I'm technology retarded and apparently suck at using google. I have a flash drive, obviously, and my laptop is no longer reading it. It is not being read at all, even registered as "incompatible" or something or that the computer does not have drivers or whatnot.

I often to not eject the drive in a safe manner (because I use it on thin clients at my school and I don't know how). Did this result in lasting damage that makes it so my flash drive is no longer functional?

edit: Do I need a new drive?

I'm sincerely sorry for wasting TL's time. I'm just not sure what happened.

jtbem

Canada1404 Posts

February 27 2010 04:33 GMT

try it on another computer, if it doesn't work then its dead

Sight

United States148 Posts

February 27 2010 04:41 GMT

Could it have been because I don't eject properly?

GreEny K

Germany7312 Posts

February 27 2010 04:43 GMT

It might be dead because you dropped it or something like that, otherwise if it doesnt open but you see it as a drive then you need to format it by right clicking it and clicking on format. If it is dead then just get a new one, bout 4 gigs will handle anything you need.

GreEny K

Germany7312 Posts

February 27 2010 04:44 GMT

Oh and another thing, they only get corrupted if you yank them out while there is a data transfer happening, if you listen and it is not making any noise and the light is not flashing then it is ok otherwise dont just rip it out.

Spazer

Canada8033 Posts

February 27 2010 04:45 GMT

As long as you haven't messed around with any settings, failing to eject the drive shouldn't cause any damage (assuming you're not reading/writing from the drive as you're taking it out).

selboN

United States2523 Posts

February 27 2010 04:49 GMT

Format your flash drive, good as new.

errol1001

454 Posts

February 27 2010 04:51 GMT

Flash got his license? What?

BuGzlToOnl

United States5918 Posts

February 27 2010 04:52 GMT

Random story: I put my flash drive through my washer and dryer and it still worked.

Forgot to take it out of my pocket.

Sight

United States148 Posts

February 27 2010 04:55 GMT

#10

On February 27 2010 13:49 selboN wrote:
Format your flash drive, good as new.

how?

totally computer illiterate sorry XD

meeple

Canada10211 Posts

February 27 2010 04:56 GMT

#11

On February 27 2010 13:51 errol1001 wrote:
Flash got his license? What?

lmao... thank you.

meeple

Canada10211 Posts

February 27 2010 04:57 GMT

#12

On February 27 2010 13:55 Sight wrote:

Show nested quote +

how?

totally computer illiterate sorry XD

First try it in another computer, before you format it. But here...

http://www.ehow.com/how_2006214_format-flash-drive.html

selboN

United States2523 Posts

February 27 2010 04:58 GMT

#13

On February 27 2010 13:55 Sight wrote:

Show nested quote +

how?

totally computer illiterate sorry XD

I assume you're using windows (I'm a Mac user)? I think you can go into MyComputer, right click on your jump drive and click "format". Be aware though, it will delete all the information on your drive. I haven't used Windows in a while, so might take 5 seconds to Google formatting a flash drive on windows. Anywho, hope that helps.

Not_Computer

Canada2277 Posts

February 27 2010 05:06 GMT

#14

On February 27 2010 13:51 errol1001 wrote:
Flash got his license? What?

lol I knew what this thread was going to be about but I still thought of this as well.

Sight

United States148 Posts

February 27 2010 05:11 GMT

#15

Um, all right, my flash drive works on another computer so i guess it's just my laptop. Fuck...

Probe.

United States877 Posts

February 27 2010 05:22 GMT

#16

Damn you starcraft!!!! The only thing i thought of when reading this thread title was flash driving some luxury car.

i.e: flash drives...... a ferari.

GreEny K

Germany7312 Posts

February 27 2010 05:23 GMT

#17

might be the USB port you're using, got any other ones?

selboN

United States2523 Posts

February 27 2010 05:31 GMT

#18

On February 27 2010 14:11 Sight wrote:
Um, all right, my flash drive works on another computer so i guess it's just my laptop. Fuck...

Lol, are you using Vista?

meeple

Canada10211 Posts

February 27 2010 05:34 GMT

#19

On February 27 2010 14:11 Sight wrote:
Um, all right, my flash drive works on another computer so i guess it's just my laptop. Fuck...

When you plug it in... does it make a sound?

When you plug it in,

Go to Start -> Control Panel -> System -> Click on the Hardware Tab -> Device Manager

Now it should be under "Other Devices" or something similar, but do you see any yellow exclamation points?

konadora