Usb flash drive???

Hi All!

I've searched and could not find anything to solve my latest problem.

I have 2 USB Flash Drives by the same manufacturer, Super Talent. The first one had a lot of files on it and I used the disk just every so often. I kept the cap on it when not in use and kept it in a plastic bag. A few days ago, I insert it into the USB port and the usual screen does not come up on my computer screen - nothing came up (this disk is password protected). I click on My Computer and the drive it's on (F and I get the message "The disk in drive F: is not formatted. Do you want to format it now? Y/N". I know that there is content on this disk and I didn't want to loose it. I searched on MG and downloaded a recovery utility (MiniTool Power Data Recovery 6.5). I recovered the files, opened with my password and copied them to my hd. I wanted to reuse the disk and transfer them back to the disk, but I get the same message. When I tried to let Windows format the disk the message came back "Windows can not format this disk".

The second disk was never used and "new" right out of the package. The same messages came up!!! These disks normally have a screen that pops up first where you can format and set a password. This is NOT happening now.

I emailed Super Talent and they sent me a program to try, but Avast put it in it's "sandbox" and it still didn't work, so I don't know if it's Avast or something else.

I won't be able to get to a library to try this on another computer for a few days and I don't have access to another computer to test the disks.

Has anyone ever had this problem? What else should I check? I tried inserting the disks in BOTH of the front USB ports, to no avail. I have other USB ports in the back of the computer, but I wanted to check here first. I also refreshed the USB ports in Device Manager, still nothing. Any other "tests"?

THANK YOU in advance, as always I appreciate the help and thank God for MajorGeeks!

 

I'd try installing the USB drive before you try to boot. Or another usb port when your booted up. See if it reconizes it. On the new drive, it dosen't work. Might be the drive itself is bad. Try it on another computer?

 

Format tool from HP that I used to format a USB stick

Code:

http://file.walagata.com/w/perk/Assorted/SP27608.exe

Linux is sometimes able to see things that windows can't. You could try a linux live CD and see if the USB device is recognized.

 

Thank you so much to all that replied, I really appreciated your help. Here's where things stand today:

locodave - I tried inserting the disk in the USB port BEFORE booting up the computer and the disk comes up empty and fine, FAT32 and plenty of space, but it's "WRITE-PROTECTED"!!! How do I get rid of the write-protection? It won't let me copy files to the disk. This the original problem disk.

These disks are a little expensive for "me" and I would like to salvage them if at all possible. Any more ideas of what is really going on here? I just don't "get" it. Thanks!

 

From DAQs
Q. I have a " Write Protect Error", how do I fix it?
A: Please request a Return Material Authorization (R.M.A.) number and return the USB Flash Drive.
Source: http://www.supertalent.com.cn/SuperTalentFlash/support/faq.php#6

 

Once again, thank you to all that replied.

One more question: What brand of USB drives do you all recommend? I'm thinking 2-10GB. It really surprised me that these things "die" in ten years? What is better to use for longer storage? What can one do to keep these things from being corrupted, damaged, etc.??? Thank you! I appreciate all of your help.

 

I have the following brands: Corsair, Kingston, Lexar, PNY, SanDisk, and Verbatim. So far I only had a problem with one stick. We have about 25 in the house. That problem was caused by me. I tried to put more info on the stick than it could hold. I eventually formatted using the HP format tool and I'm using the stick again.

If something is really, really important, I have it two different places like a USB stick or external hd and I also burn a data CD or DVD.

 

This might help. -> http://www.ehow.com/how_4924168_remove-write-protection-usb-drive.html

Mostly on brands. I buy the least expensive. TigerDirect, NewEgg, ect. Buy from a place close to you. Size? Compare on what you want to put on it. Go from there.

 

The first check I do now on a write protected or otherwise unwriteable USB stick is to check the name given to it by Device Manager. If Google doesn't have lots of hits for the name, it's toast - the controller/interface is broken/cooked.

 

I've never heard of that brand. Newegg.com does not sell it, even among the many brands they sell. You might stick with a known brand if you need to replace them. See the brands plodr mentioned. Here's a good buy on an 8GB Kingston flash drive: http://www.buy.com/prod/kingston-8gb-datatraveler-102-usb-flash-drive-blue/q/loc/101/212645995.html

 

One thing I picked up on here, that you mentioned keeping your Flash Drive in a "Plastic bag" Ouch! Unless it's a special Anti-Static bag, usually pink or blue and feeling somewhat waxy, the static charges on the bag can exceed 1000volts. ZipLock bags are by far the worse.
That's enough static to wipe a floppy disk or Flash Drive.
Keep your Flash Drives away from any clear plastic bag.
At Xerox, I used to teach a course on "Static Awareness" to other tech's.

SanDisk is probably the #1 Flash Drive on the market, but there are other brands that are also acceptable. But don't be confused..... NO Flash Drive should ever be considered as "Permanent Storage". Only a CD or DVD put in a fireproof location (vault) could be considered Permanent.

So if you have data files, pictures, music or movies, that you want to preserve for posterity, burn them to DVD's and put them away in a SAFE place. Off premises is best.

Good Luck
Shadow :cool