Corrupt data on usb drive

dell

Member
I saved a few important documents on a usb drive I bought some time ago, transfered from desktop to usb pen drive. The transfer went well. In the usb drive it shows the file 156 bytes (seems about right for the file) But when I click on the document it shows all ''Y''s and afew other weird symbols. Anyway kinda of an important document, anyway to fix it? iv tried two free file programs that claim they can restore a file, but it didnt work.
 

Cromewell

Administrator
Staff member
156 bytes seems small. What was the file? It sounds like you may have opened a binary file in notepad.

Do you still have the files on your desktop?
 

dell

Member
I dont have the files on desktop anymore, and yes, was a small file, just a few passwords I saved. I also have a Jpeg image of the passwords, but that wont open either, error message says ''cant read file header!''

Seems like the usb pen I bought is no good. But the transfer was completed.
 

Cromewell

Administrator
Staff member
Seems like the usb pen I bought is no good. But the transfer was completed.
It could be either drive, it could be your RAM, or anything in between.

Did you verify the files were correct after you transferred them? Windows saying the file was copied only means that bytes were written, it doesn't guarantee that the correct bytes were written. You need a copy that verifies, like teracopy (https://www.codesector.com/teracopy) or manually with md5s or something. Or xcopy has a verify switch.
 

dell

Member
no, didnt verify, ill try maybe on another pc, but im not hopefully, guess ill just have to face the facts that the files are useless now
 

AlienMenace

Well-Known Member
If they were passwords, you should consider a Password Manager. Like Last Pass or Blur. Or maybe some offline password manager.
 
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