USB Flash Drive loses files

[rebell1952]

Hello,

I have a HP 16G v125w 16GB USB Flash Drive. I used Windows 7 to format the drive with NTFS so I could transfer files larger than 4GB. However, sometimes when I transfer 2 or 3 3GB+ files one of those files (usually the last to be copied) does not show up on the computer I am transferring the files to, it did show on the first computer and when I first plug it into the second computer it shows up fine, then when I go to paste the files I am told that the file cannot be found and it no longer shows in the drive's folder. When I check the drive's properties it shows that the disk spaced used is the same as the file size, but there is nothing showing in the file folder. The file is not hidden, as I have made all folders viewable on all dives. I have tried several recovery programs and they find no deleted or lost files, it's just gone. As I said, this does not happen every time, but it has happened when transferring files from 2 different computers to my laptop (I am actually copying the files to an external hard drive connected to my laptop). This has also happened once when transferring files from my laptop to one of the other 2 computers. I have checked the drive for errors and/or bad sectors and it passes with no errors detected. I have also tried reformatting the drive and have still had the problem. I have researched this on the internet, but can find no similar problem. Since the drive is made by PNY, I tried their web site, but they have no low level formatting tool that works with Windows 7. I am completely baffled, can anyone help?

Thanks

[BartdB]

Hi,

All I can think of is that they are large files, are you waiting long enough to ensure it's finished copying? and do you select "safely remove hardware" (select icon in the system tray on the right of the Windows taskbar) before removing the flash drive?

Regards,

BartdB

[rebell1952]

Thanks for the reply. Yes, these are very large video files, but since the drive is formatted with NTFS it shouldn't matter. However, I always use the "safe to remove hardware" procedure and once the copy dialog box has closed, the file should be finished. Still, it is after that box closes that I am told that the file cannot be found.

[BartdB]

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... once the copy dialog box has closed, the file should be finished.

I found out long ago that this unfortunately is not the case. I watch the activity light on my USB drives and only remove it when the light shows no activity. However, from what I've read it seems this HP drive does not have an LED. Try waiting about 30 seconds after the copy dialog closes before removing the drive.

Regards,

BartdB

[rebell1952]

Again, thanks for the input, but the problem is not with waiting for the files to download. Depending on how many files I have on the flash drive, all but the last one downloads, then (before I try to remove the drive) I get a message to the effect of "File Not Found." Therefore, there must have been some indication that the file was there (or at minimum, the file name was there), but now cannot be found. Then when the dialog box closes, the flash drive has no listing of the file, except in the drive's properties where it shows used space equal to the missing file's length.

Unfortunately, this is not the first piece of HP/Compac equipment to go bonkers shortly after being put into service (nor the first piece of equipment I've bought at CompUSA.com [or other Systemax affiliate] to be faulty upon arrival). You'd think that I would have learned my lesson by now and quit buying any HP equipment (other than printers [the only equipment they seem to be able to build right]) or anything from a Systemax affiliate. It's just another sad commentary on today's marketplace, once upon a time companies were "customer-centric," but these days it's all about the bottom line and true customer service is a thing of the past and if they have tech support at all, the techs are in some non-English speaking country and either don't know anything about the workings of the products or don't care (or both), so tech support has also gone the way of the Dodo bird.

I'm going to try to reformat back to Fat32 and then back to NTFS and see if the problem persists, as it is possible that there is a problem with one or both MFTs (I don't know whether NTFS works the same on flash drives as on hard drives). If that doesn't work, I'll toss the thing and get a more reputable flash drive.

[BartdB]

Hi,

Just to clarify: all my comments related to the point where the files were transferred TO the USB drive from the originating computer. If the USB is removed while a file is being transferred to it, the file may be listed in the file table, but be incomplete - on subsequent attempts to access this incomplete file, the OS will recognise that the file is not completely there and remove it's entry from the file table. No amount of unhiding or recovery software will find it.

Regards,

BartdB

[rebell1952]

I could be mistaken, but I believe that if one tries to eject a USB device, such as a flash drive, using the "Safetly Remove Hardware and Eject Media" procedure (which I always do, even if the device can be hot-swapped) and the device being ejected is still in use, one receives the warning box: "Problem Ejecting USB Mass Storage Device." "This device is currently in use. Close any programs or windows that might be using the device, and then try again." Also, if at that point the device is removed anyway, the properties for the terminated file being moved shows only the bytes actually copied to the flash drive, not the entire file.

As I said, this does not seem to be a very common problem as I can find only a couple of referrences when searching the internet and all of those essentially said that this was quite a bizarre occurance and that they (whomever was answering the question) had no idea what the cause could be. I was only hoping that since this is actually an HP Support Forum, someone might have had to deal with this problem and would know the answer. BTW: it is perfectly okay to say: "I don't know the answer," when one does not know the answer.

Apparently, this is akin to a "ghost-in-the-machine" situationn and there very well may not be any answer. But, thank you for attempting, anyway.

[BartdB]

Hi,

You are right, if you use the "safe to remove hardware", it should be good. By the way, a few more posts have appeared here about problms with HP USB Flash drives. I have searched for contact details for you to report the problem, but the one page I found while searching for "USB Flash drive support", does not seem to be for flash drives!! (see Failure of USB Flash Drive failure). Also their warranty pages for USB Flash drives has no contact details!! This is seriously bad service. Hopefully there is support contact deals with the packaging (if you still have it).

Indeed HP is not what it was.

Sorry I couldn't be of more help.

Regrads,

BartdB

[rebell1952]

Hi,

I found a support site for email support for HP Flash Drives. The email address is hpsupport@pny.com. I have contacted them, but it was just a few minutes ago, so I don't know yet what quality of support is available. I no longer have the original product packaging, so I probably won't be able to get a warranty replacement, as there is no serial number on the drive itself. But, I also found a great deal on a 32 GB Memory Master Flash Drive for $17.99 (which is also made by PNY).

Thanks again for your help.