USB flash drives showing 0 byte
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.
This could mean your USB flash drive is suffering from some defective parts or virus infection. First, run a virus scan to rule out the possibility of infection, then try different USB ports to be sure. 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.
USB Flash Drives Files become shortcut icons
USB flash drives are usually prone to virus infections because people tend to use them to transfer files between different computers. Shortcut virus is one of the common viruses that has been bugging us for years. When it happens, all your data on the device will be changed into shortcuts and become inaccessible. However, if you check the property you'll find that the used space is as same as the original file, which means the shortcut virus just hide your files somewhere and does not permanently delete them.
You can use Command Prompt to fix this problem. Connect your USB flash drive to your computer. Scan USB drive with anti-virus program for any threats. If no threat detected, run Command prompt (CMD) as Administrator by pressing Windows key + R and type in CMD. Type the following command in Command prompt and press ENTER:
attrib -h -r -s /s /d drive_letter:\*.*
Replace the drive_letter with your USB flash drive's drive letter. Now all Shortcut files should be fixed and working as normal files. After you have copied all data from USB flash drive to your computer, format the USB flash drive just to be sure.
Access Is Denied
If you receive the "Location is not available - Access Denied" error while double-clicking the USB flash drive, it could mean you don't have permission to access the files or the partition is corrupted.
To change permission, right-click on the volume and select Properties. Switch to Security tab, under Group or user names, highlight your user account name. Click Edit. Tick Full control, Modify and other options with a check mark under Allow, then Apply. Click OK to leave. Recheck the status of issue to see if you can access the files now.
To fix partition, click Start, select Run and enter "chkdsk x:/F" (x being the volume letter). Or you can enter "chkdsk x:/F" directly into the search bar. Tab Enter to start the disk check process. This command requires your disk to be locked. If it failed to lock the disk, system will ask you if you want to run the disk check next time you start the computer. The check interface will automatically close when the checking is done. Then, try to access your folder or drive to see if the problem has been solved.
Bottom Line
Just like other forms of storage mediums, USB flash drives are not immune to failure and degradation. Basic cares can prolong its life span, and it should be protected to avoid any potential risks of data loss.
USB flash drives contain several electronic parts in their cases. These include a tiny circuit board and a piece of NAND memory unit. Just like any other electronic parts, being exposed to moisture, excessive heat or cold can shorten their working life and cause malfunctioning. If the device comes with a removable cap, keep it on until you need to use it. The metal wires in the connector might oxidize if being exposed to air for too long.
Most USB flash drive data loss problem can be solved using data recovery software even after you formatted the USB flash drive just to get rid of the problem. H Data recovery software is one of the most trustworthy software out there that is cable of restore data from faulty USB flash drives as well as SD cards and other flash memory media.
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