[SOLVED] Can't open USB drive after flashing Linux

[Buhaj47]

I flashed my USB drive with a Linux ISO today to run it from the flash drive and see how the OS looks like. When I finished and came back to Windows, the drive was showing only 2.8 GB space (ISO size), while it's a 64 GB model. I unplugged and plugged it again, but it wasn't showing up in File Explorer at all. chkdsk also didn't see it.

I managed to delete partitions, set up a single 57 GB one and assign a letter, but now it's just a "flash drive", and Windows can't format or open it. Chkdsk can't see it either ("Cannot open volume for direct access"). What's interesting is even when I unplug the USB drive, the D: icon is still visible in File Explorer. Can the drive be fixed yet?

 

[Alabalcho]

Start "Command prompt" in adminisearive mode, from there run "Diskpart". Then, do "list disk", and see which disk number corresponds to your 64gb drive. Then, "select disk N", where is N is above number, and confirm this is the disk with "list part" - you'll see one 57gb partition. "clean" will return that drive back as new.

 

[Buhaj47]

I tried that and an error message appears, diskpart can't access the drive.

 

[Deleted member 14196]

then the usb drive is toast and in read only mode now. not at all uncommon for a usb flash drive to fail

 

[Buhaj47]

A partition manager I installed is apparently able to format the drive, assign it a letter, but after a reboot it's all coming back to where it was, i.e. no letter, drive not visible in File Explorer. Oddly enough, after I assign a letter, a drive icon is appearing in File Explorer after I unplug the flash drive.

 

[Deleted member 14196]

if it doesn't work after that, and you tested it on another working pc and it doesn't work, then it's DEAD. end of story. not getting it back. it's in electronic heaven now