Help! My USB memory stick won't mount

W

weltonfilment

Active member
OK, so I have a Sandisk Microcruzer (512 mb) that I've had for a little over a year. Recently I was using it with my Mac Mini, and I ejected it on the desktop (the icon disappeared as normal); but then when I removed the drive from the computer it popped up with an error message that said "Improper Device Removal". This happens from time to time (maybe I pulled it out too quick after ejecting). Only now, when I stick it back in the USB port, it won't mount. It doesn't even know the drive is in there.

The weird thing is, when I plug it in my PC, it shows up and I can access files. But when I try to access a file, it displays a message like "Drive Bay Open, err-or, err-or" (something like that). If I am transferring files, the message keeps popping up, but as long as I keep clicking OK it eventually transfers the files. So I know that my drive isn't totally dead. I don't know why the mac won't recognize it at all when the PC at least acknowledges it and lets me access info (albeit with an error message).

Any thoughts on how to remedy this? I tried Disk Repair on my Mac, but no luck. Thanks.
 
The drive might be going bad. I would make sure whatever contents are on it is backed up somewhere else. I have had 2 completelty fail on me so they will fail. I would work on the assumption it is failing and replace it. Thumb drives are fairly cheap now, I recently bought a 1 gig for 17.99 + tax out the door.
 
Thanks for the response. I had a feeling that might be the case. Oh well. Next time I'm at Fry's I'll have to pick one up. Just curious, where did you get your drive? Was it a name brand?
 
really, I would assume that it is because of the way you removed it form the mac. I have been told (which makes it no where near law) that you really have to be carefully when ejecting from macs b/c if you don't do it the right way, your drive can get corrupted....

you did say you removed it a little fast...

have you tryed reformatting it using the PC?
 
weltonfilment said:
Thanks for the response. I had a feeling that might be the case. Oh well. Next time I'm at Fry's I'll have to pick one up. Just curious, where did you get your drive? Was it a name brand?
Click to expand...
Was a Memorex. I prefer Corsair but my last one got stolen and this was what was on special. Frys it is. Hate it cause it's on my way to the money for time thing so it's not out of the way. Just a semi-quick opportunity 5 days a week.
 
Yes, Flash USB memory or "Flash Memory"[1] is highly useful as non-volatile data storage BUT sadly it has number of "write" to memory limitations.

Non Volatile is great since it can retain data even after the power is removed, however it has limited number of times you can write data, this can be anything between 10,000 to 100,000. After this number of writes the non-volatile properties start to degrade and data loss and corruption starts occuring.

I second the recomendation, and always remember to have two copies of all data.

Anhar



[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flash_memory
 
I've had a few issues (although no problems going from Mac to PC), and I solved them by occasionally doing a quick re-format of the stick. I never keep anything on the drive that isn't already backed-up, except for the occasional WIP item, so it's no big deal to reformat and clean-up the problem. This also fixes any fragmentation problem, so my stick becomes more speedy, at least for a while.
 
I'll try the reformatting and see if that works.

EDIT: Nope, won't let me do it. Error message says "Windows cannot complete the format". Tried doing Fat32 and standard FAT. Hmm, well I guess it's back to Fry's for me whenever I get the chance.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top