Unknown Files on USB Storage

[pioneeraaron]

Guys,

My client just gave me a USB stick to format cause it wouldn't format in his PC. Its a Kingston Data Traveller 2.0 8GB. After a week's googling I still couldn't format the drive. I mean I tried the registry thing, testdisk.diskpart,tried few freewares but the drive wouldn't format. The drives contain some unknown files with unknown extensions. Can't delete or rename them, nor can change their attributes. It contains some important data that my client requires. I have to delete those unknown files.

I have a screen shot of the contents in the drive. How do I share it here??

Any help would be gladly appreciated

http://postimg.org/image/yft0eoa5z/

 

[mcnumpty23]

that doesnt make sense--if your client requires the data formatting it is the last thing you would do

 

[ahnilated]

Have you tried using any Linux tools to format the drive like Gparted?

 

[cilliers]

that doesnt make sense--if your client requires the data formatting it is the last thing you would do

Agreed. Sounds like you might want to give this job to a professional.

 

[pioneeraaron]

Actually, he requires the data in it but it contains some gibberish and hogg gb's of space which is no use to him. I can take a backup of his existing files but those gibberish kinda files just wouldn't delete. Plz Help 🙁

 

[pioneeraaron]

Have you tried using any Linux tools to format the drive like Gparted?

is it available for windows?? is it freeware?

 

[mcnumpty23]

yeah i have a software that will format just about anything thats been done to a flash drive even failed bit flipping

but it still sounds a bit suspicious to me

an 8gb drive is peanuts nowadays why so much of a big deal if you cant format it

 

[ahnilated]

Have you tried using any Linux tools to format the drive like Gparted?

is it available for windows?? is it freeware?

It doesn't need to be available for Windows, even though it is, you can make a CD with it on it and format any drive. It sounds like the USB drive has a virus on it and that is why you can't delete the files off of it.

 

[SBMfromLA]

Here is a solution I found:

How to remove a write protection from your USB memory Stick if there is no Write protection ON or OFF button on stick then
1. Shutdown your computer or laptop
2. Insert USB Memory Stick into your laptop or Computer
3. Turn on laptop and then immediately start pressing (F8) key then Advanced Boot Options screen will come up
4. Select Safe Mode with Command Prompt
5. After loading files if your USB Memory Stick drive letter is (G) for example then write as
6. C:\windows\system32>G: and press enter
7. G:\>format G: and press enter
8. If ask you (Y/N) then press (Y) and press enter
9. Now a full format will start which remove write protection from USB Memory Stick.
Note:
Before removing USB from your computer, Always remove it safely by going into to my computer then right click on USB and click eject.

Source: http://www.fixya.com/support/t345484-format_write_protect_usb_drive
User: mnoumankhanz

 

[pioneeraaron]

yeah i have a software that will format just about anything thats been done to a flash drive even failed bit flipping

but it still sounds a bit suspicious to me

an 8gb drive is peanuts nowadays why so much of a big deal if you cant format it

When I try to format it, it says "the disk is write protected"

 

[cilliers]

Is "readyboost" disabled on the stick?

 

[pioneeraaron]

Is "readyboost" disabled on the stick?

I checked that readyboost thing too.

Here's what the readyboost tab says :

This device cannot be used for readyboost.
The device is mounted read-only. This usually happends with write protected devices/media or when Bitlocker group policy settings prohibit write access to non-encrypted removable devices.

 

[mcnumpty23]

yeah i have a software that will format just about anything thats been done to a flash drive even failed bit flipping

but it still sounds a bit suspicious to me

an 8gb drive is peanuts nowadays why so much of a big deal if you cant format it

When I try to format it, it says "the disk is write protected"

yes i know

but thats not what i asked

why so much bother over a 8gb flash drive? they are so cheap now its ridiculous

i can tell you how to format it but not sure if i should

 

[ahnilated]

yeah i have a software that will format just about anything thats been done to a flash drive even failed bit flipping

but it still sounds a bit suspicious to me

an 8gb drive is peanuts nowadays why so much of a big deal if you cant format it

When I try to format it, it says "the disk is write protected"

yes i know

but thats not what i asked

why so much bother over a 8gb flash drive? they are so cheap now its ridiculous

i can tell you how to format it but not sure if i should

Now that is rude.

 

[pioneeraaron]

yeah i have a software that will format just about anything thats been done to a flash drive even failed bit flipping

but it still sounds a bit suspicious to me

an 8gb drive is peanuts nowadays why so much of a big deal if you cant format it

When I try to format it, it says "the disk is write protected"

yes i know

but thats not what i asked

why so much bother over a 8gb flash drive? they are so cheap now its ridiculous

i can tell you how to format it but not sure if i should

Buddy the stick matters nothing to me. It's my clients. I cant suggest/tell him to just buy a new one cuz this one wudnt format.

I'd appreciate if you help rather than beating around the bush

 

[mcnumpty23]

yeah i have a software that will format just about anything thats been done to a flash drive even failed bit flipping

but it still sounds a bit suspicious to me

an 8gb drive is peanuts nowadays why so much of a big deal if you cant format it

When I try to format it, it says "the disk is write protected"

yes i know

but thats not what i asked

why so much bother over a 8gb flash drive? they are so cheap now its ridiculous

i can tell you how to format it but not sure if i should

Now that is rude.

sorry didnt mean to be rude--just sounds a bit fishy

i will leave this thread to some one else to figure out

 

[SBMfromLA]

You never tried what I wrote? I said to BOOT from the usb drive and then to format from there... OUTSIDE of Windows...

