Mirex 8gb flash drive recovery software. The best free programs for repairing flash drives

Many users neglect the safe removal of flash drives, as a result of which the drives stop working correctly: they are not recognized by the system, they require formatting, they do not read / write data, they show the wrong volume (for example, 14 Gb instead of 16 Gb). If you are faced with a similar problem, then the question of how to restore a flash drive will surely become relevant for you.

Can a flash drive be restored?

It may seem to someone that restoring a flash drive is a pointless exercise. Drives from Transcend, Kingston, A-Data and other manufacturers have flooded the market by making flash memory cheap. Memory cards and flash drives from 8 Gb to 32 Gb are not so expensive that you can’t safely throw them away and buy new media. However, old flash drives and Micro SD memory cards are usually not thrown away at all: they lie on the table and are waiting to be restored.

Recovery is possible if the flash drive or memory card has not “died” completely (usually death occurs when the controller burns out).

But if the drive is simply not detected or shows the wrong volume, then the reason for this behavior is most often a controller firmware failure. How to recover a flash drive after such a failure, we will analyze in detail below.

Saving information and searching for the right software

If important information is stored on a flash drive or SD card, then before flashing and restoring the controller (and with it the drive’s performance), you need to extract the data. This can be done using the Photorec utility, which can work with media that do not have a file system detected.

After extracting the necessary information from the SD card or flash drive, you can start searching for a utility for flashing the controller. But in order to flash the controller, you first need to determine its model. To do this, we use the CheckUDisk utility (distributed for free) and the flashboot.ru website:


After completing the check and obtaining the necessary information (VID PID of the drive), you need to download the utility to restore the performance of the flash drive or SD drive. Go to the flashboot.ru website and open the "iFlash" tab. Here you need to enter the VID PID values ​​and find the correct manufacturer of the memory card or flash drive (HP, Generic Flash Disk, Protex, Oltramax, Smartbuy, etc.).

If your model of a flash drive or SD memory card is not in the database of the online service, then it's okay: the main thing is that the VID PID and the manufacturer match. If the required data matched, then you need to get information about the exact controller model for flashing and restoring it, as well as the name of the appropriate utility.

The table has columns "Controller" and "Utility". You need to pay attention to the volume - the controllers of flash drives and SD cards for 16 Gb and 32 Gb may differ. You need to copy the full name of the utility and download it through the "Files" section on the flashboot.ru website or from another source. Often, along with the recovery program, instructions for its use are downloaded, which it is advisable to carefully read.

Controller Firmware

Let's say you have a 16 Gb Protec flash drive. You find it by VID PID through the iFlash online service and download the controller firmware utility for free. What to do next? Carry out measures to restore the flash drive (SD memory card).

Universal instructions for restoring all flash drives:

If the firmware is successful, then you should see the positive status of the flash drive - “OK” or “Good”. If problems occur during the operation, an error code will appear: its decryption can be found in the utility help found by VID PID, or on other online services.

Recovery of any flash drives (SD cards) is carried out approximately according to the same scheme, however, the instructions may differ slightly for different utilities: you need to find the program for flashing the controller by VID PID and start restoring the USB drive.

To recover a flash drive, you must additionally format it. It can be done using standard Windows tools or using special programs. It is recommended to run a full format rather than a quick format. It will take a little longer (especially if the drive is larger than 16 Gb), but you will be sure that the flash drive is now completely clean and functional.

There are several solutions for backing up data:

  1. Built-in operating system applications. Microsoft Windows provides data backup methods that involve storing files and data on external or built-in storage media. All modern versions of Windows already include the ability to back up essential files or the entire hard drive if necessary. The features provided by Windows are complete and stand-alone, and are designed to ensure that you do not need to use third-party services or programs.
  2. Copying data manually. You can always use the old proven way to back up data - manually copying data to an external storage medium. This is long, but if you work with a small amount of data, this solution may be quite acceptable for you.
  3. Online services. Recently, the most modern way of backing up data has become increasingly popular - these are numerous online services. Companies that provide online backup of your files. A small background application installed on the computer creates copies of the necessary data and saves them on a remote server. However, the volumes provided by such companies for storing your files in the free version do not allow them to be used as a comprehensive solution. Often the space offered for backing up data does not exceed 10 GB, so there is no need to talk about creating a backup copy of the entire hard drive. Such services are rather aimed at backing up a separate number of files.
  4. Create a disk image. This is the most complete data backup solution for advanced users. This method involves the use of a third-party program to create an image of the entire disk, which can be deployed if necessary on another storage medium. With this solution, you can in a short period of time access all the data that was on the disk at the time of its backup: documents, programs and media files.

SmartBuy flash drive models for 64gb, 32gb, 16gb, 8gb, 4gb, 2 gb:

  • Glossy;
  • crown;
  • V cut;
  • Lara;
  • Cobra
  • Quartz;
  • click;
  • Hatch;
  • comet;
  • paean;
  • crown;

Transcend's removable drives are used by a very large number of users around the world. No wonder, because these flash drives are quite inexpensive, and serve for a long time. But sometimes some kind of misfortune happens to them - the information disappears due to damage to the drive.

