Windows 10: Trouble with a USB flash drive Windows won't let me into

I was using the utility Rufus to format and install a version of Linux to a USB thumb drive to install on an old laptop. Well I noticed about 1/2 through the rufus procedure it had an error and stopped.



Now I can't get into the drive at all. Windows does assign it a letter (D) for about 1/2 a second. Then it disappears.



I tried going into Computer Management -> storage and I see the drive there But it lists D: as Removable No Media.



I tried downloading a couple 3rd party utilities (disk genius, partition assistant ) They don't even see it.



When I open an Admin Command prompt I see



>chkdsk D:

Cannot open volume for direct access.



It had been in the process for being formatted and copying files so I don't care about loosing data on it. I just want to see if I can get into it again to reformat it again.

Any ideas?

submitted by /u/shinozuka
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:)

 

USB flash drive won't read, wants to format.

What file system did your friend use to format the USB flash drive?
Linux, MAC, Windows, etc.... if, he did the project on a different file format; the system may not think there is anything useful and wants to format it to make usable.
Or, the drive has gotten corrupted (like your friend pulled the drive before it was finished and the file table/partition info/etc. is corrupt).
Static could have gotten it, too.

One of many recovery apps:
USB Flash Drive Data Recovery Software

Google has a sh*t load software to recovery and/or repair usb drives; but, be careful and always scan your downloads with a good a/v package.
usb flash drive recovery software

Just some ideas.*Smile

 

help. USB drive isn't assigned a drive letter.

Any usb flash drive I plug into my computer isn't assigned a drive letter. The physical drive shows in the "safely remove hardware" but it doesnt show up in disk management. I have tried to populate the volume thru the safely remove hardware properties window and it does pop up in the list but it doesn't stay there. This isn't a format or assign a letter problem. It's more complicated then that. Maybe one of the services needed for usb drive management was disabled? Suggestions needed. btw external usb harddrives work fine.

 

Installing windows off of a USB stick

Step By Step from vista:
From admin cmd prompt

1. diskpart
1a. list disk
2. select disk 1 (replace 1 with your usb drive)
3. clean
4. create partition primary
5. select partition 1 (replace 1 with your usb drive)
6. active
7. format fs=fat32
8. assign
9. exit

Copy Windows Vista's DVD ROM content to the Flash Drive

xcopy d:\*.* /s/e/f e:\ (d being your vista cd and e being your usb stick)

And that's it, boot off your usb disk