USB stick: save data - how it works

Your USB stick is causing problems and you want to save your data on it? We have a free tip for you.

Save data with Recuva

Piriform, the developer of the popular, free system optimization program CCleaner, also offers Recuva, a data recovery software.

• It allows you to restore many different types of files that might otherwise be lost.

Assistant to save your data

After downloading and installing Recuva, an assistant opens automatically to help you save your data. If you don't need the assistant's help, you can turn it off. The wizard asks you what kind of files you want to find again.

• You can choose between pictures, music, documents, videos, emails and other (all) files.

Where should data be searched for?

After selecting the file type, a window follows in which you must select the location where you want to search for lost files.

• Select the item "On my memory card (removable media such as USB sticks and SD cards)" and click "Next".

Search for data

If the search was successful, the data found is then listed.

• If no data has been found, a dialog appears automatically asking you for a depth scan (see picture). If you want, run it, because it can find significantly more data.
• The disk is searched much more intensively than with a normal search, but it also takes significantly longer.

List of the data found

After a successful search, all tracked files are displayed. You can tick the files you want to restore. Then click "Restore".

• Optionally, you can click on "Advanced Settings" before restoring, where you will get significantly more information about the files found.
• You can use a filter here. For example, if you only want to list found images, select them in the filter field (see image).
• A click on "Info" reveals further details about the selected file such as the former file path, size, condition and creation date (see picture).
• You have to imagine the colored circles in front of the files like a traffic light. Green corresponds to an easily recoverable file, red to a poorly or incompletely recoverable file (see picture).

Saving the data you selected

Once you have marked everything as you wish, click on "Restore". Now you have to specify a storage path (see picture). After the rescue, your saved files should be able to be opened again without any problems.

• Note: It is recommended to save the files on a different partition or a different storage medium.

Recuva fails on CDs and DVDs. In this practical tip, you will learn how you can save data on these data carriers.