This can happen for various reasons. Some flash drives fail due to the fact that someone dropped them, others simply because they are already old. In any case, every user who has a removable media from Transcend should know how to recover data on it if they are lost.

There are proprietary utilities that allow you to very quickly recover data from Transcend USB drives. But there are programs that are designed for all flash drives, but they work especially well with Transcend products. In addition, the standard Windows data recovery method often helps with flash drives from this company.

Method 1: RecoveRx

This utility allows you to recover data from flash drives and protect them with a password. It also allows you to format drives from Transcend. Suitable for absolutely all removable media from Transcend and is proprietary software for this product. To use RecoveRx for data recovery, follow these steps:


Method 2: JetFlash Online Recovery

This is another proprietary utility from Transcend. Its use looks very simple.


Method 3: JetDrive Toolbox

Interestingly, the developers position this tool as software for Apple computers, but it also works very well on Windows. To restore using JetDrive Toolbox, follow these steps:


JetDrive Toolbox actually works exactly the same as RecoveRx. The difference is that there are a lot more tools here.

Method 4: Transcend Autoformat

If none of the above standard recovery utilities help, you can use Transcend Autoformat. True, in this case, the flash drive will be formatted immediately, that is, there will be no chance to extract any data from it. But it will be restored and ready to go.

Using Transcend Autoformat is extremely simple.

  1. and run it.
  2. At the top, select the letter of your storage medium. Below, indicate its type - SD, MMC or CF (just check the box next to the desired type).
  3. Click on the button " Format" to start the formatting process.

Method 5: D-Soft Flash Doctor

This program is famous for the fact that it works at a low level. Judging by user reviews, it is very effective for Transcend flash drives. Removable media repair using D-Soft Flash Doctor is performed as follows:


If repair using all the above methods does not help restore the media, you can use the standard Windows recovery tool.

Method 6: Windows Recovery Tool

Judging by the reviews, these 6 methods are the most optimal in the case of a damaged Transcend flash drive. Less efficient in this case is the EzRecover program. How to use it, read the review on our website. You can also use D-Soft Flash Doctor and JetFlash Recovery Tool. If none of these methods help, it's best to just buy a new removable media and use it.

Kingston flash drives are very popular due to the fact that they are quite inexpensive and reliable. It cannot be said that they are cheaper than others, but their cost can still be called low. But, since absolutely everything breaks in our world, it is not at all surprising that Kingston removable media can also fail.

This happens quite simply - you insert a USB flash drive into a computer, and he "does not want" to read data from it. The drive may be detected, but everything will look as if there is no data on it. Or simply not all data may be determined. In general, situations can be very different. In any case, we will analyze several effective ways to restore the performance of a Kingston drive.

Kingston has its own flash drive recovery tools. There is also a universal way to restore removable media, which is relevant for devices of any company. We will analyze all the most working methods.

Method 1: MediaRECOVER

This is one of two branded programs from Kingston. To use it, you must do the following:



The second option looks more humane» for a flash drive. It just involves restoring a flash drive. In any case, if using MediaRECOVER doesn't help, move on to the next method.

Method 2: Kingston Format Utility

This is another Kingston branded program. It is suitable for all flash drives of this brand, from the DTX 30 series to USB Datatraveler HyperX devices. This utility also formats the flash drive without a chance to save any information. To use the Kingston Format Utility, do the following:


Method 3: HDD Low Level Format Tool

Judging by user reviews, this program does an excellent job with damaged Kingston flash drives. Low Level Format Tool works at a low level, so it is quite successful in what it does. And this applies not only to removable media from Kingston. But, again, the utility formats the flash drive and restores its performance, but not the data from it. To use this program, you need to do quite a bit, namely:


Method 4: Super Stick Recovery Tool

Another very simple program designed to recover Kingmax flash drives, but it will also work for Kingston (although for many it will seem quite unexpected). So, to use the Super Stick Recovery Tool, do the following:

  1. program, insert a USB flash drive and run the executable file.
  2. If everything is fine and the program can work with your flash drive, information about it will appear in the main window. Click on the button " update" to start formatting. After that, just wait until the process is over and try to work with the flash drive again.

Method 5: Search for other recovery utilities

Not all models of Kingston flash drives are suitable for those programs that are indicated in methods 1-4. In fact, there are a lot of such programs. In addition, there is a single database with information about programs designed for recovery. It is located on the site's iFlash service. The process for using this repository is as follows:



This method is suitable for all flash drives.

Method 6: Standard Windows Tools

If all the above methods did not help, you can always use the standard Windows formatter.



