Another SanDisk 32G Pen drive fails

[Dusty]

Any PC I plug it into pops up a message saying the driver is now
installed BUT it does not show anything in Windows Explorer.
This happens on a Win XP Pro laptop, a Lenovo laptop and a Win 7 Pro
desktop.

The light on the pen drive blinks one long blink then a short one or two
blinks.

Any chance of recovery ?

Any app to explore it ?

It is all backed up but it will take over night to fill a new pen drive
so getting this one going would be better.

What brand is the most reliable pen drive ?
Need 32 G.

[Mike Coon]

In article <oqbamr$dlt$1...@adenine.netfront.net>,
Du...@DustyDustyDusty.COM says...

>
> Any PC I plug it into pops up a message saying the driver is now
> installed BUT it does not show anything in Windows Explorer.
> This happens on a Win XP Pro laptop, a Lenovo laptop and a Win 7 Pro
> desktop.
>
> The light on the pen drive blinks one long blink then a short one or two
> blinks.
>
> Any chance of recovery ?

Dunno about blinking or particular OSs. But suggest finding Disk or
Device Management instead of looking in Explorer and perhaps doing a
Format (if that option is offered). In XP, try Control Panel/Admin
Tools/Computer Mgt/Disk Mgt.

HTH, Mike.

[Look165]

Dusty a écrit :

[Jonathan N. Little]

Usually no. When flash drives usually fail suddenly, without warning,
and catastrophically.

One thought, are you sure that you do not have a counterfeit drive. A
lot are out there especially large capacity ones.

<https://www.raymond.cc/blog/test-and-detect-fake-or-counterfeit-usb-flash-drives-bought-from-ebay-with-h2testw/>

Also look at this one, there a tons of examples online.
<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HaHokQ5EWv0>
Some other vids will run the previous link utils to expose the deception
without disassembling it.

--
Take care,

Jonathan
-------------------
LITTLE WORKS STUDIO
http://www.LittleWorksStudio.com

[John-Del]

I have fixed several for good customers by simply repairing or reflowing the solder on the USB to PC connection. You've got nothing to lose; crack it open and look the board over under a good strong loupe.

[Jeff Liebermann]

On Mon, 25 Sep 2017 09:25:57 -0700, Dusty <Du...@DustyDustyDusty.COM>
wrote:

>Any PC I plug it into pops up a message saying the driver is now
>installed BUT it does not show anything in Windows Explorer.

You may have the same drive letter assigned to two different storage
devices. Go to:
Control Panel -> Admin Tools
-> Computer Management -> Disk Management
You should see you Sandisk drive but either no drive letter or
duplicating the drive letter of another drive. Right Click and
select "change drive letter and paths".

You may also have a broken USB connector. Many if not all USB flash
drive PCB's are not very well mechanically secured to the connector
shell. Bend the flash drive and you have a broken solder connection.
Usually, all that's needed is to resolder the connection and deal with
any broken traces. I sometimes slop on some epoxy if I want the fix
to last.

>What brand is the most reliable pen drive ?
>Need 32 G.

SanDisk seems to be the best for me.
<https://www.newegg.com/SanDisk-USB-Flash-Drives/BrandSubCat/ID-1404-522>
They make a few losers, but in general, they're the best I can buy.
I've had the SanDisk Cruzer Fit drive get a bit too hot for comfort.

I also have a small pile of about eight Lexar 32GB USB 3.0 (all
plastic) flash drives that crapped out one at a time. Junk.

If you're seriously worried about reliability, I suggest you check the
various review and rating sites.
<https://www.google.com/search?q=usb+flash+drive+reviews+2017>
This one looks useful:
<http://usb.userbenchmark.com>


--
Jeff Liebermann je...@cruzio.com
150 Felker St #D http://www.LearnByDestroying.com
Santa Cruz CA 95060 http://802.11junk.com
Skype: JeffLiebermann AE6KS 831-336-2558

[Bob_S]

"Dusty" wrote in message news:oqbamr$dlt$1...@adenine.netfront.net...

Dusty,

Give this free tool a try - "MiniTool Partition Wizard Free Edition"

http://www.minitool.com/partition-manager/partition-wizard-home.html

It has fixed numerous problems on flash drives that don't show in Windows
Explorer or Disk Manager. And if it says it's dead, it probably is.

Bob S.

[Dusty]

Nothing on reliability !
As usual reviewers do not know how to review.
What is most important to you ?

Their second top rated is the one that died.

Other parameter metrics are of little interest.

Buying a Sony 32G as the one I already have has been the best.

Why ? The Sony has worked at every USB port I have tried it on.
The Sandisk only works on some USB ports.
Why ? because the Sony connector is a better quality connector and can
make up for the deficiencies of the USB PC connector.
I have several SanDisk pen drives and with some I have to wiggle the pen
drive for it to make a connection. Not so with the Sony.
The SanDisk skimps on it connector length and area trying to save a
penny and putting their fingers in my purse. Poor quality connector !

The Sony has more reliability and quality. So I pay a few bucks more
but it is well worth it.

[Dusty]

Not sure what to do with this SanDisk 32G.

I used the "MiniTool Partition Wizard Free Edition"

It saw an empty drive in the tool. (nothing showed in windows explorer)

I did a full surface check and got NO errors.

I tried to recover and got an empty drive.

I reformatted as NTFS.

It now shows up in windows explorer as an empty 32G drive.

How did all the file table vanish ?

Is this pen drive now usable or should I just trash it ?

[Lucifer Morningstar]

Bob,
try https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Usenet_quoting

[Lucifer Morningstar]

On Tue, 26 Sep 2017 21:00:54 -0700, Dusty <Du...@DustyDustyDusty.COM>
wrote:

>Not sure what to do with this SanDisk 32G.
>
>I used the "MiniTool Partition Wizard Free Edition"
>
>It saw an empty drive in the tool. (nothing showed in windows explorer)
>
>I did a full surface check and got NO errors.
>
>I tried to recover and got an empty drive.
>
>I reformatted as NTFS.
>
>It now shows up in windows explorer as an empty 32G drive.
>
>How did all the file table vanish ?
>
>Is this pen drive now usable or should I just trash it ?

I suggest you try https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Usenet_quoting

[Wolf K]

On 2017-09-27 00:00, Dusty wrote:
> Not sure what to do with this SanDisk 32G.
>
> I used the "MiniTool Partition Wizard Free Edition"
>
> It saw an empty drive in the tool.  (nothing showed in windows explorer)
>
> I did a full surface check and got NO errors.
>
> I tried to recover and got an empty drive.
>
> I reformatted as NTFS.
>
> It now shows up in windows explorer as an empty 32G drive.
>
> How did all the file table vanish ?

It didn't. There's nothing in the file table, is all.

> Is this pen drive now usable or should I just trash it ?

Just copy a few files to it and see what happens....

--
Wolf K
kirkwood40.blogspot.com
"Wanted. Schrödinger’s Cat. Dead and Alive."