Hi there, let's walk through your situation step by step based on the logs you provided:

First, from your dmesg -w output, we can see:

• Your system does detect the USB controller (idVendor=048d, idProduct=1169) and assigns it as /dev/sdc
• But it throws the message Media removed, stopped polling — this means the USB controller is recognized, but the underlying flash storage chip isn't being read properly. That's why lsblk shows 0B capacity and fdisk -l doesn't pick up any partitions.

Now, here are the steps you can try to recover your data:

1. Rule out physical/connection issues first #

• Try plugging the USB stick into different USB ports (preferably the rear ports on your motherboard, as front ports often have weaker power)
• Test it on another computer (both Linux and Windows systems, since sometimes OSes handle faulty storage differently)
• Use a powered USB hub to provide extra power — insufficient power is a common cause for flash storage not being detected properly

2. Software-level recovery attempts (Linux) #

• Use testdisk: This is a powerful tool for recovering lost partitions and data. Install it via your package manager, then run testdisk /dev/sdc. Follow the on-screen wizard to scan the disk; it might detect the lost partition table even if the disk shows 0B.
• Create a disk image with ddrescue: Before trying any repair tools, make a full image of the USB stick to avoid further data loss. Use the command:

  ddrescue /dev/sdc /path/to/usb_backup.img /path/to/rescue_log.log
  

  You can then work on this image file instead of the original stick. Even if the original fails later, you'll have a copy to work with.
• Check for manufacturer tools: The vendor ID 048d belongs to Integrated Technology Express, Inc. — you can look up their official repair/flash tools. Note: These tools often erase data, so only use them after creating a disk image.

3. If all else fails: Professional data recovery #

If none of the above works, the issue is likely a hardware problem (e.g., broken connection between the controller and flash chip, or a failed flash chip). In this case, regular users can't recover the data on their own. You'll need to contact a professional data recovery service — they can physically disassemble the stick and read the flash chip directly, though this can be expensive.

In short: There's a chance to recover your data, especially if the issue is just a connection or partition table problem. Start with the simple fixes first, then move to more advanced tools, and consider professional help only if the data is critical.

备注：内容来源于stack exchange，提问作者TKingu