in Disk Management ? ?
Right clik My Computer...select Manage...then Disk Management.
You may need to unmoun that Virtual Drive you created for this to work...

[wissamyoussif]

Hi all, and thanks for your interest
dahlarbear, you can see on the attached Disk Management image what I've got after running diskmgmt.msc.
Please know that I've already tried TestDisk (I've been using it for years) with no use, but I'm gonna use Recuva, thanks for the tip.
Also please have a look on what my computer's got (without the afflicted flash drive) in the My Computer image.
patio, you can see what I've got after doing your tip, in the attached Disk Management_2, and the resulting window after I tried to "initialize" the flash, in Disk Management_3.
Also know that the (Virtual CloneDrive G:) is installed under my full control a long time ago, with no problem whatsoever.
As for reformating my flash drive, I'm totally aware that it will erase all data on it, but that's just an attempt to check whether it still works.
P.S. My flash does not have a lock: it cannot physically be "write protected".
P.P.S. Usually I use Windows xp sp2

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[dahlarbear]

At this point, I'd use a Hex editor to view the contents of both the physical flash drive and it's two logical components (CD-ROM, removable disk).  You'd probably need to compare the results with a working U3 flash drive (to know what's normal).

I recommend HxD v1.7.7 (either installable or portable version).

[patio]

Sorry...but according to all4 of those images the flash drive is not even being recognised by Disk Management...

[dahlarbear]

What physical devices do "Disk 1", "Disk 2", and "CD-ROM 2" represent (in "Disk Management.jpg" image?

I "assumed" the system was misinterpreting the USB flash drive.  I also assumed the drive capacity of 811.84 GB for Disk_1 and Disk_2 was incorrect which led me to believe the volume boot record(s) for the flash drive were corrupt (or in an unknown format).

I thought examining the flash drive from Hex editor might shed some light on the problem (by examining boot records).  I assumed the system is recognizing the device, just not able to recognize the logical volumes (file system structure).

From a practical standpoint, however; it would probably be a waste of time...

[patio]

Disk 0 is his hard drive...which has 3 partitions on it...
Disk1 is the Virtual Clone drive he has created and for some reason is showing up twice...
The rest are optical drives...1 of which could also be the image drive created.

No flash drive is showing up.

[dahlarbear]

When you're done with your "data recovery" effort (or give up), the following programs may be used to test the flash drive for read/write errors and/or setup it up for reuse.
     a.  Check Flash 1.10
     b.  h2testw 1.4
     c.  USB Flash Tools - Sara Dean
     d.  USB Flash Drive Tester 1.14