Pendrive problem - "The file or directory is corrupted and unreadable"

[sztunya]

Hello guys,

I had a problem with my pendrive, which I tried to solve based on a video, but I’m afraid I messed up even more. The story:

1. Whenever I connected my pendrive to my computer, I got this error message: “the file or directory is corrupted and unreadable”
2. I looked for help on YouTube and found this video:
   [MEDIA=youtube]63XPjAzsnCk[/MEDIA]
3. I did the exact same thing as in the video, so I downloaded this AOMEI Partition Assisstant application, and I used it.

The result: At least now I don’t get an error message, I can see what files are on the pendrive, but they are looks horrible and I can’t open them. Look at the attached picture to see what I mean. Is there a solution to my problem, or do I have to say goodbye to my files forever? There are a lot of pictures among them, they would be very important for me.

[Bruce]

your USB stick has failed, fairly common problem with that sort of medium.
common enough at least that when it happens, I’m never surprised, and common enough that they should never be used as the only location of important data.
they are meant as an easy method to move files from one spot to another.

you can verify that it is actually the stick and not your PC by putting the USB stick into another PC and see if that one can read it.

and it’s a bit late now - but BACKUP, BACKUP, BACKUP.
during my Uni course in '84, that was drummed into us every day we had the System Administration subject!

[sztunya]

I see the same “broken files” when I put the USB stick into another PC. So there is nothing I can do to save my files?

[Bruce]

correct - failed storage device with corrupted files will be the same where ever it is connected to.
your best bet is to try and get them from the location you copied them to the USB stick from - if that original even existed in the first place.

[sztunya]

That’s sad. ??? Thank you anyway!

[Bruce]

no worries.