A memory stick; This guide is based on a PC running Windows 10 and other versions may vary. Follow these step-by-step instructions to use a memory stick. Step 1: Firstly, you need to insert the memory stick into a USB connection port on your PC or laptop. Most USB connection ports can be found on the side of PCs. You'll see a new drive that represents your memory stick. Double-click the icon to read the stick and access your files. You can copy or cut and paste items to another folder on your computer. Delete files you don't want, add new ones or organise your files as needed. Look for a 14- to 20-character code, either on the board or on the individual memory chips. One example is 'K 4 B 2G 08 3 Q H M C H9.' The memory chips are the black squares on the board. If you find this code, proceed with the next steps. Product Description. Lexar Media USB Card Reader for Memory Stick ( Amazon.com. Lexar Media's USB Memory Stick digital film reader makes moving files from your camera to your computer easy-just pop in a Memory Stick and go. The USB connection makes connecting and disconnecting simple, allowing insertion and removal of the reader without rebooting.
With USB devices and their ports, there are many problems that causes read errors. Thumb drive issues are no different. This page contains steps users can run through to detect, if not solve, issues with their drive or memory stick.
TipMany software issues can be fixed by keeping Microsoft Windows up-to-date. See: How to update a Microsoft Windows computer.
USB port issues
A good initial step is to try the thumb drive on a different computer. If it works, you know that the thumb drive is functional, and that the issue is related to a bad hardware or outdated drivers. If one computer can read the USB thumb drive, but another cannot, try the suggestions below.
- Try your thumb drive in multiple USB ports on the original computer. If any of them work, you have a bad USB port.
- If you are using a USB hub, try removing the hub and connecting the thumb drive directly to the computer instead of the hub.
- Front USB ports are often passive, which causes compatibility issues with some devices. If you are connecting to a port on the front of the computer, try using one on the back instead.
Older computer
Computers that are using USB 1.0 may not be compatible with some thumb drives meant for USB 2.0 and beyond. You can identify the generation of USB your computer uses through the following link.
PC vs. Mac thumb drive
There can be compatibility issues when attempting to read a PC formatted thumb drive on a Mac, or vice versa. If the thumb drive is working with one operating system, but not the other, it may have been formatted using either NTFS or HFS, causing compatibility issues. To get both systems to read the drive, we suggest formatting as FAT32 or MS-DOS using the steps mentioned below.
NoticeFormatting a drive erases any of its contents. We suggest saving any important drive data elsewhere before proceeding.
Windows users - format drive
- Press the Windows key+E or open Windows Explorer.
- In the window that appears, locate your thumb drive and right-click it.
- In the drop-down menu that appears, select Format..
- In the Format window, select the format of either FAT or FAT32 and click start.
Mac users - format drive
- In the Disk Utility section for your drive, format the drive as MS-DOS.
Accessibility restrictions
Some companies or home users restrict access to a computer via removable media. This action is taken to keep unauthorized users from installing unwanted software or removing information from the machine. If USB permissions are disabled, you cannot use your thumb drive.
Bad USB thumb drive
If the thumb drive cannot be read by a different computer and the latest drivers are installed, then it isn't functional.
Additional information
- See the flash drive and USB definitions for further information related links.
Are you unable to access memory card data when you tried to open it to watch photos and videos you have saved? Do you want to know how to open andaccess memory card datawithout formatting after simply open and access data from memory card?
Well if this is so, then do not worry, just try the solutions mentioned here in this blog and easily access memory card data without formatting.
So, here I would like to recommend you to use Memory Card Recovery Tool if you want to access data from memory card without formatting.
To access data from memory card without formatting, we recommend this tool:
This software will restore data from corrupted, formatted, encrypted storage media and works in all data loss situations. Now recover your lost and deleted data in 3 easy steps:
- Download this Media File Recovery Tool rated Excellent on Pcmag.com.
- Select the storage media from which you want to restore the media files & click Scan.
- Preview the recoverable files, select the items you want to recover and click Recover to save the files at desired location.
Best Recovery Tool To Access Data From Memory Card
Memory Card Recovery Tool is one of the best tool that has the capability to recover deleted, lost, inaccessible data from memory card with ease. This recovery tool has the best features that enable users to access deleted photos, video and audio files of any file format in just three simple steps.
No matter in which scenario you have lost your data, all you have to do is to download and install Memory Card Recovery Tool and try the three simple steps.
With the help of Memory Card Recovery Tool, you can also:
- Effectively restore inaccessible data such as photos, videos and audio files from card that ask to reformat. It means you can recover files without formatting the card.
- Restore digital media files from corrupted, damaged, virus infected or error throwing card.
- Preview recoverable files within software before you proceed further to save them on PC.
- 100% read only program. Safe, secure and easy to use.
Here, you can go through the step by step guide to access inaccessible data from memory card without formatting. How old is call of duty.
