Having some trouble with a 16GB flash drive not being detected, it has data on it. It shows as used space 0 Bytes, free space 0 Bytes in My Computer.
Has what I think happened or can be hopeful for something else?
Note: I was having an issue with this thumb drive in saving Bios profiles in which the Bios would say "USB flash drive with NTFS or exFAT format is not supported" then just the other day the profiles saved normally again to the drive.
Sound like a bad USB stick.
Did you ever format this drive as NTFS or exFAT?
You should try and recover the files if you need them before starting potential fixes and testing.
You might try a Disk Check using Tools on the Properties window.
You might try rebuilding the MBR (File Table) using Minitool Partition Wizard, or Easeus, or equivalent disk management program.
But if neither fix solves it then it is usually best to just toss the stick.
I think it came pre-formatted like most do these days...
I've tried Piriform Recuva and EaseUS data recovery but they cannot detect the drive so I can't even attempt a recovery.
Right clicking the drive in File Explorer and clicking Format results in error: There is no disk in drive F:
It's a Silicon Power and I came across some related repair tools but most had a high virus detection rate on Virustotal.com so I decided against running them...
Flash drives are among the least reliable of modern storage media. Add to that the possibility that they may be lost, stolen, or physically damaged. They should not be used as primary storage of important files.
All files, regardless of the media they are stored on, should have at least 1 backup copy, 2 or more backup copies if the files are of particular importance. Recovery methods cannot be relied on.
Yeah I hear ya. This had my Macrium Reflect recovery console on it (needed to restore system image's...) some Bios profiles and some other bit's and bobs but I can't remember what they were. Maybe I should have Macrium Reflect recovery console on cd too.
Yes I thought I had this stick backed up but now can't find it! From now on I will take backups with every new change made to the drive...
The stick feels looser than normal so maybe some inside has broken causing this?
Could bootrec /fixboot and bootrec /fixmbr have the potential fix anything?
You can't attempt any repair until the drive can be recognized in the OS.
See if it works in another port, or try jiggling it. Sometimes you might have to apply constant slight pressure in one direction.
And yes, if one of the metal contacts inside the port of the stick is loose or broken then that would be game over.
Your 16GB Flash drive has a drive letter but File System reported as Unknown.
Please post a full screenshot of Windows Disk Management ( with only the Flash drive plugged in) with all info clearly visible. Disk Management - How to Post a Screenshot of
Also try the flash drive on another working PC, check and report.
Hi jumanji,
Here is a screenshot of Disk Management. F: is the unreadable flash drive. Sorry I don't disconnect the two externals H :and I: was that important?
https://s4.postimg.org/qckqgj79p/Dis...nt_F_Drive.png
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