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#1
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Fixing a USB flash drive
A couple of Christmases ago I was given a 1 GB Lexar Jump Drive. I guess they were pretty expensive then, as that capacity was relatively new. Anyway, I've been using it for months without problem, until today when I started copying a bunch of files that filled it beyond the point where it had been used previously. At about 600 MB, it hung with the activity light strobing rapidly, and eventually produced a "sector not found" and "delayed write failure". I am aware of USB driver and chipset incomptibility problems that can lead to this error. Leaving the copied files in place, I ran ScanDisk and Norton Disk Doctor set to test for bad sectors and to test the unused drive space. Both of them found no problems. Later tonight, at home, I tried the same exercise on 2 different machines having very different architecture, different operating systems and USB chipsets ... with exactly the same result at the same point. I'm beginning to believe this is a problem with the flash itself and not a driver or compatibility issue. If I delete ~300 MB of files, the drive behaves fine until that empty space is again filled, and then it fails just as before. The already-written contents of the drive are fine, and verify. I'm inclined to just toss it as prices have come down, and while there is a 2 year warranty I don't have a receipt and the Lexar website makes it very clear that it is absolutely, positively required for any warranty claim. I was wondering, though, if someone could recommend a (preferably free or cheap) diagnostic that will write to every unused sector and perhaps map out the bad ones, the way the old-fashioned disk utilities used to do. |
#2
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Fixing a USB flash drive
I have repaired a couple of errant thumb drives by re-partitioning
and re-formatting with SWISSKNIFE http://www.compuapps.com/download/Sw...swissknife.htm Mike S. wrote: A couple of Christmases ago I was given a 1 GB Lexar Jump Drive. I guess they were pretty expensive then, as that capacity was relatively new. Anyway, I've been using it for months without problem, until today when I started copying a bunch of files that filled it beyond the point where it had been used previously. At about 600 MB, it hung with the activity light strobing rapidly, and eventually produced a "sector not found" and "delayed write failure". I am aware of USB driver and chipset incomptibility problems that can lead to this error. Leaving the copied files in place, I ran ScanDisk and Norton Disk Doctor set to test for bad sectors and to test the unused drive space. Both of them found no problems. Later tonight, at home, I tried the same exercise on 2 different machines having very different architecture, different operating systems and USB chipsets ... with exactly the same result at the same point. I'm beginning to believe this is a problem with the flash itself and not a driver or compatibility issue. If I delete ~300 MB of files, the drive behaves fine until that empty space is again filled, and then it fails just as before. The already-written contents of the drive are fine, and verify. I'm inclined to just toss it as prices have come down, and while there is a 2 year warranty I don't have a receipt and the Lexar website makes it very clear that it is absolutely, positively required for any warranty claim. I was wondering, though, if someone could recommend a (preferably free or cheap) diagnostic that will write to every unused sector and perhaps map out the bad ones, the way the old-fashioned disk utilities used to do. |
#3
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Fixing a USB flash drive
"Mike S." wrote in message ... A couple of Christmases ago I was given a 1 GB Lexar Jump Drive. I guess they were pretty expensive then, as that capacity was relatively new. Anyway, I've been using it for months without problem, until today when I started copying a bunch of files that filled it beyond the point where it had been used previously. At about 600 MB, it hung with the activity light strobing rapidly, and eventually produced a "sector not found" and "delayed write failure". I am aware of USB driver and chipset incomptibility problems that can lead to this error. Leaving the copied files in place, I ran ScanDisk and Norton Disk Doctor set to test for bad sectors and to test the unused drive space. Both of them found no problems. Later tonight, at home, I tried the same exercise on 2 different machines having very different architecture, different operating systems and USB chipsets ... with exactly the same result at the same point. I'm beginning to believe this is a problem with the flash itself and not a driver or compatibility issue. If I delete ~300 MB of files, the drive behaves fine until that empty space is again filled, and then it fails just as before. The already-written contents of the drive are fine, and verify. I'm inclined to just toss it as prices have come down, and while there is a 2 year warranty I don't have a receipt and the Lexar website makes it very clear that it is absolutely, positively required for any warranty claim. I was wondering, though, if someone could recommend a (preferably free or cheap) diagnostic that will write to every unused sector and perhaps map out the bad ones, the way the old-fashioned disk utilities used to do. Did you try to reformat the drive? If it's formatted in anything other than FAT, you might change to FAT. I had many problems with a flash disk I had formatted in NTFS and when I reformatted in FAT it acted better. If you're using XP, I would recommend formatting by going to Start - Settings - Control Panel - Administrative Tools - Computer Management - Disk Management. Right click on the drive in the display window and you'll get all the format options. Of course, save your files before formatting. HTH, J |
