[SOLVED] Folders change name

[bindy]

Hi I have been using a usb memory stick and storing photos on it.
Today I noticed a folder and it's contents has foreign style writing in it and won't open.
The actually main folder opens and is named correctly, but it's the contents inside. It says the filename and directory name or syntax label is not accessible
I don't know exactly which item is which as the folder contains several items, so not sure how would renaming them help as then they would have the wrong name.
I did try clicking a few and then rename, but it said the title is too long even if I just used one single digit.

I'm not very tech so could a step by step explaination be done please

 

[kerberos_20]

if it shows some gibberish names, then data got corrupted
you can try check for file errors when you click right click drive, select properties, switch to tools bar and here is error check

 

[bindy]

Hi I have put this discussion under the wrong section probably as didn't know where to place it.
It is just a removeable USB stick.
I went and clicked properties, and repair and everything else is ok except for that folder which has now lost all it's contents and turned into something which only opens with notepad??
Never mind, I will just have to photograph those items again.
Should I be removing the uSB from my laptop when not in use.
This has happened twice in just over a month to different folders?

 

[CountMike]

Hi I have put this discussion under the wrong section probably as didn't know where to place it.
It is just a removeable USB stick.
I went and clicked properties, and repair and everything else is ok except for that folder which has now lost all it's contents and turned into something which only opens with notepad??
Never mind, I will just have to photograph those items again.
Should I be removing the uSB from my laptop when not in use.
This has happened twice in just over a month to different folders?

Yes, keep it disconnected when not in use to at least prevent mechanical damage.
Windows keep on checking and optimizing all drives on maintenance schedule, if it finds strange or unknown format files and folders it may attempt to "fix" them.
If you are plugging it to some other devices like smart TV or camera they may have own file formats.

 

[bindy]

Thanks for your help

 

[fzabkar]

How much free space is there on the USB stick? There are many fakes in the marketplace which report a higher capacity than is actually present. When you try to write data beyond this real capacity, you would expect to see file system corruption.

 

[bindy]

Hi There is plenty, about 9.64GB available, only used just over 4

 

[fzabkar]

Do you always safely eject the drive?

You could try disabling write caching for your USB drives, or you could "optimise for quick removal".