Dead Flash Disk

T

TheLoot

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I got a Kingston 8GB DataTraveler a few weeks back, worked great at first but today when I plugged it in I got the message: "The drive is not formatted. Do you want to format it now?"

I had nothing critical on there (everything on there was also on my main PC) so I clicked Yes. I left it as full (as opposed to quick) format and let it do its thing. The progress bar increased until close to the end and then said something like the disk cannot be formatted because it is write-protected. I checked the physical device and there is no switch or anything for write-protection. Then I tried a quick format, no luck.

I then tried the "HP USB Disk Storage Format Tool", which has worked for me in the past on a Sahara disk I was having similar issues with, and this too would not complete (both full and quick).

My computer is currently still picking up the disk but when I click on it now it says "Please insert a disk into drive F:". The HP tool picks the device up as having 0MB.

A screen shot of Disk Management is here.

I've tried DISKPART but this drive doesn't even list.
I've tried the "Kingston Boot Utility" but this doesn't detect it.
I've tried "HDD Low level format tool", this doesn't pick it up.
I've tried "HP Drive Key Boot Utility" and this shows F: and seems to complete the process but afterwards nothing on the disk has changed and it is still saying "Please insert a disk into drive F:".
I've tried TestDisk, doesn't pick it up
I've tried PTEDIT32.exe, the flash does not appear in the list of drives
I've even tried uninstalling the flash disk from the PC, rebooting and then re-installing to no avail.
I've tried the flash disk on a different PC with the same outcome. Both PCs used are running Windows.

I have been Googling for the past 3 hours straight and all the above listed things came up, now I don't know what else to do.

I know the disk has a 5 year warranty, and I will make use of it as a last resort but I would preferably like to get it working again.

Seems like hardware trouble though.

Any advice, knowledge, help, tips?!
 
TheLoot said:
I know the disk has a 5 year warranty, and I will make use of it as a last resort but I would preferably like to get it working again.
Click to expand...
Why? Maybe its just me but I dont give failing disks of any kind second chances.
 
UPDATE: Diskpart didn't pick it up as a disk BUT I now found that it does pick it up as a VOLUME, I've got the MS page on DISKPART and will see if that helps, will report back...

"list disk" gives only the HDD, list volume gives the flash.

I've tried "add disk=1" but get told I can't do it with this version of Windows (XP Home)

Thanks bwana, ja I'm very close to getting it swapped. I basically just needed to use it this evening.
 
Last edited:
Dude just take it in to get a new one, you have obviously tried everything, and at least if the new one dies you have another 5 years of grantee
 
It could be a fake. There's a utility you can download to check. I've seen more than one fake this month alone.

Where did you buy it and what's the model no?
 
Sackboy said:
It could be a fake. There's a utility you can download to check. I've seen more than one fake this month alone.

Where did you buy it and what's the model no?
Click to expand...

I got it on BidOrBuy (but from a seller with a very good rating)

It says the following on the side:

DTI/8GB
CH013808 5v
05885-392.AOOLF CHINA
 
TheLoot said:
I got it on BidOrBuy (but from a seller with a very good rating)

It says the following on the side:

DTI/8GB
CH013808 5v
05885-392.AOOLF CHINA
Click to expand...

It could be a fake Kingston Flash drives as we beginning to see a lots of these coming into the country and causing a headache for us as we need to compete in pricing, Just because it says Kingston does not mean it is the real thing , Buying flash drives , memory, software from these auctions sites
Is a huge risk, rather look at Bona Fide computer resellers
Like Itai, PostmanPot quiktek , etc , in future
 
fxit_man, I've looked all over the device and the packaging it came in and could not find the UPC bar code, authentic code or license key so I guess it's safe to say it's a fake :(

EDIT: Thanks to everyone that contributed to this thread
 
TheLoot said:
fxit_man, I've looked all over the device and the packaging it came in and could not find the UPC bar code, authentic code or license key so I guess it's safe to say it's a fake :(

EDIT: Thanks to everyone that contributed to this thread
Click to expand...
A bad fake at that.;)
Hope you get your money back.
 
How much did you pay? couldn't you have got it cheaper at PC Zone?
 
TheLoot said:
I get: "Error accessing target" - I'll take it it's stuffed :sick:
Click to expand...

Yep - if H2testw can't access the stick or if the memory is down-chipped, then it's game over.
Try and get a refund from the seller, otherwise report to Morne at BoB through the Community Forum or file an SNC and escalate.
 
I contacted the seller and he is willing to refund me for the stick :)

Thanks for all the help guys :D
 
I think a bit more, But its not in their specials this week
 
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