Some Other Alternatives To Access SD Card File Without Formatting
#1: Try General Troubleshooting To Open Card Without Formatting
You can try general troubleshooting to open or access memory card without formatting. So, to do so, you can go through the below steps:
- You have to first insert the SD card in another but same brand phone, camera or PC.
- If putting the card in the same brand phone, camera or PC does not fix the problem then insert the card in different models of different brands.
- Check whether the problem is solved and you are able to open memory card.
If your card is still showing 'card needs to be formatted' error then it is clear that your SD card is damaged and reformatting it is a good option.
#2: Access Memory Card Data Using Computer & USD SD Card Reader
Well if you are not able to access data from memory card directly on the device you are using then you can try another option. Yes, the other option is to access your SD card using computer and USB SD card reader. To do so, you can follow the below steps:
- First of all, insert the memory card into the SD card reader on the system.
- Next, you have to click the option ‘My Computer'.
- After this, you have to select ‘Removable Disk'. Now, there you will find all the data you have stored in the memory card. So, you can simply drag and drop the media files you want to add to the device into the ‘Removable Disk' directory.
#3: Use Chkdsk To Fix/Repair An Unformatted/Corrupted Card Without Data Loss
CHKDSK is a command that will help you to fix/repair damaged card without formatting. And it will allow you to open and access to all your files stored within the card.
Below find out the steps, how it works (I have used Window 7 PC for these steps): How do i get to google drive.
- With the help of card reader connect your memory card to PC.
- On your PC, click START menu, type 'cmd' in search bar and press ENTER button and you will see the following command Windows.
- If your memory card drive named as h: then type the following command – 'chkdsk /X /f h:' or 'chkdsk h: /f'.
After this, Windows will take some time and fix the file system of the SD card. And if you see that 'Windows has made corrections to the file system' in the command window, then your problem is solved and now you can easily open and easily access SD card file without formatting.
How to format a thumb drive. Note: Once you fix/open damaged memory card that throws a formatting error message, by following the above solutions, you can then proceed further to format memory card at last, in order to re-use it again.
Why Does Memory Card Need To Format/Reformat?
Memory cards wants to format or reformat because it holds damaged or corrupted file system which display as RAW, unknown or unsupported.
Below I have mentioned some scenarios in which card may need to format:
- Card totally stops working, no matter on whichever device you insert it.
- SD card becomes RAW and display media needs to be formatted.
- SD card is blank or has unsupported file system.
- Virus/Malware or Trojan has infected your SD card and this result in card corruption.
- SD card show '0 bytes' or 'SD card folder is empty'.
If you are experiencing such problems and issues, then follow the solutions mentioned above to fix damaged card without formatting it and open it and access stored data within it.
FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
Many people ask – how do I fix and restore corrupted SD card?
Well, in order to fix and restore corrupted SD card that got infected with virus or malware, you can remove virus from SD card without formatting using reliable anti-virus software. If that also fails then, then you can use the above-mentioned CMD command to fix corrupted SD card without formatting.
How To Read A Memory Stick Pro Duo Card
Further you can use Memory Card Recovery Software as mentioned above to restore corrupted SD card data without formatting such as photos, videos and audio files.
Blank SD card error mostly occurs in memory that is used in Android smartphone.
Read A Usb Stick
Well, in order to fix blank SD card or has unsupported file system, you can check out the complete guide mentioned here.
Formatting SD card means deletion of all data stored within the card. Hence, it is always suggested that you must first recover important data from the memory card and then you can format memory card.
If you do not backup or recover prior formatting, then you may have to suffer with huge data loss.
There are people who perform a simple format procedure, but it fails to format a damaged or corrupted SD card.
In such case, they ask questions on various forums and community websites looking for a solution on how to format a damaged SD card?.
If simple and usual formatting damaged SD card fails, then you can connect your SD memory card to Windows PC and format it by using Disk Management utility. Here check out how to format damaged SD card using Disk Management.
Tips To Remember To Avoid Memory Card Data Loss
- Once you get formatting error message, then stop using it immediately and eject it out from the devices.
- Do not format the card, if you want the stored data back from it.
- Apply SD Card Recovery Tool and scan you card and save recoverable files on your system as well as make a backup copy of those files and keep in different drives or external storage device.
Conclusion
I hope from the above solutions you will be able to open and access memory card data without formatting. It is highly recommended that you must use Memory Card Recovery Tool to access photos, videos and audio files from memory card without formatting.
This is the easiest and the best solution to try if you want instant accessibility. However, you can also try other available options that are already mentioned above. So, the choice is yours.
Editor's Note: This post was originally published in April 2017. This updated version is completely revamped for comprehensiveness, freshness, and accuracy.If you have found this post helpful and useful, then please do not forget to share it.
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Alex is an expert technical writer with 7+ years of experience. His in-depth knowledge about data recovery and fascination to explore new DIY tools & technologies have helped many. Alex has a great interest in photography and loves to share photography tips and tricks with others.