USB flash drive errors: what are they and how to fix them?

In general, it is very common for people to encounter USB flash drive errors. This is because it is one of the most widely used portable storage devices and ends up passing through different machines, increasing the risks of virus contamination, data corruption and loss.

Although there are various problems that can cause USB flash drive errors, most of the time they are not difficult to solve. With a few simple steps, you can correct errors and recover lost files.

Want to know how to get your USB flash drive back? Discover the main errors and the solutions for each one!

What are the types of USB flash drive errors?

There are several USB flash drive errors that can appear when you don’t expect them. That’s why it’s best to keep an eye out for the signs in order to resolve them correctly and avoid serious problems.

The good news is that most of them can be easily resolved and you probably won’t lose your device because of a simple fault.

So, if your USB stick has a problem, but you don’t know what it is or how to fix it, check out the 4 main types of USB stick errors and the best solutions below!

Corrupted pen drive

You may be wondering how to tell if your USB flash drive is corrupted, but the answer is simpler than it sounds.

Although it doesn’t display a message on the screen warning you of the corruption, the device does emit some signals. Some examples are: devices don’t recognize the USB flash drive, it can’t open files or programs crash when it’s in use.

There are two simple ways to solve the problem. One is to check for errors:

1. Plug the USB flash drive into the computer;
2. Select the drive with the right mouse button;
3. Click on “Properties” and then on the “Tools” tab;
4. Press “Check” in the “Error checking” section and wait for Windows to scan for any problems it finds.

Or by using the Check Disk command:

1. With the USB flash drive in the computer, search for Command Prompt in the Windows search bar and run it as an administrator;
2. Type the command chkdsk /r/f (the drive letter of the USB stick without the brackets): and click the Enter key;
3. Wait for the scan to complete and, at the end, the errors will be displayed and corrected.

Pen drive does not format in NTFS

There are different file systems on a USB flash drive (such as NTFS, exFAT and FAT32). However, many people have their own preferred system.

If you want to format your device to the NTFS system and you can’t, you can try using the Command Prompt:

1. With the USB flash drive in your computer, look for Command Prompt in the Windows search bar and run it as an administrator;
2. Type the command convert (the drive letter of the pen drive without the brackets): /fs:NTFS and click the Enter key;
3. Wait for the process to finish.

If you can’t complete the formatting this way, it’s best to seek the help of a professional to avoid irreversible damage.

USB flash drive: file system not recognized

In some USB flash drive errors, the user may come across the following message: “The volume does not contain a recognized file system”.

In this case, the resolution may be simple, but there are some important steps that must be followed. Stay tuned:

1. Access the Command Prompt from the Windows search bar and run as administrator;
2. Type the command sfc /scannow and press the Enter key;
3. When the process is complete, restart the computer.

If that does not work, you can use two more commands in the Prompt:

• exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth (and then the sfc /scannow command).
• exe /Online /Cleanup-image /RestoreHealth /Source:C:RepairSourceWindows /LimitAccess (and then the command sfc /scannow).

USB flash drive not recognized

Having a USB falsh drive that isn’t recognized in any device is a clear sign that it’s in trouble. However, there is no single cause for this. The reasons can be as varied as: errors in the drive, problems with the operating system, incorrect formatting, improper removal and others.

One way to find errors and fix them is as follows:

1. Plug the USB flash drive into the computer and select the drive with the right mouse button;
2. Click on “Properties” and then on the “Tools” tab;
3. Press “Check” in the “Error checking” section and wait for Windows to scan for possible errors.

What to do when USB flash drive doesn’t open?

If you have plugged your USB flash drive into your computer and it won’t open, format or display an error message, there may be something wrong with the connection between the machine and the device.

To solve this, you can use the following step-by-step instructions:

1. Press Windows + X;
2. Click on “Disk Manager”;
3. Then right-click on the tab for your USB flash drive and click on “Change drive letter and path”;
4. Finally, just click on “change” and select a new letter.

Conclusion

As we have shown above, there are several USB flash drive errors that could be preventing your device from working. So the list of possible solutions is long and you can try each one before you worry.

It’s also important to note that although some solutions result in the loss of files, you can still recover your data quite simply. There are companies that can recover all documents properly and professionally. Bot Data Recovery is one of them!

So before you make any rash decisions that could permanently affect your files, get in touch with us and start recovering data from your USB flash drive safely right now!