PNY USB sticks are widely used by students, researchers, and professionals for storing important documents and research files. However, when a USB stick’s Master Boot Record (MBR) or GUID Partition Table (GPT) becomes corrupt, it can prevent access to stored files, making important data appear lost.
This case study details how we successfully recovered degree research work from a PNY USB stick, after partition corruption made the data inaccessible.
As Oxford Data Recovery, with 25 years of forensic data recovery experience, we used partition repair, raw data extraction, and file system reconstruction techniques to restore lost files.
The Challenge: PNY USB Stick Not Recognized Due to Corrupt MBR/GPT Partition Table
A university student contacted us after their PNY USB stick failed to open, with the following issues:
- USB detected by Windows/macOS but showing as “Unallocated” or RAW.
- Error message: “You need to format this drive before you can use it.”
- All research documents, essays, and project files were missing.
- Attempts to use disk management tools failed to repair the issue.
Since reformatting the USB stick would erase all remaining data, an immediate professional recovery solution was required.
Diagnosis & Evaluation
When the PNY USB stick arrived at our cleanroom facility, we conducted a full partition and file system diagnostic. Our findings:
- Corrupt MBR/GPT partition table – The file system was not recognized, preventing normal access.
- No physical damage detected – Meaning a logical data recovery approach was possible.
- Lost file system structures – Directory indexes were missing but raw data was still present.
Since USB partition corruption can lead to overwriting, we focused on data extraction before repairing the partition structure.
The Recovery Process
1. Cloning & Imaging the USB Stick to Prevent Further Corruption
To preserve the original data, we:
- Created a sector-by-sector clone of the PNY USB stick.
- Used forensic imaging tools to extract readable sectors safely.
2. Extracting Data from the Corrupted Partition
Since the file system was unreadable, we:
- Scanned the raw data sectors to identify and reconstruct missing files.
- Recovered documents, spreadsheets, and research papers from fragmented data blocks.
3. Verifying & Restoring University Research Data
Once data extraction was complete, we:
- Checked all recovered research papers and project files for integrity.
- Repaired corrupted Word, PDF, and spreadsheet documents.
- Transferred the fully restored data to a new secure USB drive.
The Results: 100% Data Recovery Success
Thanks to our partition repair and forensic file extraction techniques, we successfully recovered 100% of the student’s research work, including:
✅ Thesis and dissertation documents
✅ Spreadsheets, reports, and university research papers
✅ Lecture notes, coursework, and study materials
The student was able to submit their work on time, avoiding academic delays.
Why Choose Us?
With 25 years of experience and tens of thousands of successful recoveries, we are the leading USB and flash drive data recovery specialists in Oxford and the UK. Our expertise includes:
✔ Corrupt MBR/GPT partition repair
✔ USB file system recovery (FAT32, NTFS, exFAT)
✔ Document and research file retrieval
✔ Secure & confidential academic data recovery
If your USB stick is showing as unallocated, RAW, or prompting for formatting, stop using it immediately and contact us for expert data recovery.