USB Flash Drive Repair

Retro6 · 24 Aug 2025 at 22:25

I bought a mystery bag of used novelty USB flash drives but there is one I can not get working. It shows on the computer but says "Insert disk" "No media" I can not format it, its corrupted. I tried Windows Disk management without any joy. I also tried Ventoy but it would not show up under Ventoy.

I haven't tried it under Linux yet as I don't have access to my Linux machine at this time.

Is there a free tool that repairs corrupted USB flash drives, is there something I can do in the Command Prompt maybe?

hornetstinger · 24 Aug 2025 at 22:32

that was risky what if one was a USB killer?

Why waste time, if you can't see it in disk management, throw it.

mickyflinn · 24 Aug 2025 at 22:33

Mystery bag of virus usb drives

d_brennen · 24 Aug 2025 at 22:35

Do you work for the government OP?

maj · 24 Aug 2025 at 23:02

I wouldn't plug random used USB drives bought online into my PC. Was anything on the working ones?

You could try diskpart but it sounds like the drive is beyond saving.

Werewolf · 24 Aug 2025 at 23:15

A little brave buying random USB sticks and connecting them to your main computer

If it's showing as a device but saying "insert disk" it suggests the interface to the computer is working, but something has happened to the memory module (IIRC they usually have an interface/controller chip and the memory modules), it could be as simple as needing to reflow the solder for the memory chip but unless you know what you're doing, have the time to spare, and the stick is sufficiently large enough to be worth your time I'd just bin it or look to see if you could swap the casing with a known working stick if you like that specific case design.

Retro6 · 25 Aug 2025 at 11:37

They were all mostly blank or had some files on a few that had nothing interesting. I'm sure Windows 10 is more than capable of detecting and removing any viruses but I see your point. Probably best to test them on another machine first rather than on my main computer.

I will try the faulty one on Linux & if no joy then I'll open it up and re flow the joins and if no joy after that I'll bin the guts but keep the casing and do a swap.

I remember I bought a USB drive from CeX that had all kinds of good stuff on it, some good music as well.