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Hi all,
A peculiar problem here. Two days ago my external HDD USB drive (WD on an enclosure) turned to RAW with 0 bytes, with the usual message "needs to be formatted". Yesterday, a SanDisk Cruiser 32GB USB flash drive turned to RAW also.
Now the brief background on both cases. The external HDD drive, for many months, would sometimes not eject properly. I just read a thread here from someone describing the very same issue. I'd click "eject drive" and the light would stay on. Removing the drive, or turning it off, would produce a sudden powering off noise. In any event, I did a WD Diagnostic test and it passed the SMART test, indicating the drive is still good. As this was a strictly back-up HDD, I reformatted it and backed up again my data on it. So basically I spent more time researching on how the drive suddenly went RAW (and oh boy, did I find that this is a common occurrence) than on actually getting it back to working order.
Now about the USB flash drive. I was copying data from the SanDisk to a brand new USB flash drive when it showed an error. I ejected it and removed it, plugged it in again and it had turned to RAW (!). (Note: the same issue as above would happen often, I'd click eject, but the drive light would stay on). The new USB drive was also showing errors. I did the same WD SMART test and it passed it. I figured this can't be right. I decided to try it on my Win XP laptop. Voila, no problem whatsoever! All the files were there, and I copied them to the laptop hard drive just in case.
Needless to say, now I'm thinking that maybe my laptop is the culprit, not the drives. Could the USB drivers, or the USB controllers, or the power supply be the problem? In my search I found this post on the MS Community, but on a different topic. Should I try these?
"The currently loaded USB driver has become unstable or corrupt
Your PC requires an update for issues that may conflict with a USB external hard drive and Windows
Windows may be missing other important updates hardware or software issues
Your USB controllers may have become unstable or corrupt
Your external drive may be entering selective suspend
Your PC motherboard may need updated drivers
Resolution
To resolve this issue, follow the steps in the methods below in the order listed. If the first method does not fix the problem, proceed to the next.
Method 1: Uninstall and then reconnect the external hard drive
This method resolves issues where the currently loaded USB driver has become unstable or corrupt.
Select Start, type Device Manager in the Search box
Select Device Manager from the returned list.
Select Disk Drives from the list of hardware
Press and hold (or right-click) the USB external hard drive with the issue, and select Uninstall.
After the hard drive is uninstalled, unplug the USB cable.
Wait for 1 minute and then reconnect the USB cable. The driver should automatically load
Check for the USB drive in Windows Explorer
Note Connecting your USB external hard drive into a non-powered USB hub can cause a lack of enough power to operate the external drive. Instead, plug it directly into your computer.
If your problem still persists, proceed to Method 3.
Method 2: Install the latest Windows Updates
This method will install the latest device drivers for your USB external hard drive.
Select the Start button, type Windows Update in the Search box, and then select Windows Update in the results pane.
Select Check for Updates. After the scan is complete, select Review optional updates.
Select the check box next to the updates, then select Install updates.
If prompted, review the license agreement, then select I Accept.
Follow the onscreen instructions to download and install the updates.
If prompted, reboot your computer.
If your problem still exits, proceed to Method 4.
Method 3: Reinstall USB controllers.
This method resolves steps where the currently loaded USB driver has become unstable or corrupted.
Select Start, then type device manager in the Search box, and then select Device Manager.
Expand Universal Serial Bus controllers. Press and hold (or right-click) a device and select Uninstall. Repeat for each device.
Once complete, restart your computer. Your USB controllers will automatically install.
If your problem still exists, proceed to Method 5.
Method 4: Disable USB selective suspend setting.
This method prevents your USB external drive from powering down.
Select the Start button, type power plan in the Search box, and then select Choose a power plan.
Next to your currently selected plan, select Change Plan Settings.
Select Change advanced power settings.
Select the box to expand USB Settings > USB selective suspend settings.
Select Plugged in, select the drop down menu, and then select disabled.
If you're using a laptop, select Battery, select the drop down menu, and then select disabled.
Select Apply > OK.
Method 5: Install your motherboard's latest chipset drivers.
This method updates your motherboard's chipset drivers, so your computer will recognize your USB external hard drive."
On a different, but related, topic: a) Should you format a brand new USB flash drive? (even if it's pre-formatted?)
b) Can formatting (not quick format) do any damage to a failing USB drive? (I'm aware it attempts to find and recover bad sectors).
Thank you for any input.
