Help! My USB Drive Won't Be Detected and Is Write Protected
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CuriousCat967
Hey everyone, I just dug up this old 8GB USB drive, and when I plugged it into my PC, it didn't work properly. It keeps asking me to format it, and I'm not sure what to do. Any advice would be really appreciated! Here are the partitions I found: [link].
Answers
Sounds like the drive might have a bad driver. Have you tried updating or reinstalling the drivers for your USB ports?
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It sounds like your USB might be dead. If it's letting you format it, you could potentially use it again, but if that's not working out, then it’s probably had its last days. Rest in peace, little USB!
CuriousCat967: I tried formatting it with various commands and software, but nothing's working.
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If you have access to a Linux distro, booting into that might help. Linux sometimes manages to recognize flash drives that Windows doesn't, especially if the drive is in RAW format.
CuriousCat967: I wish! Unfortunately, that was my only USB so I can't risk losing data by dual-booting.
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Most likely, it has died due to bit-rot. USB drives usually have a lifespan of about 5-7 years, so it might be time to invest in a new one. Sorry to hear that!
CuriousCat967: Thanks for the info!
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CuriousCat967: Does that mean I should just toss it out if that doesn’t work?