Windows 7 - need help resurrecting usb flash drive

i've got a problem with a 16 gig ocz rally flash drive.

i plug it into my computer, and it just sits there with the light flashing away. it doesn't show up in explorer, but the 'safely remove hardware' icon does appear in my taskbar, but nothing happens when i click it.

when i unplug the drive, the 'safely remove hardware' now becomes responsive and shows this:



i've tried this drive with various flavours of windows, and a couple of linux distros in several computers, but with no luck.

before i throw the drive in the bin, is there anything else i can try?

i'm not interested in the data on the drive - i just want to reformat it somehow so i can use it in the future.

You could try the MP tool from OCZ:

MPtool for ATV/Rally 2/Diesel drives - OCZ Forum Wiki

I believe you need the first download below the screen shot.

Sounds to me like something is still trying to write to the drive
or trying to auto run if as you say it is flashing away.

Does the drive show up in devices and printers when
you first insert the drive in a USB port?
If so - try this if you haven't already:
Right click the drive
Click properties
Click the hardware tab
Click the name of the device to highlight it (eg: click OCZ Rally - or however it appears)
Click properties again
Click policies tab
Make sure that Quick removal is selected if not already

Click the volumes tab
If not already- click populate
Highlight the volume
Click properties
Click tools
Run the error checking tool

Check the driver

If the drive doesn't appear in devices and printers it's gonna be very hard
to try any of this. That is to say that you wont be able to
as you probably already guessed.

Hope I'm not throwing dumb and already known ideas
out but I think failing that you bin it.

Hope I may have been of some help.

Edit: OMG I didn't see the above post - i know I just threw out
some dumb ideas now! Sorry

I don't think those are dumb Ideas at all, everything is worth a try before binning hardware.

Thanks mate

I just hate thinking I sound like a complete noob that's all.

I think the make sure to select the quick removal bit was wrong
though- I think that is what you want selected for a FAT32 device if I,m not mistaken.
The performance option I believe is more suited (or even required)
when formatting the drive to NTFS.

Hope I've provided some advice that may be of some
use to anybody.

absolutely!

anyways @Sub Styler- thanks for the MPtool link, unfortunately it didn't work. i downloaded the zip file, and followed the instructions outlined in the pdf. the program froze a few times, so i tried running using various compatibility settings, running as admin etc. still no joy, the program fails to 'scan usb' and freezes.

so i cranked up a dusty old xp machine, with similar negative results.

@AllOnTheBus - thanks for suggestions. yes it does show up in devices and printers, but explorer freezes and goes into 'not responding' mode when i try right-clicking on it.

i do believe this drive is going to landfill!

moral of the story: don't lend your stuff out to others!

Sorry it didn't work out

In my case, I was always told to share, but if I lend stuff I
have the same problem - it always comes back more broke
than when I sent it out!!

Landfill it is then hey- I wonder when the manufacturers
of them things are gonna start recycling like mobile phones
and the like. Are they adjusting their companies in
line with RoHS standards? (unrelated topic- srry )

i had a flash that was actually a giveaway advertizing thing someone gave me a few of and they were only like a gig each, and SLOW...but one did the same exact thing, I finally opened it up to see if the tip bent a solder point or something i could fix, and just by splitting the case along the seam and barely wiggling the USB A-male sheath - it works fine, i never even put it back in the case but just cause it wasnt worth it for the lil thing, just thought you might have some fun before chucking it!

Mike-ekiM

yeah, i may well do an autopsy when i have time.

@AllOnDA'Bus - I recycle everything, theres like 3-8 bucks per cell in gold and often some silver in the solder and traces of platnum (which a little crucible or cup like thing costs $5000 in platnium and is necessary in certian chem reactions) So I dont scrap it - I extract the pure metals and then sell them to jewelers