ISO file into USB flash - now it doesn't work

[kashak]

I say hello to Anandtech people

I will be short, if you excuse me.
I ran into next trouble. Story starts that I wanted to help one of my friend and I need to drop him one ISO file which was 4GB approx. I just throw it on my 8GB USB flash. Now it doesn't work properly.

It is recognized in all four computers I tried it on, both Windows XP and Vista. None of computers though allow me to format it or add any files.

What I tried:

1) Google gave me hint to try some "low level format tool". I tried HP USB format tool. Didn't worked for me;

2) software DiskKiller. Its bootable from CD DOS-like soft that does scary formatting. It recognized my USB but wrote "Device not ready"

3) Device Manager>Disk Manager - can't format through there;

4) I have Ubuntu Linux but tried to find how make formatting through there. I couldn't find and don't know where and how to format my USB through Ubuntu

Any help and hints? Did this ISO file somehow screwed up my flash?

 

[tynen]

It sounds like the flashdrive is dead.

Maybe it's time for a new one?

http://www.newegg.com/Store/SubCateg...B-Flash-Drives

Edit:As for getting the ISO file to your friend, you're capable of burning a DATA dvd with the image burned to it.

 

[kashak]

Maybe I should had start with the DVD disc in first place. I was just too lazy to burn it. With flash its easier and quicker

This flash isn't so old. It's only year or so
But such probability it being dead I can't exclude, sure

 

[tynen]

If you feel like it you might be able to get ahold of the manufacture and have them send you another. I bought a 32GB flash drive from OCZ, it's died 5 times. I've had to send it back to them each time. But they still happily replace it.

They've finally given me a model that's lasted a while.

 

[thescreensavers]

Yea sounds like its dead it just happens out of the blue. Seems to happen alot to me too lol.

 

[kashak]

Good I didn't lost any important info. Still, sad this happens. Just some moment ago one other friend of mine gave a hint that dropping bootable ISO file could somehow change USB into sort of bootable disc automatically which in turn cause this damage. Is that so?

 

[tynen]

It doesn't matter what type of files you put onto the flash drive. As long as you're just copying them onto the drive and not messing with the partitions or anything like that.

 

[corkyg]

Flash drives just die on occasion. No real reason or circumstance. I think that the ISO event was coincidental. Could it have been pullked out of the USB port before it was finished writing the ISO file? Any exposure to static electricity?

 

[kashak]

No, i wasn't messing with any sort of partition on flash. It was used as it was, in one piece.

About puling it out while writing on it - no, I also do not practice that kind of thing.
So, it's better for me to count it as dead?

 

[TJCS]

Which OS is your iso? You can download official Windows 7 iso here.

 

[kashak]

ISO file was Windows Vista Ultimate 32-64bit I made from disc myself using software called ImgBurn

 

[sweetdani]

I also have the same issue with my flash. I just recover data and my flash dead. But thanks God I recover my Data

 

[nvfriendly]

I tried to copy a 1.4 GB ISO file onto my 16 GB almost empty drive just the other day and received a message that there was not enough space on it. The drive was able to accept any other format of the file at the same time. I had to format the drive and this did "repair" the problem.
It appears, that there is some kind of bug of ISO affecting flash drives!