File Recovery Tips: USB Flash Drives Showing 0 Byte

Being portable and inexpensive, USB flash drives are seemingly ubiquitous nowadays. Despite the popularity, many common errors regarding the use of USB flash drives remain mysterious and puzzling to users. USB flash drives showing 0 byte is one of them. 

When you plug a USB flash drive to computer’s USB port and try to open it in Windows Explorer, you sometimes receive a prompt saying You need to format it before you can use it. But when you are ready to proceed with Format Disk, you got another error message Windows was unable to complete the format. Check the USB flash drive’s properties and you will find 0 bytes in Used space, Free space, and Capacity. 

What are the possible causes of USB flash drives showing 0 byte?

1.Bad connection. Try different USB ports on the host computer to determine where the problem lies. It could be the bad USB ports on host computers or a defective USB flash drive head.  Sometimes when you apply pressure on the drive and it temporarily returns to normal, it could indicate loose solder joint connecting USB flash drive head and its circuit. 

2.Virus infections. USB flash drives are more likely to be exposed to virus because we prefer to use them as a tool to transfer data between computers and colleagues. Perform a thorough virus check to make sure your USB flash drive is not suffering from virus infection.

3.Inappropriate operation. One of the most common reasons for USB flash drive failure is removing from the computer incorrectly. Removing a USB flash drive when it is reading or writing data can lead to logical file system damage. The unsafe removal can also make USB flash drives unreadable or unrecognizable. Even if you have enabled the Quick Removal, it is not recommended to unplug a USB flash drive while it is reading or writing information.

4.USB hardware failure. If not maintained properly, the electronic parts inside USB flash drives can degregate rapidly. It is recommended to take good care of your USB drives in everyday use to avoid hardware failure. For example, Keep them in a dry and clean environment and avoid impact.

You can change defective USB flash drive head or resolder the loose joint to solve the connection problem. If it is logical errors like bad partitions or damaged file system, you can use some data recovery software like Hdata Recovery Software to retrieve your lost files.

Failed electronic parts may call for assistance from professional data recovery services, especially when it is the NAND memory chip that is causing the problem, which is the part where all the data are stored.