 

[pioneeraaron]

yeah i have a software that will format just about anything thats been done to a flash drive even failed bit flipping

but it still sounds a bit suspicious to me

an 8gb drive is peanuts nowadays why so much of a big deal if you cant format it

When I try to format it, it says "the disk is write protected"

yes i know

but thats not what i asked

why so much bother over a 8gb flash drive? they are so cheap now its ridiculous

i can tell you how to format it but not sure if i should

Now that is rude.

sorry didnt mean to be rude--just sounds a bit fishy

i will leave this thread to some one else to figure out

I could quite figure out that you anyways wouldn't be of any help to me. There's nothing fishy in it.

 

[pioneeraaron]

You never tried what I wrote? I said to BOOT from the usb drive and then to format from there... OUTSIDE of Windows...

Lemme try bro and get back to you. Thank u

Update :

Buddy it says the same thing. The disk is write protected.

 

[reedo_43]

After looking at what is on there and reading that it is write protected, the drive is probably toast in my opinion.

 

[mcnumpty23]

yeah i have a software that will format just about anything thats been done to a flash drive even failed bit flipping

but it still sounds a bit suspicious to me

an 8gb drive is peanuts nowadays why so much of a big deal if you cant format it

When I try to format it, it says "the disk is write protected"

yes i know

but thats not what i asked

why so much bother over a 8gb flash drive? they are so cheap now its ridiculous

i can tell you how to format it but not sure if i should

Now that is rude.

sorry didnt mean to be rude--just sounds a bit fishy

i will leave this thread to some one else to figure out

I could quite figure out that you anyways wouldn't be of any help to me. There's nothing fishy in it.

i apologise if i sounded rude

but if i put myself in your position

client implies the person is paying you

a 8gb flash drive is probably $2--$3

so in your position i would tell the client the drive cant be formatted and its costing you far more to pay me to try to format it than just binning it and getting a new one

and since i cant be of any help i will leave this thread to others

 

[pioneeraaron]

yeah i have a software that will format just about anything thats been done to a flash drive even failed bit flipping

but it still sounds a bit suspicious to me

an 8gb drive is peanuts nowadays why so much of a big deal if you cant format it

When I try to format it, it says "the disk is write protected"

yes i know

but thats not what i asked

why so much bother over a 8gb flash drive? they are so cheap now its ridiculous

i can tell you how to format it but not sure if i should

Now that is rude.

sorry didnt mean to be rude--just sounds a bit fishy

i will leave this thread to some one else to figure out

I could quite figure out that you anyways wouldn't be of any help to me. There's nothing fishy in it.

i apologise if i sounded rude

but if i put myself in your position

client implies the person is paying you

a 8gb flash drive is probably $2--$3

so in your position i would tell the client the drive cant be formatted and its costing you far more to pay me to try to format it than just binning it and getting a new one

and since i cant be of any help i will leave this thread to others

No prob mate! Back there these drives cost less for you. Back here in India it's costly approx $10-12. People mostly try all possible options before they buy anything new. Just because he's willing to spend I can't force him to buy a new one. And rather I would charge for all this if I get the right solution for this

Note: I already have his AMC with me So it's my duty to solve his issues. Right?

 

[majorlag]

You said you tried Diskpart, but lets try it again. First copy all the data you want saved to another device. If you can't copy the data, then you will need some kind of recovery tools to do that. safely remove device from the task bar to make sure it is totally done copying, then re-insert.
Formatting will delete everything so make sure to back data up first.
Start, Search for Command Prompt, right click it and select run as administrator
in the black window type "Diskpart"
"List disk" it should show you a list of all physical drives, and one of them is going to be the ~8gb thumb drive with a disk number
"select disk #" the disk number listed in the previous command. This should give you a response of the disk is now selected
"clean"
"create partition primary"
"select partition 1"
"format fs=ntfs quick"
"assign"
"exit"
Now you should have a blank 8gb memory key that you can copy the data you saved out earlier. Formatting deletes everything, so make sure to copy the data you want saved out first.

 

[reedo_43]

Try this tool. After you make your choice you have to hit apply or something to that effect. Good luck!

http://www.partitionwizard.com/

 

[pioneeraaron]

You said you tried Diskpart, but lets try it again. First copy all the data you want saved to another device. If you can't copy the data, then you will need some kind of recovery tools to do that. safely remove device from the task bar to make sure it is totally done copying, then re-insert.
Formatting will delete everything so make sure to back data up first.
Start, Search for Command Prompt, right click it and select run as administrator
in the black window type "Diskpart"
"List disk" it should show you a list of all physical drives, and one of them is going to be the ~8gb thumb drive with a disk number
"select disk #" the disk number listed in the previous command. This should give you a response of the disk is now selected
"clean"
"create partition primary"
"select partition 1"
"format fs=ntfs quick"
"assign"
"exit"
Now you should have a blank 8gb memory key that you can copy the data you saved out earlier. Formatting deletes everything, so make sure to copy the data you want saved out first.

All this is said and done bro! It didn't work.
when I hit 'clean' this is what it has to say :

Diskpart has encountered an error : The media is write protected.

Now what? :O