My USB drive unexpectedly died overnight. The night before, I was just renaming some pictures to reorganize them and jotting down notes. I didn't download anything or perform any risky commands, so I didn't think I could have caught a virus. Could a virus cause a delayed hardware failure, or was this just a sudden failure that I had no control over? I've heard that USB drives can just give out, so I want to learn if that's what really happened to avoid making the same mistakes in the future. I'm also considering getting an external hard drive, but I worry that I might run into the same issues if a virus is to blame. I've posted before about the differences in protection between USB drives and external hard drives, so now I'm just looking for clarity on this specific issue.
3 Answers
When it comes to storing important files, always go for external drives made for backups, not just USBs. Plus, consider cloud storage to add another layer of security for those precious memories! USBs are great for transferring data, but they're not reliable for long-term storage.
Totally get where you're coming from! USBs can indeed just die randomly; I've had a couple go belly-up on me out of nowhere. Sounds like you're on the right path thinking of an external hard drive for backups, though. Just remember: anything is possible, but it's rare for a virus to be the cause. Most likely, it was just the drive's time to go.
Appreciate the input! It’s good to know that I’m not the only one who’s had USB issues. Planning to invest in a reliable external hard drive soon!
It's unlikely that a virus caused your USB drive to fail. More often, these drives just wear out, especially if they’re cheap. It sounds like a case of bad luck on your end. I would suggest focusing on backups rather than worrying too much about viruses unless you actually notice weird behavior on your computer. You're doing the right thing by considering an external hard drive for backups!
Thanks for the reassurance! I get that USB drives can fail unexpectedly, and I'll definitely focus on my backup strategy.
That makes sense! I’ll look into cloud options as well for extra safety. Thanks for the tips!