Flash drive problem

[Stickfigure]

So I let my friend borrow my flash drive for the weekend. Gave it to him and evrything was working fine. Got it back today and now when I plug it in it says I need to format the flash drive before I can use it. Quite bummed about this but np, nothing valuable on it.

However when I try to format it, I get a "Windows was unable to complete the format" error. Wtf has my friend done to my flash drive? Did he take a swim with it in his pocket or something like that? Like I said it was working perfectly before I gave it to him and now it appears to be stuffed :/

 

[Happy Camper]

Could be malware/spyware or something? If you know anyone with a Linux box then partition editor should be able to format it for you again as a fat32 or ntfs partition.

 

[chickenbeef]

So I let my friend borrow my flash drive for the weekend. Gave it to him and evrything was working fine. Got it back today and now when I plug it in it says I need to format the flash drive before I can use it. Quite bummed about this but np, nothing valuable on it.

This happened to me before, except i got my flash drive back in 2 pieces. (don't lend anyone your flash drive!)

Try booting into safe mode and formatting the flash drive

 

[Park@82]

which make is the flash drive? I needed to make a usb drive bootable for someone the other day and it got the same error.

 

[kaisterkai]

Yes.. that happened to me before too.. It could be that the person didn't remove the USB properly.. and then the setting is still set onto his computer..

Try formatting it somewhere else.. like on another computer.. if it still doesn't work.. the flash driver normally comes with a disc.. and on there there is a formatting program that formats the flash drive.. just use that..

 

[Park@82]

If it is Transcend have a look at: http://www.transcendusa.com/Products/online_recovery_2.asp?dw=2

 

[Stickfigure]

This is the flash - http://emea.apacer.com/en/products/Handy_Steno_AH225_features.htm

I was active and did some googling. Came across this http://files.extremeoverclocking.com/file.php?f=197 which formatted the drive np.

Guess that's the last time I lend my flash to that dude :/

 

[wizdumb]

Yes.. that happened to me before too.. It could be that the person didn't remove the USB properly.. and then the setting is still set onto his computer..

i've had a similar problem with my ext hdd when my gf used it, and it turns out it wasn't removed properly...she used vista, so maybe that is the issue

 

[howardb]

Incorrect removal of a device can cause this, particularly when using a memory stick across different OS platforms (and people) - just one of those things... I always use the "Safely Remove Hardware" on all external sticks and HDD's, just to be on the safe side. All PC's are formatted and setup differently, with some being set for quick removal and others for performance. If set to performance, and the stick is removed without using the "Safely Remove Hardware" ejection method, you'll probably run into corruption issues at some stage.

The problem is getting your family and friends who use these devices to do the same - that's why I never lend mine to anyone...