Computer hardware modifies quickly. Recently, several types of storage media have changed: floppy disks, CDs, flash cards. Flash drives are so convenient to operate that they have become familiar to students, office workers and just users of personal computers. Like any device, sometimes they are prone to failures, and then a problem appears. What if the flash drive does not work? What should be done to restore its performance?
The most common problems associated with these media are: The computer does not format the USB flash drive, displays it as a removable disk with a capacity of 0 MB, or the PC sees it as a removable disk, but does not allow it to enter. At the same time, the inscription: “Insert the disk into the drive” appears.
To find out why the flash drive does not work, you first need to determine which controller and memory chip it has. If a controller or memory chip malfunctions, then Windows cannot recognize it and identify it as a connected device, nor can it install the required driver. An error in the recognition of the device appears due to the program that controls the controller, which does not read the memory chip. In this case, the flash drive must be disassembled and the controller launched in test mode. To do this, close two special areas in the memory chips of the device. The reason the flash drive does not work and the computer does not see it may be the lack of a USB device controller connection in the BIOS. You need to find the Integrated Peripherals parameter in the Award BIOS, and the Advanced parameter in the Ami BIOS. They have an item called USB Configuration. You need to go into it and press Enter, after that the USB controller should be in the “On” position.
In cases where the flash drive does not work, you can use special programs. For example, AlcorMP.ini is suitable. True, this program does not imply the storage of information on a USB flash drive, since it launches the formatting of the device at startup. The initial configuration file of the program must be saved, since it will undergo a change in accordance with the USB flash drive.
After restoring the device using the AlcorMP.ini program, the icon for safely removing the device may disappear. To prevent this from happening, just check the Uninstall Driver When Close MP checkbox in Setup-BadBlock. Follow the rules: first run the AlcorMP.ini program, and only then insert the USB flash drive, and vice versa, close the program and then remove the USB flash drive.
If the flash drive does not work, then the reason may lie in the number of devices connected to the computer and their power, as well as in their electricity consumption. If there is a shortage for their power (scanner, printer), then Windows disconnects some devices and as a result does not see a USB flash drive. You can find out the power of the USB controller in the tab “Properties” - “Power” in the device manager. The reasons why flash-card malfunctions occur can lie in its incorrect removal from the computer’s USB port, in virus attacks.
Flash drives are not only convenient removable devices for storing information, thanks to an interesting design, they turn into collectibles. For example, there is a flash drive transformer, which was released by Ravage. Your robot collection can replenish your collection of original gizmos, which turns into a flash drive with a memory capacity of two gigabytes, compatible with Windows.