How to Change ESD-USB Back to Normal USB and Recover Your Data

An ESD USB is a great way to install a fresh copy of Windows on your machine, though creating one effectively erases all the data on your flash drive (or any other USB device you use). But what happens if you forget to back up some important files? And what if you want to return your USB storage device back to its original state after you install the OS?

What is the ESD USB meaning?

ESD is short for “Electronic Software Delivery,” and an ESD USB is a type of storage format used to create a bootable Windows installation on a USB drive. You can use it to set up Windows on your computer or as a recovery tool for OS repairs. The ESD can be created on any USB storage device using an ISO file of the OS installer or through the downloadable media creation tool for Windows 10 or Windows 11.

The most common methods to create an ESD USB involve tools like the Windows Media Creation Tool, Rufus, or similar software. These programs typically use a quick format for the process, which is good news—it means there’s a chance to recover data. A full format, on the other hand, would overwrite the entire drive, and make recovery virtually impossible.

However, keep in mind that part of the original data might still be overwritten if the system stores the new image in areas already marked as “ready for overwriting.” This means that not just the free space on the USB, but even previously occupied sectors, could be affected.

It’s pretty easy to return the ESD USB to its normal state, but recovering the data that was on the drive before the image was written is less certain. To find out, you’ll need to scan the drive with a good recovery tool and check what files, if any, can still be recovered.

2 Simple Steps to Change ESD-USB to Normal USB

Actually, restoring an ESD USB to its normal state usually requires just two steps. First, we’ll try to recover any data that was on the drive before it became an ESD USB. Then, we’ll reformat the drive to remove the ESD partition and restore it to a standard, everyday USB. Let’s start.

Step 1: Recover Files from ESD-USB

In case you were unable to back up your important files before the ESD USB was made or were simply unaware that they were essential at the time, you’ll be glad to know that there’s still a chance that you can unformat your USB. And by “unformat”, we mean restore your lost data. The best way to go about it is through the help of powerful data recovery software, like Disk Drill.

Disk Drill is one of the best USB recovery software around, given how effective it is at retrieving files from a wide variety of data loss scenarios, including ESD USB formatting and accidentally deleted files. It also sports a catchy user interface that’s easy to use even if you’re a newbie to the process. You won’t have to immediately commit to payment either, as Disk Drill includes a free version with all of its features that you can use to recover up to 500 MB of data. This way, you can check if your data is recoverable at all and see how many files you’re able to salvage before deciding whether to upgrade.

To recover files from ESD USB, simply follow the steps below:

1. First, download Disk Drill from the Cleverfiles website.
2. Run the downloaded installer and follow the instructions that appear until successfully installed.
3. Make sure the ESD USB is connected to your computer and launch Disk Drill. From there, select the ESD USB from the list of available storage devices and click Search for lost data.
4. After that, the program will now start scanning the drive for any lost data that can potentially be retrieved. The bigger the storage capacity of your USB, the longer this is likely to take. As you wait, you can click the Review found files button on the upper-right corner of the screen to browse any files that the scan has picked up so far. Otherwise, you can just wait until the scan is finished and then click the same button to proceed.
5. In the results section, navigate through the found files until you find the ones you want to recover. You can make the search easier on yourself by using the category options on the left side of the screen, and there’s also a search bar in the top-right corner in case you’re aware of the file name or type.
6. When you click on a file in the results, a preview window shows up on the right, for a quick look at the file. For a full preview, just click the eye icon next to the file name. Disk Drill supports previews for almost all file types, as long as you have the right software installed on your Windows system to open them.
7. Finally, check the boxes next to the files you want to recover, and click Recover when you’re ready to continue.
8. A small window will appear where you’ll need to decide on the storage location for the recovered files. Make sure that this is on a different device than the ESD USB that you’re trying to recover from. Click Next once done.
9. At this point, Disk Drill will try to recover the selected files from your ESD USB. You’ll receive a completion message once this process is done. If you’d like to be taken straight to the rescued files, you can click the Show recovered data in Explorer button.

Step 2: Format ESD-USB Drive

Finally, once your files are safely recovered, you can format the ESD USB back to a standard drive.

Formatting will wipe the ESD setup, clear out system files, and restore it to a blank USB format for regular use. Just follow the steps in Disk Management, and your USB will be back to its original state.

Here are the steps on how to do this:

1. To get started, press the Windows + R keys on your keyboard to bring up the Run command window. From there, type in “diskmgmt.msc,” and press Enter.
2. Next, right-click your ESD USB and select the Format option. A pop-up will appear, warning you that all data will be erased in the process. Then, click Yes.
3. Click the dropdown next to File System and select the option you’d like for your USB drives. The selection includes NTFS, FAT32, FAT, and exFAT. You can also decide on the label for your device, allocation unit size, and whether or not you want to perform a “Quick” format or a full one. It’s worth noting that files erased by a “Full” format can no longer be recovered. Click OK to finalize the formatting process, and your USB should then be back to normal.

 (Alternative) Create a New Volume/Partition on the ESD-USB drive

If you want to keep the ESD USB for future use but still need it as a regular drive, you can create a new volume on the drive. It can be a great alternative to formatting, since the ESD setup only uses about 32 GB, you can use the remaining space for everyday storage.

To create a new partition on a storage device, simply follow the steps below:

1. Open Disk Management the same way we discussed before: press the Windows + R keys on your keyboard, type in “diskmgmt.msc” and press Enter.
2. Next, find your ESD drive among the devices listed and click on it. On the bottom portion of the window, right-click the part of the USB that’s labeled “Unallocated” and select New Simple Volume.
3. A wizard will appear that will guide you through the process. On the 4th screen, you’ll have the opportunity to select the file system that you’d like for the new volume. Also, make sure to have the “Perform a quick format” option ticked. Continue until the volume creation is complete.

Now, your drive will have two partitions: one with the original ESD-USB setup, and a new partition for extra storage.

Don’t Want to Do It Yourself? Here’s What We Recommend

If you’re not comfortable with the process—especially the recovery part—you could reach out to a data recovery service. However, we believe this is a fairly straightforward case that most people can handle on their own with a little patience and the right tools.

Professional services typically focus on more complex jobs, like RAID recovery, and may not prioritize tasks involving USB drives. If you don’t want to risk it or feel unsure, another option is to seek guidance from someone experienced. Platforms like r/datarecovery or other online forums are great places to find knowledgeable individuals who can walk you through the process via text or video call, often for a small tip or just out of goodwill.

This approach keeps things affordable and stress-free. Converting an ESD USB to a normal drive is usually DIY-friendly, so don’t be afraid to give it a try!

FAQ