Two Flash Drives Broke During File Copy: Help!

Discussion in 'Hardware' started by HarryPotter, Jul 31, 2021.

  1. HarryPotter

    HarryPotter MajorGeek

    I had two broken flash drives and reformatted them. It worked. :) I tried to copy all my downloads to them to transfer to a new computer. Both times, it took forever.:( Then, during the copy, both flash drives broke. :'( The first symptom as an I/O error, forgot which. The second symptom was that the target folder couldn't be found. The third symptom was that the drive either didn't appear in This PC or appeared with no information and a default icon. The fourth symptom was, when I tried to format the drive, Windows responded saying that there is no disk in the drive. I need to repair these drives then copy my downloads to one. How do I do that?
     
    HarryPotter, Jul 31, 2021
    #1
  2. plodr

    plodr MajorGeek Super Extraordinaire Moderator Staff Member

    I hope you didn't try to copy a large amount of files at once. I find this causes problems. I only ever do a few at a time. It may take longer but it avoids a lot of problems.
    You had two drives plugged in at the same time? Again, that is asking for problems.
    If Windows doesn't see the drive, your chances of fixing it aren't good. Windows needs to see something before it can be repaired.
     
    plodr, Jul 31, 2021
    #2
  3. HarryPotter

    HarryPotter MajorGeek

    I did try to copy the files all at once, but I only used one flash drive at a time. The flash drives need to be fixed, as I only have a few of them, and I need one of them for the copy.
     
    Last edited: Aug 1, 2021
    HarryPotter, Aug 1, 2021
    #3
  4. plodr

    plodr MajorGeek Super Extraordinaire Moderator Staff Member

    Flash drives are the wrong device to use when copying a lot of files. Flash drives have a much lower number of read and writes. What you need is an external portable hard drive. The memory in them is better.

    As I posted, if the computer can not see a drive, you can't fix it. If you can get a computer to see the drive then you can use this
    https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/download/hp-usb-disk-storage-format-tool/
    to format it and start over. But this time, don't try to copy all the files.
    Sadly, just because you need it fixed, doesn't make it possible to fix.
     
    plodr, Aug 1, 2021
    #4
  5. HarryPotter

    HarryPotter MajorGeek

    I asked my mother to get me some more flash drives. If I copy only some files at a time, should it work?
     
    HarryPotter, Aug 3, 2021
    #5
  6. HarryPotter

    HarryPotter MajorGeek

    The flash drives appear in This PC but with the default icon and no information attached. :( And, when I try to reformat them, Windows tells me to insert a disk into the drive.
     
    HarryPotter, Aug 3, 2021
    #6
  7. plodr

    plodr MajorGeek Super Extraordinaire Moderator Staff Member

    plodr, Aug 4, 2021
    #7
  8. HarryPotter

    HarryPotter MajorGeek

    I believe I tried that. Same problem. :(
     
    HarryPotter, Aug 4, 2021
    #8
  9. plodr

    plodr MajorGeek Super Extraordinaire Moderator Staff Member

    Then I have no other solution.
    I only ever had a problem with one USB stick, out of about 60 sticks, and that was caused by me. I formatted it with the HP tool and I'm still using it.
     
    plodr, Aug 4, 2021
    #9
  10. foogoo

    foogoo Major "foogoo" Geek

    foogoo, Aug 9, 2021
    #10
  11. plodr

    plodr MajorGeek Super Extraordinaire Moderator Staff Member

    Unfortunately to use any of the tools, the computer has to be able to "see" the flash drive.
     
    plodr, Aug 9, 2021
    #11
  12. foogoo

    foogoo Major "foogoo" Geek

    In another thread I told him be aware of cheap USB, figured the link would be beneficial before he trust the device to copy data on to it next time.
    An ounce of prevention..
     
    foogoo, Aug 9, 2021
    #12
  13. plodr

    plodr MajorGeek Super Extraordinaire Moderator Staff Member

    I told him not to try and copy everything at once AND it is much better to use a portable external hd than a USB stick to copy important data because the type of memory is better.
     
    plodr, Aug 10, 2021
    #13
  14. HarryPotter

    HarryPotter MajorGeek

    How much would an external HDD cost? I need at least 256GB.
     
    HarryPotter, Aug 10, 2021
    #14
  15. plodr

    plodr MajorGeek Super Extraordinaire Moderator Staff Member

    If you need 256 GB than a 200GB drive would not work. You'd need to look at a 500GB. Look for USB 2, it would be cheaper than USB 3. It will be slower but will work with old and new computers.
    You'd need to search to see prices in the UK.

    Here's a 320GB (strange size) for $22 US. 1 negative review - said it didn't work with a MAC.
    Looks like they have prices in £ here
    https://suhsai.com/products/suhsai-external-hard-drive-usb-2-0-ultra-slim-portable-hdd-disk

    Looks like NewEgg carries this brand
    https://www.newegg.com/p/1E8-00RH-00054
     
    plodr, Aug 11, 2021
    #15
  16. HarryPotter

    HarryPotter MajorGeek

    If I compress the information, 200GB should work. Thank you. :)
     
    HarryPotter, Aug 11, 2021
    #16
  17. Wavetar

    Wavetar Sergeant

    Wavetar, Sep 10, 2021
    #17
  18. HarryPotter

    HarryPotter MajorGeek

    I want to fix the two broken flash drives, but they don't register in This PC. I tested them on a new laptop, and they still don't register. :(
     
    HarryPotter, Sep 10, 2021
    #18

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