You can also use the standard Windows tool to format a flash drive. Try different combinations of the order of actions - first format, then check and correct errors, and then vice versa. It is quite possible that something will still help and the flash drive will become operational again. To format removable media, right-click again on the selected drive in " computer". In the dropdown menu, click " Format…". Next, in the next window, just click on the " To begin».


It is worth saying that all the above methods, except for checking the disk with the standard Windows tool, involve the complete and irretrievable loss of data from the media. Therefore, before performing all these methods, use one of the data recovery utilities from a damaged storage medium.

A variety of problems with USB drives or flash drives is something that, probably, every owner of them faces. The computer does not see the flash drive, files are not deleted or written, Windows writes that the disk is write-protected, the amount of memory is displayed incorrectly - this is not a complete list of such problems. Perhaps, if the computer simply does not detect the drive, this guide will also help you: (3 ways to solve the problem). If the flash drive is detected and working, but you need to recover files from it, I recommend that you first read the material.

If various ways to fix USB drive errors by manipulating drivers, actions in Windows Disk Management or using the command line (diskpart, format, etc.) did not lead to a positive result, you can try utilities and programs for repairing flash drives provided by both manufacturers , such as Kingston, Silicon Power and Transcend, as well as third-party developers.

On the official website of Silicon Power in the "Support" section, a program for repairing flash drives from this manufacturer is presented - USB Flash Drive Recovery. To download, you will need to enter an email address (not verified), then the UFD_Recover_Tool ZIP archive is downloaded, which contains the SP Recovery Utility (requires .NET Framework 3.5 components to work, will be downloaded automatically if necessary).


Similar to the previous program, SP Flash Drive Recovery requires an Internet connection and recovery takes place in several stages - determining the parameters of the USB drive, downloading and unpacking the appropriate utility for it, then automatically performing the necessary actions.

You can download Silicon Power SP Flash Drive Recovery Software for flash drives for free from the official website http://www.silicon-power.com/web/download-USBrecovery

If you are the owner of a Kingston DataTraveler HyperX 3.0 drive, then on the official website of Kingston you can find a repair utility for this line of flash drives, which will help you format the drive and bring it to the state it had when it was purchased.

You can download Kingston Format Utility for free from https://www.kingston.com/ru/support/technical/downloads/111247

ADATA USB Flash Drive Online Recovery

The manufacturer Adata also has its own utility that will help you fix flash drive errors if you cannot read the contents of the flash drive, Windows reports that the disk is not formatted, or you see other errors associated with the drive. To download the program, you will need to enter the serial number of the flash drive (so that exactly what is required is loaded) as in the screenshot below.


After downloading - run the downloaded utility and follow a few simple steps to restore the USB device.

The official page where you can download ADATA USB Flash Drive Online Recovery and read about using the program - http://www.adata.com/ru/ss/usbdiy/

Apacer Repair Utility, Apacer Flash Drive Repair Tool

Several programs are available for Apacer flash drives at once - different versions of Apacer Repair Utility (which, however, cannot be found on the official website), as well as Apacer Flash Drive Repair Tool, available for download on the official pages of some of Apacer flash drives (look on the official website specifically your USB drive model and check the download section at the bottom of the page).


Apparently, the program performs one of two actions - simple formatting of the drive (Format item) or low-level formatting (Restore item).

Formatter Silicon Power

Formatter Silicon Power is a free low-level formatting utility for flash drives, which, according to reviews (including in the comments to the current article), works for many other drives (but use it at your own peril and risk), allowing you to restore their performance when no other methods do not help.


The utility is no longer available on the official SP website, so you will have to use Google to download it (I do not give links to unofficial locations within this site) and do not forget to check the downloaded file, for example, on VirusTotal before running it.

SD Memory Card Formatter for repairing and formatting SD, SDHC and SDXC memory cards (including Micro SD)

The Association of SD Memory Card Manufacturers offers its own universal utility for formatting appropriate memory cards in case of problems with them. At the same time, judging by the available information, it is compatible with almost all such drives.

The program itself is available in versions for Windows (there is support for Windows 10) and MacOS and is quite easy to use (but you will need a card reader).

You can download SD Memory Card Formatter from the official website https://www.sdcard.org/downloads/formatter/

D-Soft Flash Doctor

The free program D-Soft Flash Doctor is not tied to any particular manufacturer and, judging by the reviews, can help fix problems with a flash drive through low-level formatting.

In addition, the program allows you to create an image of a flash drive for subsequent work no longer on a physical drive (to avoid further malfunctions) - this can be useful if you need to get data from a Flash drive. Unfortunately, the official website of the utility could not be found, but it is available on many resources with free programs.

How to find a program to repair a flash drive

In fact, there are much more such free utilities for repairing flash drives than are listed here: I tried to take into account only relatively “universal” tools for USB drives from different manufacturers.

It is possible that none of the above utilities are suitable for restoring the health of your USB drive. In this case, you can use the following steps to find the right program.


Additionally: if all the described ways to repair a USB drive did not help, try.