How can I retrieve files from a memory stick?

[Chloe636]

I bought a new memory stick and it worked fine on my laptop. I have been saving work to it all week but when I plugged it into my computer earlier to pring them off it said 'This disk has not been formatted' so I tried to format it but it said it would delete all the files if I tried to format it.

So I put it back onto my laptop thinking I would save them all before deleting them to format it but I then got the same message on my computer. I am sooooooo gutted! I know you should always back up but it is a brand new memory stick and I didn't have any problems saving.

Now I cannot access any of my files.

Any ideas?

Thanks in advance x

[ianmunt]

Depends on how thorough the format was,there are several recovery programmes I have used in the past on other types of memory,Image Recall,Digital Image Recovery,Smart Recovery,Mediarecover.Some are freeware others shareware.Try googling them in and see which are currently free or low cost.You may find a trial that will confirm recovery,but not let you save files unless you register/pay

[pug100]

Did you back up any of your files on the laptop e.g. in My Documents or did you entrust them all to the memory stick?
It's always a good idea to backup your docs and not just have 1 copy on 1 device.
With my memory stick it came with a piece of software that could enable me to hide the files on the device so others could not access the files without a password. I chose not to install or use software this as I don't need that level of security.
Did your memory stick come with a cd or other software to use with it ?

[mjwman]

Download a file recovery program such as Zero Assumption Recovery and run it.
Save your files and format the stick!