Our USB data recovery experts managed to successfully create a near-perfect disk image of the client’s failed flash drive. Some of the logical corruption which had caused the device to fail impeded our technicians’ work, but further logical analysis by our data recovery technicians revealed that the FAT32 directory structures of the flash drive, as well as all of the files on the drive, were fully intact. Our technicians rated this USB data recovery case a 10 on our ten-point scale for a perfect data recovery outcome.
When you need to eject an external data storage device, such as an external hard drive or a USB flash drive, there is a proper protocol you should follow. You need to tell your computer to “eject” the device before you unplug it. By telling the computer to eject the device, the computer makes sure it’s not still trying to use it first. Then it gives you the go-ahead to remove the device safely. If your computer is still using the device, it makes sure to let you know. Sometimes the user might grow impatient and proceed to simply yank the USB plug out of their computer.
It might not seem like it, but this is a risky move to make. This exact action is what caused the client’s USB flash drive to stop working properly. While it might not seem like it, and while you might get away with doing it dozens of times, improperly ejecting your thumb drive always carries a significant risk of causing the device to malfunction. If you have valuable data living on your external device, it’s always in your best interest to follow the rules whenever possible. Otherwise, the next time you unplug your flash drive from your computer could very well be your last.