Is there a way to reactivate a flash drive that isn't recognized when inserted.?

Question

Problem is a flash drive that quit working.  The files I want to retrieve are there but I need to find a way to reactivate the drive itself because the computer doesn't recognize it when inserted into a USB slot.  I know the slots are operational because they recognize my other drives readily.   I'm certain the problem is in the flash drive itself because the same results are present when the drive is inserted into another computer.  The manufacturer of the drive has told me they have no means of retrieving any data from the drive if its defective but will replace it.  I'm looking for a way to access the drive so don't lose the files as I have no other backups. 

I have tried several file recovery programs suggested by others but I run into the same problem, none can retrieve the files if the computer doesn't recognize that the drive is present.  Any ideas?

Alex S · Accepted Answer

If you're using vista, right click on my computer and then click "manage", then "disk management". Your pen drive should be there. Initialize it. If it is already initialized, see if the pen drive has "unallocated space". If so, you're probably screwed unless some new data recovery software has come out since I last checked. You probably can't recover anything in this case, but you can make the drive work again.

Anonymous · Answer

I hope it wasn't sandisk. I had two 4gb sandisk's that worked for a short time then went belly up. I never another sandisk..

Anonymous · Answer

yup but its a quite long process

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Is there a way to reactivate a flash drive that isn't recognized when inserted.?

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