2

I have a SanDisk Ultra 64GB (SDDD3-064G-G46) flash drive, which I haven't used in a while. Today I plugged it into my computer (I use Ubuntu Linux 17.04, but dual boot into Windows 10) and found it unable to load the drive. It even crashed the disks application when I tried to inspect it further.

I then booted into Windows 10, but I was also unable to inspect it there. I followed this tutorial to identify the causes, but DISKPART wouldn't start. I know that the drive is the problem because removing it caused diskpart to immediately open.

This drive caused two OS's drive inspection programs to fail. I think the drive is just broken, but I would be very happy if you could help me fix it. Thanks so much!

Giacomo1968
  • 58,727
brndn2k
  • 43

1 Answers1

1

Did you try booting into WinPE (recovery mode), per the tutorial? Pretty easy, through Settings->Update&Security->Advanced_Startup, or boot from a DVD or (working) USB stick with a Windows image.

From recovery mode, you can open a command-prompt, under a limited set of OS features, which often works better for disk type issues, and use diskpart, similarly.

Another good way is to build a "super boot disk", there are a few out there, which allow you to boot from a DVD/USB stick into DOS, numerous flavors of WinPE, etc.

FreeDOS is probably the easiest, since it supports 2TB drives natively and through its FDISK version. If you go MS-DOS, you have to boot a Win95b/Win98 version or above, in order to have > 2GB support with FDISK.

Ultimately, your "gut feel" on the broken part is probably accurate, but this would help you feel a bit better about verification.
They're more fragile than some would think, I try to buy ones where there's some sort of "cap" to protect it from some static discharge anyway.

PeteG
  • 582