I have no idea what category it is called?

Hi,

Thanks for offering help.
Can you please lay it out step by step for me, I don't even know where u started by saying 'press windows + R' ?
Yes, I am that lost with tech stuff.
:/
Can you please lay this out for me step by step like you're talking to someone who does not understand any of the stuff u automatically understand please?

Thank you kindly,
Sara

Hi there, sorry for the late response. I have had a lot to deal with lately (I have a debilitating health condition) but I have finally sat down and done what you suggested. While I seemed to have gotten through the steps fine, (it all went as you said) I have no idea if it worked - BUT I think so.... However. I think I have complicated it earlier on... meaning when I didn't know how to take it off read only as per your instructions, I recall very naively (PERHAPS QUITE STUPIDLY) going in to try to fix it by simply trying things - yes, not knowing what i was doing, hoping something works... which is when I gave up after some tries and I came here.
So can you help me with this? The problem is, when I (after doing the above and seemingly taken off the readonly) I tried to open some of my folders in that usb to check out if the contents are there, if I can see it and edit etc etc, and I can't. First thing noticeable is that the words, the names of my folders in there (the first open window, gives English written folder names that I had created ie Writing, ie Meditations etc etc... But going into a folder, ie the Writing folder, the names in there (of different documents etc saved in the Writing folder) aren't English characters, they are strange characters (there are some English letters, some foreign letters, shapes/ blocks etc., I cannot read it obviously). I don't know what I may have done to cause that and how to un-do that so that I can reclaim my folders and their contents. Is there a way forward for me here? Please help if u can, I really appreciate it! And if you can't then maybe refer to someone/ some place / suggestion? I still appreciate the help given already for the above, thank you :)

Access your USB drive and right-click in an empty area where your files and folders are located.

Select New > Text Document. Open that text document and paste the following code into it:

@echo off 
attrib -s -h -r /s /d 
cls 
exit

Next, go to File > Save as. Name the file unhide.bat and save it to the USB drive. Once the batch file saved, ("unhide.bat"), close and delete the previous text document you created.

Double-click on the unhide.bat file and a black command screen will pop up and close on its own. Then, try accessing your files and folders. If can't open your documents, try disconnecting and reconnecting your USB drive.

If you still can't access your files, try the second method:

At the same time, press the Windows logo key and the letter X key on your keyboard.

In the menu that appears, choose Command Prompt (admin). When you're asked if you want to allow this program to make changes, click Yes.

In Command Prompt, type chkdsk E: /f /r /x and press Enter. (Replace the letter E by the letter of your USB).

Good luck.

You can add a picture to your message by clicking the mountain icon located at the top of the field.

Regarding the second method, your can open the Start menu and search for "cmd". Right-click on "cmd" or "Command Prompt" that appears in the search results and choose Run as administrator > Yes.

Then type chkdsk E: /f /r /x and press Enter.

• Replace the letter E by the letter of your flash drive.

If you see

C:\WINDOWS\system32>

in the black window after the process, it means that it is completed and you can close that window.

According to your picture, it looks like your files and folder are corrupted. In this case, try using EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard to attempt to recover them.

Good luck.

I tried, it works on my side. I have updated the download link, try to download the software again.

If you get the same result, please share a screenshot of those options.

Alternatively, download it directly from its editor's website.

Choose the "Free Download". It offers 2 GB of free data recovery. You can try it to see if your files can be recovered.

Ok, I will suggest another method to try to repair your USB drive.

Open File Manager, right-click on This PC and click Manage > Disk Management.

Next, right-click on your USB drive, select Change Drive Letter and Paths > Add. Click on Assign the following drive letter, choose a new letter, then click Ok.

Good luck.

I think your USB drive is damaged.

Sorry.