Need help - USB Flashdrive cant be formatted anymore

Archived from groups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware.storage (More info?)

web1000@shaw.ca wrote:
>
> Guys,
>
> I have s 256 MB Sharkoon flash USB stick ... it used to work well until
> one time I unplugged it from 98SE while it was still writing ... ever
> since it cant be accessed and also cant be formatted anymore... Tried
> with XP as well .. no luck...
>
> Is there anything that can be done to revive the thing? Or is that the
> end ?
>
> Matt


Hello, Matt:

Your "Sharkoon" is toast, sorry to say. In the future, never unplug any
device, while it's busy.

Good luck!


Cordially,
John Turco <jtur@concentric.net>

Archived from groups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware.storage (More info?)

agh  

but how can it be totally destroyed ?

Matt

Archived from groups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware.storage (More info?)

web1000@shaw.ca wrote:
>
> agh  
>
> but how can it be totally destroyed ?
>
> Matt


Hello, Matt:

It's been rendered useless, because it's a sensitive, "solid state"
device -- and hence, rather susceptible to electrical damage. Such
dangers aren't limited to this type of hardware (i.e., solid state),
either.

Here's a simple rule of thumb: When in doubt, don't. Don't risk
ruining >any< component, that is, by plugging/unplugging it, unless
you're absolutely sure that it's safe to do so.

Lesson learned, my friend? :-P


Cordially,
John Turco <jtur@concentric.net>

Archived from groups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware.storage (More info?)

Bullshit, USB devices simply do NOT self-destruct when hot-plugged.

First, wipe the disk with mbrwiz - mbr.bigr.net, then format again.

"John Turco" <jtur@concentric.net> wrote in message news:43291055.A2C229F6@concentric.net...
> web1000@shaw.ca wrote:
> >
> > but how can it be totally destroyed ?
> >
> It's been rendered useless, because it's a sensitive, "solid state"
> device -- and hence, rather susceptible to electrical damage. Such
> dangers aren't limited to this type of hardware (i.e., solid state),
> either.
>
> Here's a simple rule of thumb: When in doubt, don't. Don't risk
> ruining >any< component, that is, by plugging/unplugging it, unless
> you're absolutely sure that it's safe to do so.
>

Archived from groups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware.storage (More info?)

this one was writing while something locked up and after 2h I had it
and unplugged it ..

Archived from groups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware.storage (More info?)

If the device failed while accessing it, you will see an error in event viewer.
If so, I expect it did die, but unplugging it was not the cause.

<web1000@shaw.ca> wrote in message news:1126813065.888182.50640@g47g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
> this one was writing while something locked up and after 2h I had it
> and unplugged it ..
>

Archived from groups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware.storage (More info?)

Eric Gisin wrote:
>
> Bullshit, USB devices simply do NOT self-destruct when hot-plugged.

If it's a Maxtor in a OneTouch case - I beg to differ.


Odie
--
Retrodata
www.retrodata.co.uk
Globally Local Data Recovery Experts

Archived from groups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware.storage (More info?)

Previously John Turco <jtur@concentric.net> wrote:
> web1000@shaw.ca wrote:
>>
>> Guys,
>>
>> I have s 256 MB Sharkoon flash USB stick ... it used to work well until
>> one time I unplugged it from 98SE while it was still writing ... ever
>> since it cant be accessed and also cant be formatted anymore... Tried
>> with XP as well .. no luck...
>>
>> Is there anything that can be done to revive the thing? Or is that the
>> end ?
>>
>> Matt


> Hello, Matt:

> Your "Sharkoon" is toast, sorry to say. In the future, never unplug any
> device, while it's busy.

Actually USB is designed for hot plug/unplug. Both electonically
and mechanically (the ground contacts make contact earlier on plugging
and stay connected longer on unplugging). Any electrical damage
resulting from hot (un-)plugging means the device is out of spec.

I guess this device is badly designed and you are right, however
stupid that is for an USB device.

Arno

Archived from groups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware.storage (More info?)

Previously Odie Ferrous <odie_ferrous@hotmail.com> wrote:
> Eric Gisin wrote:
>>
>> Bullshit, USB devices simply do NOT self-destruct when hot-plugged.
>
> If it's a Maxtor in a OneTouch case - I beg to differ.

I would add that a cleanly designed USB-spec compatible USB device
does not suffer permanent damage on hot plugging/unplugging at any
time and in any operational state. Data may be destroyed to some
degree, as obviously a write back from a buffer or the like cannot
finish without power, but that shoul be it.

However with the amount of bad engineering out there today I
am not surprised that some devices can be damaged or destroyed
in this manner.

Arno

Archived from groups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware.storage (More info?)

Previously web1000@shaw.ca wrote:
> this one was writing while something locked up and after 2h I had it
> and unplugged it ..

Interessting. So it may actually have died before and the unplugging
did not necessarily contribute.

Arno

Archived from groups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware.storage (More info?)

Arno Wagner wrote:
>
> Previously John Turco <jtur@concentric.net> wrote:
> > web1000@shaw.ca wrote:
> >>
> >> Guys,
> >>
> >> I have s 256 MB Sharkoon flash USB stick ... it used to work well until
> >> one time I unplugged it from 98SE while it was still writing ... ever
> >> since it cant be accessed and also cant be formatted anymore... Tried
> >> with XP as well .. no luck...
> >>
> >> Is there anything that can be done to revive the thing? Or is that the
> >> end ?
> >>
> >> Matt
>
> > Hello, Matt:
>
> > Your "Sharkoon" is toast, sorry to say. In the future, never unplug any
> > device, while it's busy.
>
> Actually USB is designed for hot plug/unplug. Both electonically
> and mechanically (the ground contacts make contact earlier on plugging
> and stay connected longer on unplugging). Any electrical damage
> resulting from hot (un-)plugging means the device is out of spec.
>
> I guess this device is badly designed and you are right, however
> stupid that is for an USB device.
>
> Arno


Hello, Arno:

You're correct, too, of course. I only use CompactFlash cards,
personally, and they're definitely >not< supposed to be removed from
their "readers," unless they're idle. Matt has a "key drive" (also
known by various other names), which connects directly to the USB port,
itself.

Nonetheless, I still consider my general advice (concerning caution) to
be valid, despite Eric Gisin's rude comments, in another reply. <g>


Cordially,
John Turco <jtur@concentric.net>

Archived from groups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware.storage (More info?)

web1000@shaw.ca wrote:

> this one was writing while something locked
> up and after 2h I had it and unplugged it ..

Bet it just died and the unplugging is completely irrelevant.