Image Writer

How to recover a USB after use it with this program?

Asked by Raul Fernandez Nevado

I install a Linux USB-Live in a 4Gb USB and now it looks like a 2.9 USB. Is it posible to recover it?

Thanks!!!

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Jeff B (skydiver38) said : 		#1

Jeff B suggests this article as an answer to your question:
FAQ #1927: “My Xgb pen drive was reduced to Ygb”.

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Tim Channon (tc-q) said : 		#2

No problem, the suggestions or statements of actual physical damage or irrecoverability are mistaken.

Any *data* on a device is lost, no different from erasing an hard disk. If you use a device *all* existing data is lost.

In Windows use Disk Management (control panel), you need administration rights to do this, find the device in the list. It will probably be shown with a small FAT32 partition and the rest unallocated.

Delete the partition [double check it is the correct device, eg. look at device properties and the name/brand should be there]. Format the device as FAT32, wait until it completes, allow the system to allocated a drive letter. Done.
The device is now back as a normal USB device.

All that happened is a device had been created which OS did not understand.

You can go around the loop again, write a new image and use it. Been there, done that.

I assume under 'nix gpart (BSD) or gparted can do the same, delete partition and format whole device as FAT32. If anyone succeeds please report this so others know.

Can you help with this problem?

Provide an answer of your own, or ask Raul Fernandez Nevado for more information if necessary.

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