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Errors on 16gb USB Thumb Drive -- warning about fake USB drives

V

vcarpio2

Senior member
I bought a new 16gb USB thumb drive so I can copy my collection of photos (JPG files) with me all the time.

When I started copying the files -- about 2.5 gb -- they copy successfully.

However, when I view some of them, Paintshop Pro says they are "invalid jpg files" and Windows says "preview not available" when I double click on the invalid jpg files.

When I run chkdsk it shows a lot of cross-linked files.

I tried reformatting twice and recopying but same result.

Sometimes, when I keep copying a corrupted file over and over again, it finally comes up OK.

I'm thinking maybe the thumbdrive's file allocation table is getting corrupt after a large number of files. So I'm thinking of creating partitions.

I downloaded bootit.exe to set the "removable" flag on the drive but Windows still sees it as "removable" and so I can't create partitions.

Any help appreciated. Thanks a lot!
 
Weird -- I tried copying one directory at a time each time running chkdsk afterwards until chkdsk reported errors.

At the one hundredth file, chkdsk reported errors.

So I deleted the folder with the one hundredth file.

I manually created a temp folder and ran chkdsk -- no errors.

I copied a file in the temp folder and ran chkdsk -- errors!

I deleted the file in the temp folder and ran chkdsk -- still errors.

I deleted the folder -- no more errors.

I then created a file off the root (the 100th file) and ran chkdsk -- no errors.

I created another file off the root (the 101st file) and ran chkdsk -- no errors.

I think a limit is being reached in the USB drive's FAT.

How do I format specifying a larger FAT?

Thanks a lot!

 
788 files were "successfully" copied into 84 directories before chkdsk reported an error while copying the 85th directory.

However, the 84th directory (second to the last directory) already contains corrupt files. Windows couldn't preview many of the JPEG files in there.

I'm completely lost. It looks like other thumbdrive owners are experiencing similar problems too based on my googling.

I'll try my gaotd Paragon Partition software when I get home tonight to partition the USB drive...
 
I was able to create 2 x 8 gb partitions using Paragon 9.5 (thanks to GAOTD) but Paragon gets errors formatting the second partition. Still, when I copy files to the first partition, I get crosslink files after the 84th directory.

So I wrote a small VB.Net app that copies files individually and then compares them and re-copies if different. It keeps re-copying until the 2 files are the same. I call my program pcopy for persistent-copy. That worked. I now have all my .JPG files in the first partition.

Weird. I don't know why simple drag and drop copy or .BAT file copy causes crosslink errors on the 16gb thumb drive.

 
Originally posted by: VirtualLarry
what brand is this drive?
Click to expand...

It has no brand -- it's a small silver case with a black plastic cap. It has a sticker that says 16gb. I bought it on eBay.

Yesterday I downloaded a utility, "Flash Drive Tester", and it reported a never ending stream of errors that I had to kill it.

I contacted the eBay seller (based in FL) and seems willing to replace it.
 
Heck, I wouldn't trust fleabay or craiglist for anything electronic unless there is a good return policy, and comes with the full warranty.
Just too many crooks outs there trying to make a fast buck.

 
I think the drive is fake. Apparently, there are fake USB drives being sold on eBay.
Click to expand...

It's been going on for a long time.

I haven't looked lately but there was a thumb drive buying guide warning of fakes.
 
I haven't looked lately but there was a thumb drive buying guide warning of fakes.
Click to expand...

This maybe the one you're referring to:

http://reviews.ebay.com/HOW-TO...ugidZ10000000003664934

I actually saw the same (or looks the same) 16gb drive USB drive being sold on eBay from China but decided to buy from one based in FL.

As far as I can tell, the merchant is not aware of the fakes. Another eBay customer I e-mailed thinks the same. The merchant has been very responsive to us and, like in my case, the other customer also had a replacement which turned out to also be a fake.

The merchant already refunded my payment in full. He said not to return the USB drive anymore. But I will return it because it has at least 2GB usable space and maybe he can partition and sell it as 2GB to recover some of his losses.

As far as eBay and foreign merchants, I've bought quite a few stuff from jinbostore in HK -- $3 bluetooth dongle, $3 wi-fi antenna, $5 internal flash drive, etc. -- all free shipping and all arrived good and working. Once I ordered a remote shutter release for my DSLR from China ($5 f/s) and it never arrived. The Chinese merchant, however, refunded my payment.

So I guess buying from eBay foreign merchants is still good so long as you buy stuff with pocket change only and expect that one or two will be "lost in the mail" with no way of getting a refund. If you get a refund then great.

Based on my experience, I will stay away from China merchants and stick with Hong Kong merchants because I think HK postal service is better.
 
I actually saw the same (or looks the same) 16gb drive USB drive being sold on eBay from China but decided to buy from one based in FL.
Click to expand...

Where do you think the guy in Florida got his? :laugh:

Ebay can be a good place to buy but when it comes to thumb drives I have much more faith in a brand name from a reliable vendor.

Just depends on your priorities and tolerence about quality.

 
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