#4
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Fixing a USB flash drive
In article tHwJf.474$2c4.31@dukeread11, JFG wrote: "Mike S." wrote in message ... A couple of Christmases ago I was given a 1 GB Lexar Jump Drive. I guess they were pretty expensive then, as that capacity was relatively new. Anyway, I've been using it for months without problem, until today when I started copying a bunch of files that filled it beyond the point where it had been used previously. At about 600 MB, it hung with the activity light strobing rapidly, and eventually produced a "sector not found" and "delayed write failure". I am aware of USB driver and chipset incomptibility problems that can lead to this error. Leaving the copied files in place, I ran ScanDisk and Norton Disk Doctor set to test for bad sectors and to test the unused drive space. Both of them found no problems. Later tonight, at home, I tried the same exercise on 2 different machines having very different architecture, different operating systems and USB chipsets ... with exactly the same result at the same point. I'm beginning to believe this is a problem with the flash itself and not a driver or compatibility issue. If I delete ~300 MB of files, the drive behaves fine until that empty space is again filled, and then it fails just as before. The already-written contents of the drive are fine, and verify. I'm inclined to just toss it as prices have come down, and while there is a 2 year warranty I don't have a receipt and the Lexar website makes it very clear that it is absolutely, positively required for any warranty claim. I was wondering, though, if someone could recommend a (preferably free or cheap) diagnostic that will write to every unused sector and perhaps map out the bad ones, the way the old-fashioned disk utilities used to do. Did you try to reformat the drive? If it's formatted in anything other than FAT, you might change to FAT. I had many problems with a flash disk I had formatted in NTFS and when I reformatted in FAT it acted better. If you're using XP, I would recommend formatting by going to Start - Settings - Control Panel - Administrative Tools - Computer Management - Disk Management. Right click on the drive in the display window and you'll get all the format options. Of course, save your files before formatting. HTH, Well ... after posting the above I noticed that Lexar has a 24h online chat for tech support. The rep had me reformat the drive ... which was unsuccessful after many attempts; leaving it unformatted. At that point they issued me an RMA (in spite of lack of proof of purchase) so I will just go that route. Thanks for the responses! |
#5
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Fixing a USB flash drive
In article , Carl McNair wrote: I have repaired a couple of errant thumb drives by re-partitioning and re-formatting with SWISSKNIFE http://www.compuapps.com/download/Sw...swissknife.htm Thanks for the tip. I tried it - Swiss Knife crashes when I select this drive and click on re-partition/reformat. Upon restarting the program, it will crash merely by clicking on the icon of the flash drive alone. In any case, Lexar has issued me an RMA so I won't play with it at this point. |
#6
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Fixing a USB flash drive
On Sat, 18 Feb 2006 14:10:52 +0000, Mike S. wrote:
Did you try to reformat the drive? If it's formatted in anything other than FAT, you might change to FAT. I had many problems with a flash disk I had formatted in NTFS and when I reformatted in FAT it acted better. If you're using XP, I would recommend formatting by going to Start - Settings - Control Panel - Administrative Tools - Computer Management - Disk Management. Right click on the drive in the display window and you'll get all the format options. Of course, save your files before formatting. HTH, Well ... after posting the above I noticed that Lexar has a 24h online chat for tech support. The rep had me reformat the drive ... which was unsuccessful after many attempts; leaving it unformatted. At that point they issued me an RMA (in spite of lack of proof of purchase) so I will just go that route. Thanks for the responses! That's good to know. I wound up tossing an Apacer after it started showing up as unformatted, on several machines, Windows and Linux, and yet wouldn't format. After checking on Apacer's warranty I just gave up. I have 2 other 512 MB drives. I will very carefully check the warranty and service before buying my next. And I'll keep the receipt :-) Andy |
#7
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Fixing a USB flash drive
On Fri, 17 Feb 2006 21:41:11 -0600, "JFG" wrote:
using XP, I would recommend formatting by going to Start - Settings - Control Panel - Administrative Tools - Computer Management - Disk Management. Right click on the drive in the display window and you'll get all the format options. 3 faster ways a 1. Right click on the flash drive in Explorer (Windows key + E) or My Computer (which is explorer) and select format. 2. Windows key + R then enter "diskmgmt.msc" (the same place you recommended) Or another alternative way to get to disk management: 3. Right-click on "My Computer" either in Explorer on the desktop in Windows Classic mode and select "manage" (which is actually "compmgmt.msc") |
#8
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Fixing a USB flash drive
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#10
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Fixing a USB flash drive
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