A USB memory that can be connected to many devices such as personal computers and smartphones and is widely used because it is convenient to carry.
I think there are many people who use it for handing over work data.
I inserted a USB memory containing important work data into my computer, but it doesn’t recognize it …
So that you don’t get impatient at that time, this article summarizes the causes and remedies when the USB memory is not recognized by your computer.
1. When I insert the USB memory, when asked “You need to format the drive to use it. Do you want to format it?”
When you insert the USB memory into your computer, the error message “You need to format the drive to use it. Do you want to format it?” May be displayed.
To be exact, it depends on the OS, but there are the following patterns.
- You need to format the drive to use it. Do you want to format it?
(Windows Vista, 7, 8, 10) - The disk is unformatted. Do you want to format it now?
* Windows XP
If you have important data in the USB memory, please do not accept it.
If you format it, the USB memory will be initialized.
If you make a mistake in formatting, first remove the USB memory from your computer.
If there is no new writing after formatting, you may be able to recover the data later.
In that case, it seems safest to consider a data recovery service.
2. Causes when the computer does not recognize the USB memory
- The USB memory itself is out of order
- USB hub is not recognized
- It is not firmly inserted into the USB socket on the computer side. Or, the contact is defective.
- There is no physical problem with the USB memory or computer, but it is not recognized.
The causes are classified into two types: “There is a problem with the USB memory itself” or “There is a problem with the PC side (USB hub)”.
Problems with the USB memory itself can be broadly divided into “physical failure” and “logical failure”
About physical failure of USB memory
The cause of the USB memory failure may be damage or deterioration over time due to the number of rewrites, impact during attachment / detachment, etc.
USB memory is frequently attached and detached as its usage, but it may be damaged if a strong force is unintentionally applied in the process.
In addition, the flash memory used for USB memory has a limited life and depends on the number of times it is used.
It depends on the recording method, but it is generally said to be 500 to 100,000 times.
Defragmentation, video editing, and frequent reading and writing operations are prone to deterioration.
It should also be noted that if the flash memory is left for a long period of time, the data may volatilize and disappear.
About logical failure of USB memory
This happens when the area in the USB memory that manages where and what data is stored is damaged for some reason.
- USB memory data is not displayed
- When I try to access it, a pop-up window appears
- “You need to format the drive to use it. Do you want to format it?”
- “The parameters are incorrect.”
- “The file or directory is corrupted and cannot be read. .”Such…
If such a symptom appears, it is possible that there is a logical failure.
3. What to do if your computer does not recognize the USB memory
First of all, as a major premise, visually check the USB memory for any noticeable scratches or external damage.
The most common ways to break it are as follows.
Due to the characteristics of the product, the USB memory is frequently inserted and removed, so the terminals may bend.
In addition, most USB memory models have a rectangular case, but if you insert and remove it by holding the edge of the case, a large load will be applied to the base of the terminal due to this action, and the part connecting the base and the base will peel off. there is.
Besides that, it is easy to carry, so if you put it in your pocket such as pants, dust and dirt may collect on the terminal part.
First, visually check for any noticeable damage or abnormalities.
If there is no damage, follow the steps below to check the USB memory.
Confirmation 1. Confirm the device manager.
Confirmation 2. Change the drive letter (drive letter).
Confirmation 3. Temporarily disable the resident software.
Confirmation 4. Remove the other USB device.
Confirmation 5. Change the USB port and confirm.
Confirmation 6. Connect to another computer.
Please check here for the detailed procedure on the following page.
After that, reinsert the USB memory and check if there is any improvement.
If it still does not recognize, there may be some trouble on the USB memory board. In this case, please contact the data recovery service.
4. If there is no problem with the display on the device manager
Follow the steps below to check the disk management screen.
Confirmation 1. Open [Disk Management]. Right-click on the Start button at the bottom left of the
Windows 10
screen and select Disk Management.
Windows 8 / 8.1 (Operates on the desktop screen)
Move the mouse to the upper right corner and select [Settings]-[Control Panel] from the menu.
Select [System and Security]-[Administrative Tools]-[Computer Management].
Windows 7
Right-click [Start]-[(My) Computer] and select [Administration].
Confirmation 2. From Computer Management, click Disk Management.
The following are examples of the phenomena seen here.
- Words such as “unallocated” and “unformatted” are displayed
- “RAW” is displayed in the file system column of the volume of the USB memory
- “No media” is displayed in the disc column
You may be able to use it by formatting (initializing) the USB memory, but the data will be lost. If you have important data, please contact the data recovery service before formatting.
Another Article:- Blue Screen Error – Fix
