USB Help!!!

Welshchick28

Ive just plugged in my usb in my laptop and i got this message -
You need to format the disk in drive E: before you can use it
Anyone know what to do so i can axcess the things ive got on it?

Thanx

patman99

Have you got access to another PC to plug it into?. Just a thought, but it might be worth trying it in a second PC to see if you get the same message.

Welshchick28

No i dont have another pc to have a look

John_Gray

Is this an external hard disk or a flash drive?

Try powering off the PC then on again, and see if you get better results with the USB drive.

emptybox

And if you just click off the message, can you access the drive in Windows Explorer?

Sometimes it throws up these error messages if the drive hasn't been unmounted properly, the last time you used it. But you can often just use it regardless.

Welshchick28

Its a usb drive. Ive tried again this morning and the same thing is happening!!

TonyMMM

Use some free software such as PC File Inspector to recover the files of the stick, and then format it.

If it happens again, get a new one - they do fail quite often, and shouldn't be used for long term backup.

Welshchick28

Tried the usb in another laptop this afternoon and still the same! ive only used it once and only connected it to my laptop to have a look what i had on it! Will try the PC File Inspector.

Bollotom

What is on the usb stick and how did you put stuff on there in the first place?

Pinkypants

Have you tired it in a different USB port on the laptop?

If it does work, always make sure the drive is switched off or you right click on the icon by the clock to safely remove it, before you unplug it.

John_Gray

If nothing will read the flash drive, then you will need to go to your alternative backup mechanism...

Flash drives can and do go wrong, especially if they aren't unloaded properly with "Safely Remove Hardware".