A peculiar problem here. Two days ago my external HDD USB drive (WD on an enclosure) turned to RAW with 0 bytes, with the usual message "needs to be formatted". Yesterday, a SanDisk Cruiser 32GB USB flash drive turned to RAW also.
Now the brief background on both cases. The external HDD drive, for many months, would sometimes not eject properly. I just read a thread here from someone describing the very same issue. I'd click "eject drive" and the light would stay on. Removing the drive, or turning it off, would produce a sudden powering off noise. In any event, I did a WD Diagnostic test and it passed the SMART test, indicating the drive is still good. As this was a strictly back-up HDD, I reformatted it and backed up again my data on it. So basically I spent more time researching on how the drive suddenly went RAW (and oh boy, did I find that this is a common occurrence) than on actually getting it back to working order.
Now about the USB flash drive. I was copying data from the SanDisk to a brand new USB flash drive when it showed an error. I ejected it and removed it, plugged it in again and it had turned to RAW (!). (Note: the same issue as above would happen often, I'd click eject, but the drive light would stay on). The new USB drive was also showing errors. I did the same WD SMART test and it passed it. I figured this can't be right. I decided to try it on my Win XP laptop. Voila, no problem whatsoever! All the files were there, and I copied them to the laptop hard drive just in case.
Needless to say, now I'm thinking that maybe my laptop is the culprit, not the drives. Could the USB drivers, or the USB controllers, or the power supply be the problem? In my search I found this post on the MS Community, but on a different topic. Should I try these?
"The currently loaded USB driver has become unstable or corrupt
Your PC requires an update for issues that may conflict with a USB external hard drive and Windows
Windows may be missing other important updates hardware or software issues
Your USB controllers may have become unstable or corrupt
Your external drive may be entering selective suspend
Your PC motherboard may need updated drivers
Resolution
To resolve this issue, follow the steps in the methods below in the order listed. If the first method does not fix the problem, proceed to the next.
Method 1: Uninstall and then reconnect the external hard drive
This method resolves issues where the currently loaded USB driver has become unstable or corrupt.
Select Start, type Device Manager in the Search box
Select Device Manager from the returned list.
Select Disk Drives from the list of hardware
Press and hold (or right-click) the USB external hard drive with the issue, and select Uninstall.
After the hard drive is uninstalled, unplug the USB cable.
Wait for 1 minute and then reconnect the USB cable. The driver should automatically load
Check for the USB drive in Windows Explorer
Note Connecting your USB external hard drive into a non-powered USB hub can cause a lack of enough power to operate the external drive. Instead, plug it directly into your computer.
If your problem still persists, proceed to Method 3.
Method 2: Install the latest Windows Updates
This method will install the latest device drivers for your USB external hard drive.
Select the Start button, type Windows Update in the Search box, and then select Windows Update in the results pane.
Select Check for Updates. After the scan is complete, select Review optional updates.
Select the check box next to the updates, then select Install updates.
If prompted, review the license agreement, then select I Accept.
Follow the onscreen instructions to download and install the updates.
If prompted, reboot your computer.
If your problem still exits, proceed to Method 4.
Method 3: Reinstall USB controllers.
This method resolves steps where the currently loaded USB driver has become unstable or corrupted.
Select Start, then type device manager in the Search box, and then select Device Manager.
Expand Universal Serial Bus controllers. Press and hold (or right-click) a device and select Uninstall. Repeat for each device.
Once complete, restart your computer. Your USB controllers will automatically install.
If your problem still exists, proceed to Method 5.
Method 4: Disable USB selective suspend setting.
This method prevents your USB external drive from powering down.
Select the Start button, type power plan in the Search box, and then select Choose a power plan.
Next to your currently selected plan, select Change Plan Settings.
Select Change advanced power settings.
Select the box to expand USB Settings > USB selective suspend settings.
Select Plugged in, select the drop down menu, and then select disabled.
If you're using a laptop, select Battery, select the drop down menu, and then select disabled.
Select Apply > OK.
Method 5: Install your motherboard's latest chipset drivers.
This method updates your motherboard's chipset drivers, so your computer will recognize your USB external hard drive."
On a different, but related, topic: a) Should you format a brand new USB flash drive? (even if it's pre-formatted?)
b) Can formatting (not quick format) do any damage to a failing USB drive? (I'm aware it attempts to find and recover bad sectors).
Thank you for any input.
My Computer
At a glance
Win 7 Ultimate 32-bit
- Computer type
- Laptop
- OS
- Win 7 Ultimate 32-bit
