Q&A for How to Repair a USB Flash Drive

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My pen drive is not showing my folders, but when I am scanning the pen drive, it is then showing the names of folders. What should I do?

Community Answer

The files could have been hidden as system files. To show the files, go to folder properties and to the display tab. There you will find the option Show System Files and Show Hidden Files. Check both of them and apply. Your files should be visible now.

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Question

When I try to format my pen drive, my PC shows the message "Windows was unable to format this drive". What is the solution?

Community Answer

It is most likely that your pen drive is dead (actually the pen drive's storage may be intact but the boot/power part inside the chip has failed).

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Question

I have just recently bought a USB storage device. When I plug it into my laptop it makes the sound that it's connected and starts to install, but the folder doesn't show up in My Computer. What can I do?

Community Answer

This is similar to a problem I have accessing my mp3 player. I have two cables. Both charge the device but one provides a data connection so that the device is recognized as a drive on the computer, and the other provides no data connection. You could have a cable problem.

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Question

My pen drive fell when it was attached to my laptop and it is half broken and not detectable. I want to recover my data. What should I do?

Community Answer

Is the flash memory chip(s) (it looks like the gray squares on un-shielded RAM or the flash memory inside SSDs) torn into two pieces? If so then your data is unrecoverable. If the plug on it is broken but the inside looks physically intact, take it to a data recovery center and see if they can fix it (this could be pretty pricey).

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Question

When I try to open my flash drive, my PC shows the message "please insert disk into the removable disk drive." What might be the problem?

Community Answer

Reformat it. Windows is probably thinking it's a CD or DVD drive because of an ISO on it.

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Question

My pen drive is recognized but after copying files onto it, they show up as being all there. But if I eject and then re-install the drive, the files vanish. What's wrong with my drive?

Community Answer

Your flash drive probably has a virus. Try to get a new one and if that doesn't work, then there may be something wrong with your laptop or desktop.

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Question

I know that a "Quick Format" takes just moments to run. How long does a "Regular Format" take?

Community Answer

It takes from 30 seconds to 2 minutes. Don't unplug your USB drive while it's doing its work.

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Question

What is wrong if my flash drive is 8 GB, but the computer is detecting it as a 2.5 GB?

Neon Boy

Community Answer

It's possible that there was already something on it, hidden away. A flash drive can never be 100% free, although seeing it as 2.5 from 8 is a bit odd. It's possible there is a driver error, depending on the device. Otherwise try plugging it in again, into another port or computer.

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Question

The end of my USB drive is bent and the computer isn't registering it. The light flashes quickly and then disappears. Can this be repaired?

Community Answer

I have had this problem 2-3 times. I have carefully bent the USB to (almost) the right position, and luckily the computer could read it again. This can go wrong if you use too much force. If it is really important data on your flash drive, go to a professional and let them do it.

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Question

When I save the files on my flash drive, the files are invisible and my music in my drive shows an error when I try to play it. What should I do?

Community Answer

Re-upload them. Remove the drive, delete the files, and reinsert. Or transfer them to another flash drive or upload them to Google or iCloud.

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Question

What should I do for a flash drive that was reformatted due to a computer virus?

Community Answer

It's probably gone. Just hope you've saved the information elsewhere. Many viruses reformat storage devices to their favor, and it is often very difficult if not impossible to restore them.

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Question

Files that I've copied onto my flash disk become corrupted when transferred to another computer. What could be the problem?

Community Answer

It seems to be a virus, so you should scan your flash drive for anything malicious. (If you aren't sure how to do this, there are plenty of instructional videos on YouTube.) Remove all bad sectors in your flash drive; otherwise, your flash drive could possibly spread the virus to other computers, even though it is an external drive.

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Question

My USB is not showing files in my drive, but its capacity is showing that it has files. Why is this? What can I do?

Neon Boy

Community Answer

There's a few things possible here. First, depending on how the files were put there, it is possible that whatever program you used put the files away in a way they couldn't be read. Also, it's possible they are hidden. All you need to do then is enable the viewing of these files.

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Question

When I insert a 32GB flash drive, its total memory space will appear as 8MB. What is the issue?

Community Answer

This would most likely mean you have a virus or damaged USB. I would get a new USB to use instead.

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Question

How do I remove viruses from my USB flash drive safely?

Community Answer

Decide which OS that you have used recently on the USB flash drive. If you remember you have used XP/Vista/7 to use the flash drive recently before there's viruses spotted on the USB, attempt using Windows 8.1/10 PC's Windows Defender. [1] Vaccinate the PC from being infected. For example, you should disconnect the PC from the internet before you scan the drive. This should help avoiding being infected. [2] Take a scan on the USB drive. Make sure you have up-to-date antivirus definitions. To take a scan, perform a custom scan with only your USB Drive selected. [3] If WD spots a risk, perform recommended actions from Windows Defender, then format the drive immediately.

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Question

My pen drive is making my system slow and it isn't formatting. How can I repair it?

Community Answer

There may be a virus on your computer. Scan your computer using a antivirus. If you are using Windows defender and it says no threats found, then try an offline Windows defender scan.

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Question

What do I do if my flash keeps deleting every file I add to it?

Community Answer

Try formatting the flash drive. If it still keeps deleting every file you add to it, then your flash drive may be hacked.

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