If I format my Sandisk Cruzer 16GB will I lose all of the information on it?

[ostoughton]

I am running windows 7 on a laptop at work. I would like to use my cruzer micro 16GB but when I put it in it wants me to format. I have information on it that I want kept. My question is will it be wiped out if I format? What can I do? I originally formatted it on a windows vista laptop a couple of years ago.

 

[lopdog]

It sounds like something is wrong with your USB drive. To answer your first question: YES, if you format your drive everything will be wiped out.
I found a similar post, https://www.techspot.com/vb/topic161141.html, it's about an external usb hard drive, but I guess the answer applies to your problem too.

 

[LNCPapa]

It wouldn't happen to be an encrypted drive, would it? Sometimes those show up as drives needing formatting unless loaded in the decrypting tool.

 

[Rabbit01]

http://forums.sandisk.com/t5/Cruzer...Cruzer-not-recognized-by-Windows-7/m-p/233208

 

[LookinAround]

Have you also tried plugging it into a different computer to see if same problem?

If same problem on different machines, is also possible the filesystem is corrupt. (can happen if you ever remove a flash drive without using the Safely Remove Hardware icon to first stop the drive)

Try the EASUS recovery tool (never used it. In fact just noticed it! but i like all the other EASUS tools. they make great stuff ). see if it might recover the partition/files