Here are two of the ones that made my top list, and some of the features they have to help you recover your valuable data.

	Restore My Files	File R/D
Hard Drive Recovery
USB Drive Recovery
FREE Hard Drive Files Analysis
Digital Camera Card Recovery
Permanently Delete Files
Windows 7, Vista, XP, 98
Mac OSX or Linux

The most common way to recover your data is to use usb data recovery software.  Most of this software is easy to use and is inexpensive.  There is even some free usb data recovery software available.  The way these software programs work is they scan the entire directory and file structure of your usb storage device.  The software will then show which files are recoverable.  Hopefully the ones that you accidentally deleted or lost due to virus or other corruption problems will be on the list.  You then select the files that you want to have restored and the software will make them accessible to you again, either on the storage device or on another media for easy access.

If your data cannot be restored using usb data recovery software you may need to get help from a usb data recovery service.  They will have more specialized knowledge, expertise and tools at their disposal.  Some of these services also have special labs where they perform their recovery and repair work in to keep your usb storage device from from dust and other potentially harmful elements.  They can work to not only restore your data but also repair your usb storage device.

Of course the best thing to do is to take preventative measures so that you are less likely to lose the data off your usb storage device in the first place.  First of all, buy a good quality device.  Some of the cheaper devices are not well made and may cause you problems.  Also don’t expose your device to direct sunlight and keep it away from water and other liquids.  Also make sure to use anti virus software and keep your computer well maintained to avoid future problems.  USB data recovery is available if you need it, but just remember that prevention is the best medicine.

• Always back up your data.  You should never solely rely on a usb storage device to be your primary means of storage.  These devices are convenient for storage and for transporting data when you are on the go.  However, they can easily be lost or damaged.  Always backup your data on your computer or better yet an external hard drive.
• Have a dedicated place for your usb storage device.  Because these devices are  small, they are easy to misplace.  If you lose it, you lose the data as well.  Keep your storage device in one place so that you always know where it is.
• Carry your storage device carefully.  Make sure it is stored in a safe place and protected from damage when you are traveling from place to place.
• Be sure to use anti virus software and update it frequently to help prevent viruses from corrupting your data.  This is a very important usb data recovery prevention tip that you should definitely not skip.
• When you are not using your usb storage device, disconnect it from your computer and store it in a safe place.  By leaving it in the computer it is more likely to become damaged.  Also make sure to use the protective cap that comes with the device to protect it.
• Don’t expose your device to extreme temperatures.  For example, leaving your flash drive on the seat of your car could leave it exposed to direct sunlight.

USB storage devices are very convenient.  However, you need to take steps to protect and safeguard your data.  There are USB data recovery methods you can use if your data does become lost or corrupted, but the best thing to do is prevent this from happening in the first place by using the above tips.

There are many ways that USB data can be lost or corrupted.  First files may be deleted by accident.  Another common way is the media storage device can become damaged due to dropping it, exposing it to heat, water and liquid damage, or the device can in some way get broken or bent.  Data can also become corrupted due to viruses, software or hardware malfunctions, or improperly removing the storage device out of the computer.

When any of these problems occur, your files and data can become inaccessible.  You may get error messages or just not be able to open files.  When this happens you need to either take your usb device to a usb data recovery service or invest in usb data recovery software to restore and access your data.

Fortunately usb data recovery software is usually not very expensive.  It generally runs from $40-$100 or so.  You do not need to have any specialized knowledge to operate the software.  They generally come with user friendly interfaces that will walk you through the entire process.

The way usb data recovery software works is that it first does a complete scan of the entire directory and file structure on your usb storage device.  It will then provide you will a list of files that are recoverable.  You should then have the ability to select the files that you want to have restored.  Once you have made your selections, the software will restore the files and you will be able to access them again.  The software will be able to undelete missing folders and files that are stored on the USB data storage device and retrieve data that was inaccessible due to viruses, formatting problems or corrupted data.

As you can see usb data recovery software is not hard to use and can really come in handy if your usb drive ever becomes damaged or your data lost or corrupted.  Most of the software is easy to use and not expensive, so it’s well worth the cost if you have data that needs to be recovered.

There are several problems that can occur that will make your data inaccessible.  One common problem is your storage device could be come physically damaged.  This could be the result of dropping the device, improperly removing it from your computer, exposure to excessive heat or cold, or water and liquid damage among other things.  Your data can also become corrupted or inaccessible due to problems with the operating system or malfunctioning software or hardware.  Or you data could become corrupted due to a computer virus.

No matter what caused your device to malfunction or your data to become lost, when any of these problems occur you may need to take your device to a usb data recovery specialist so they can examine it and determine whether or not your data can be recovered.  These specialists have the knowledge for uncovering the problem and use special software to recover the data on your usb storage device.  There is also usb data recovery software available for purchase.  You may be able to buy the software and recover the data yourself.  However, in some cases you may need the help of a specialist if you have a damaged usb storage device.

Some usb data recovery services use special labs where the air pressure and humidity are controlled and the environment is sterile and dust free to protect the devices.  These services use engineering and repair services to not only restore your data but also repair your damaged USB device.  They can repair the chips, circuits, controllers and other electronic components that are on the internal boards of these devices.

USB data recovery services are not always cheap, but in some cases may be necessary in order to recover your data and repair your usb storage device.  For important data or complex problems it is recommended to employ a specialist to help you with your problem.

If you have accidentally deleted files and this is recent, the chances are good you will be able to recover them using usb data recovery software.  There are free versions as well as paid versions that are available.  The software can also often help with other data loss issues such as data being corrupted due to viruses or other types of hardware and software problems.  You may even be able to recover data from a usb storage device that has been damaged, although there is no guarantee of that.  So the thing to keep in mind is there are usb data recovery solutions available to you if you lose some of your documents, pictures, music or videos.

What usb data recovery software does is scan the directories and files on your usb storage device.  It will then provide you with a list of files that it can recover.  From the software’s user interface you can choose which files you would like the software to attempt to recover.  This is a very convenient and inexpensive way of recovering lost  or corrupted data.  Usually usb data recovery software costs around $40.

If software is unable to recover your data, there is another usb data recovery solution available to you.  There are usb data recovery services that specialize in recovering data from these storage devices.  You may need their help if software is unable to fix the problem or if your storage device is badly damaged.  Some of these services will be able to repair your storage device in addition to restoring your data.  This solution will most likely be a lot more expensive than using software, but it may be well worth it if the data you lost is important or sensitive data or has great sentimental value to you.

The most important usb data recovery solution is to prevent data loss from happening in the first place.  Be sure to take good care of your usb storage device to prevent damage or loss.  Also make sure that you use a good anti virus program to help prevent data corruption.