USB flash drive not responding

[tinpanalley]

I've got a Corsair Voyager that stopped being recognised by any of my computers today. There's nothing crucial on there but I'd still like to be able to use it. The light just keep flashing but Windows won't recognise it and neither will the Disk Manager. Isn't there any way that I can completely wipe and format it again?

 

[Blain]

Try it in a Linux machine.

 

[tinpanalley]

Ok, well sadly that's not something I have access to. 🙂
Anything else?

 

[Blain]

Ok, well sadly that's not something I have access to. 🙂
Anything else?

Yes, Linux LiveCD

 

[C1]

I personally consider thumb type drives as unsafe storage as Ive had many so far go bad.

Even if you could get the drive to work again, I wouldnt trust it. It's best to replace it. As such, it could be a bad memory byte on the chip or even a broken solder joint.

A possibility is to take the case off and inspect the PCB leads (to the chip and to the USB connector). People on this forum have reported of being able to repair some units by re-soldering cracked connection joints/points. (Before that, try flexing the drive slightly after it is inserted/connected in the outside chance that any broken connection is temporarily mechanically overridden.)

 

[corkyg]

Another common cause for failure is withdrawing the device while it is still being written to by system housekeeping. That can render it unrecoverable.

 

[aigomorla]

theres not much you can do if windows isnt picking it up... and its not in device manager.

Does windows even acknowledge a USB device was installed?
Im guessing a broken solder joint somewhere if windows doesnt even see the USB device plugged in.

 

[VirtualLarry]

vconsole.com 's usb flash drive tester. run the full test, it wipes the entire drive.