I lost my flash drive a few years back. However, I was able to save a shortcut copy of it from the last computer I used it from. However, it won't open anything up and is in an lnk file. Is there a way to recover the data? The data is so valuable to me. I hope there is a way because it contains my middle school stuff and it is the only copies of them! I'm so sad I lost the drive. If there is even a chance something can work, please share.
Recover files from flash drive without the flash drive?
Hello,
Such task is never possible because the data isn’t stored inside the shortcut.
Shortcut is only a file that indicates to the target file or folder or drive. It’s a small LNK file that contains nothing more than file paths. You can use it to save your time instead of searching the file from the drive.
Pendrive has a flash memory that holds the data and makes it usable. If you don’t have the pendrive, you can’t get your data back. Though files deleted from pendrive can be recovered, files from a lost pendrive isn’t recoverable. If you don’t have any backup of your pendrive, it means that you’re files are lost forever. Shortcuts can’t help you get back your data.
Recover files from flash drive without the flash drive?
In Microsoft Windows, the LNK file or file format (*.lnk) is a file extension for a shortcut used by the operating system to direct or point to an executable file. The letters “LNK” stands for “LiNK”. Shortcut files in Microsoft Windows are used to direct or used as a direct link to an executable file so you won’t have to navigate to the executable to launch the program.
This file contains some basic properties like the path to the executable file and the “Start-In” directory. The file uses a curled arrow to indicate they are shortcuts and the file extension is hidden by default. Even if you disable or uncheck “Hide extensions for known file types” in “Folder Options”, it won’t have any effect on the file. The “.lnk” extension will remain invisible or hidden.
You can only see it when you use third-party file managers like Servant Salamander or FreeCommander XE. Now, back to your problem, since you are referring to a link file or LNK file for your USB flash drive, there’s no way you can recover the drive’s contents.
The LNK file for your USB flash drive is only a shortcut that allows you to open the drive automatically and it doesn’t replace the drive itself. It doesn’t contain the actual contents of the USB flash drive. To recover the drive’s contents, you need to have the USB flash drive physically.
