PC not reading flash drive

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slinga
slinga Posts: 1,485 Forumite
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in Techie Stuff
I think I removed my flash drive from my PC usb slot before I should have and now the PC isn't reading the flash drive.

What should I do?

Thanks.
It's your money. Except if it's the governments.
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  • grumpycrab
    grumpycrab Posts: 4,989 Forumite
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    Reboot PC, try again. Or try on a different device.
    If you put your general location in your Profile, somebody here may be able to come and help you.
  • slinga
    slinga Posts: 1,485 Forumite
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    grumpycrab wrote: »
    Reboot PC, try again. Or try on a different device.
    Thanks but it's still not shown under Devices and drivers even after a reboot.

    I want to use it with this PC as I want to download stuff from this PC onto the flash drive.
    It's your money. Except if it's the governments.
  • were
    were Posts: 632 Forumite
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    slinga wrote: »
    Thanks but it's still not shown under Devices and drivers even after a reboot.

    I want to use it with this PC as I want to download stuff from this PC onto the flash drive.
    Need to divide the problem into segments, and eliminate the non problematic areas. As others have said to try it in another PC. If it does not work on another PC we know it is the stick. If the stick does work on another PC we know it is the PC or windows.
  • slinga
    slinga Posts: 1,485 Forumite
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    Well it's not recognized by my laptop although I do get the four notes 'generated by windows?' when I plug the USB in, and the similar but different four notes when I remove the USB..

    But I can't open the USB to view the files inside.

    The USB was working when I last used it a few weeks ago.
    It's your money. Except if it's the governments.
  • WAYT
    WAYT Posts: 694 Forumite
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    Is it showing in the Disk Management console?

    diskmgmt.msc in the Windows Search area
  • were
    were Posts: 632 Forumite
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    I believe you it worked 3 weeks ago, but lets talk about now. A choice of three main areas (1) the stick (2) windows (3) PC hardware. Easiest test is to put that stick in another PC/laptop.
  • debitcardmayhem
    debitcardmayhem Posts: 11,858 Forumite
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    If you get to the stage of trying to recover anything on it then I could recommend TestDisk/Photorec http://www.cgsecurity.org/wiki/TestDisk
    🍺 😎 Still grumpy, and No, Cloudflare I am NOT a robot 🤖BUT my responses are now out of my control they are posted via ChatGPT or the latest AI
  • Robisere
    Robisere Posts: 3,237 Forumite
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    Hindsight I know, but the easiest way to remove a USB stick, or indeed any similar device (e.g. an SD card) is right click on the device, click "Eject" and, when you get the message that it is safe to be ejected, remove it.

    Do you have an anti virus programme? When you inserted the stick, did your AV scan it automatically?

    Please follow the steps given by were.
    I think this job really needs
    a much bigger hammer.
  • slinga
    slinga Posts: 1,485 Forumite
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    WAYT wrote: »
    Is it showing in the Disk Management console?

    diskmgmt.msc in the Windows Search area
    No.

    I believe the problem is with the flash drive itself.

    Anything I can do to sort it.

    'Test Disc' looks a bit complicated for me.
    It's your money. Except if it's the governments.
  • slinga
    slinga Posts: 1,485 Forumite
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    So here's a funny thing.
    The Flash Drive doesn't show up in Device Manager or the Disc Management console screen as suggested above.
    I can't find out how to open it to view the files inside.

    But if I run a scan on Malwarebytes after a few minutes the Flash drive appears in Device Manager and Disc Management console and I can read the files inside even play them.

    I get the 'device is working properly' wherever I can check it.

    But then if I eject the USB flash disc using the correct procedure and then take the drive out then plug it back in it does not appear in device manager or disc management console unless/until I run Malwarebytes again.

    BTW no malware shown after running Malwaebytes.
    It's your money. Except if it's the governments.
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