You plug in your USB stick or external hard drive and notice the storage space is still used — but your files aren’t showing up. Don’t panic! This is a very common issue, and in most cases, your files are still there — they’re just hidden, corrupted, or affected by file system errors.
At A Laptop Repair Shoppe Calgary, our Calgary data recovery experts have seen this problem hundreds of times, and we can help you recover your missing files safely and quickly.
⚙️ Why Your Files Might Not Be Showing Up
There are several reasons files may disappear or seem missing on a USB or external drive:
Hidden Files or Folders Sometimes Windows or macOS automatically hides system or corrupted files. You might need to change your folder view settings to “Show Hidden Files.”
File System Corruption Removing your drive without ejecting it safely can corrupt its file structure, making files invisible even though they still take up space.
Virus or Malware Infection Certain malware can hide files or replace folders with shortcuts that lead nowhere. These infections often disguise data loss symptoms.
Drive Letter Conflict or Partition Error When connecting your drive, Windows might not assign the correct letter, or the partition table may be damaged, making the data inaccessible.
Bad Sectors or Physical Damage External drives can develop bad sectors or hardware issues — especially after drops, shocks, or overheating — causing files to vanish from view.
🧠 What You Should Not Do
❌ Don’t format or reinitialize the drive — this can permanently erase recoverable data.
❌ Don’t install software directly on the affected drive.
❌ Don’t copy new files to it — this can overwrite your missing data.
🔧 How A Laptop Repair Shoppe Calgary Can Help
At A Laptop Repair Shoppe Calgary, we can:
Recover files that don’t show up on USBs, external drives, and SD cards
Fix corrupted partitions and repair damaged file systems
Remove hidden file malware safely
Back up and secure your recovered data to a new device
We use industry-grade data recovery tools and over 30 years of expertise to bring your lost files back — safely, locally, and fast.
💡 Tips to Prevent Future File Loss
Always eject your USB or external drive safely
Avoid unplugging during file transfers
Keep an up-to-date antivirus installed
Back up important files regularly to a cloud or image backup system
📍 Need Help Recovering Hidden or Missing Files?
Don’t risk losing your valuable data. Bring your drive to A Laptop Shoppe — Calgary’s trusted data recovery experts for over 30 years.
📍 #3, 2280 39 Ave NE Calgary AB
📞 403-274-5190
