USB Thumb Drive Issues?

[Sean Parsons]

I’m new to the group, but thought I’d chime in with my .02 cents worth. USB storage devices like you describe have a limited use per memory cell and often after those blocks have worn out start reporting error messages. I was using a corsair device for about a year when it suddenly develop similar issues. I ended up buying another…..

 

Most of my IT experience has been with that Seattle company’s stuff only a recent convert, but you might try accessing the device on another system perhaps even a different OS and see if you have the same issue.

 

Hope this helps.

 

Doorman352

 

From: plug-discuss-bounces at lists.plug.phoenix.az.us [mailto:plug-discuss-bounces at lists.plug.phoenix.az.us] On Behalf Of Lisa Kachold
Sent: Sunday, November 01, 2009 7:45 AM
To: unixprgrmr01 at gmail.com; Main PLUG discussion list
Subject: Re: USB Thumb Drive Issues?

 

 

On Thu, Oct 29, 2009 at 5:53 PM, unixprgrmr01 at gmail.com <unixprgrmr01 at gmail.com> wrote:

Mike,

Copying your files to your home directory MAY perpetuate the problem to other USB drives that you plug into that box, it depends on the nature of the problem.  If the problem is a virus there is good chance that it will.  If you want to do root cause analysis don't reformat your USB drive.  

Copying the files to your WINDOW$ home directory MAY perpetuate the problem to other USB drives.

Most often the causes of write protection to USB drives are NOT viri.
 


If you don't want to spend the time to do the analysis I suggest writing a little program to write binary 0's (NULL's) to the drive a few times to clean it up, then format it as you want.  However, note that just by plugging the drive in you may have infected the computer you plugged it into.

Well, I don't believe he can WRITE TO THE DRIVE? 


Again,
Good Luck
Lynn

On Thu, Oct 29, 2009 at 8:17 AM, Lisa Kachold <lisakachold at obnosis.com> wrote:

 

On Mon, Oct 19, 2009 at 3:16 PM, mike Enriquez <mylinux at cox.net> wrote:

I have a 4GB PNY thumb drive that has issues? It has become "Write
Protected". It is an Optima pro Attache. I searched the net and nothing
that I have found has helped me out.
Has any one in the group had this happen to them and how did you remove
the write protection.
I cannot see any special files on it except 2 of my own.
Any suggestions out there?
Thanks

Mike Enriquez



Hi Mike!

There are a load of Window$ type repair suggestions here (Since this is a known bug in Xp SP2):
http://www.techspot.com/vb/all/windows/t-18654-USB-Flash-Drive-Write-protection.html

Linux solutions are going to be basic drive management:

plug in usb flash drive and mount (if you don't have automouter)

dmesg to verify the device:

# dmesg 
# mkdir /mnt/usbwork
# mount /dev/sda1 /mnt/usbwork
(it might whine that you didn't specify the type if so:)
# mount -t vfat (or NFS) /dev/sda1 /mnt/usbwork
# cd /mnt/usbwork
Copy off your old files
# cp -r * $HOME  
# umount /mnt/usbhome
# fdisk /dev/sda

Remove all the partitions using  the "d" command.
create new partitions using the "n" command (you only really need one big one)
set the file type "W95 FAT32 (LBA)"  (or ext3 if making a bootable Linux distro) "t" (types will display)
if this is going to hold a distro set the bootable flag "a"
check your work:  "p"
save "w"

Lay on a file system (that matches your file type):



 



mkfs.vfat -I -n USBDRIVE /dev/sda1


Your drive should work now just fine!

Reference:  http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=346737
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AT&T: (503)754-4452 
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Best Regards,
Lynn P. Tilby
Ph: 480 632-8635
unixprgrmr01 at gmail.com


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