Fixing a USB flash drive

[Mike S.]

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.

 

[Carl McNair]

I have repaired a couple of errant thumb drives by re-partitioning
and re-formatting with SWISSKNIFE

 

[JFG]

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

 

[Mike S.]

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!

 

[Mike S.]

I have repaired a couple of errant thumb drives by re-partitioning
and re-formatting with SWISSKNIFE

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.

 

[Andy Axnot]

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

 

[Curious George]

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 are:

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")

 

[Mike S.]

3 faster ways are:

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")

Yes, but it my case, Windows reported that the format failed, even with a
quick format. From a DOS window: the vaunted "track 0 or media bad -
format failed". It's going back.

 

[David]

Yes, but it my case, Windows reported that the format failed, even with a
quick format. From a DOS window: the vaunted "track 0 or media bad -
format failed". It's going back.

If you are checking for bad sectors why would you try a quick format?
All that does is rewrite the file system data files.

 

[Mike S.]

If you are checking for bad sectors why would you try a quick format?
All that does is rewrite the file system data files.

Because the long format failed, and I was trying to do _anything_ that
would produce a file system that would allow the use of other diagnostics.

 

[Curious George]

Yes, but it my case, Windows reported that the format failed, even with a

So? This is just information for future reference. Like It says
"faster ways" than what was already mentioned

quick format. From a DOS window: the vaunted "track 0 or media bad -
format failed". It's going back.

If you're having problems a "quick format" is far from definitive
repair. In both places you can quick or regular format. in the disk
manager you can also reparition. But I'm just offering relevant
information. If you look closely there is no attempt to stop your
previously mentioned RMA.

 

[Mike S.]

Received a bare replacement drive from Lexar in a plain envelope.
Tried filling it with files; it works.