USB with Code 10 error---software or hardware issue?

[KubrickFan]

When packing for a move, I came across two old USB drives (Dane-Elec 8 GB). I plugged one in and got the usual "installing drivers" message. The driver came up on File Explorer and functioned normally. The contents (mostly old family photos of sentimental value and not otherwise backed up, and some doc files of an aborted book project) were accessible, though I only spent 10 minutes or so looking at it just to see what was on it. I ejected the disk, which occurred normally.

A couple of days later I inserted the drive and got some sort of error message (which I can't recall) that basically said that installing the drivers again might solve the problem. I clicked the fix button and the drive seemed to work normally again. Nevertheless, suspecting a problem, I tried to move the contents to a blank drive. It proceeded to do so for a few minutes and then the drive vanished from File Explorer. I again reinserted the drive, had to apply the reinstall driver fix, and the drive again showed up on File Explorer. I continued to move the contents to the other drive and the same thing happened; the process stopped and the drive disappeared from File Explorer. This time, when I reinserted the drive and was prompted to apply the reinstall driver fix, it did NOT appear on File Explorer, and ever since it is basically dead.

Device Manager recognizes that it's there, with the yellow triangle and exclamation point, but not Computer Management: there's no drive for it. Clicking on Properties under Device Manager reveals the Code 10 error that the device won't start. There's noting wrong with the port: every other USB I have works fine in the same port.

Like other newbies, I pored through Google search results and YubeTube videos for a fix. I made sure Windows was fully updated, and I used a free device driver utility (as well as Windows) to update all device drivers. Dane went belly up years ago, so there's no manufacturing site to download specific drivers. In any case, I don't think drivers per se are the issue, as the OTHER Dane-Elec USB drive works fine. I tried uninstalling/reinstalling the drivers---no luck. I did NOT poke around in the registry. I ran Windows troubleshooting but got no more than the Code 10 error, which it can't automatically fix. I tried some free data recovery software, but since there's no recognized drive to extract the data from this doesn't work. Yet, Device Manager still sees it there.

I plugged the USB drive into two other PCs (running Windows 10) but it still didn't come up in File Explorer. Interestingly, Device Manager sees it but the error message says that the device can't be accessed because it's not a USB 3.0 drive. I created a live Ubuntu boot disk but Linux doesn't see the driver. I haven't plugged it into a Mac (which I don't have) yet, but I plan on trying that in the next couple of days at a store, though I don't hold out much hope for that.

The USB, when plugged in, is a little loose, for what that's worth. I've tried VERY gently pushing it around and holding it in different position but no luck.

I'm pretty certain the fault is with the USB drive. My question is whether this is likely a software problem (corrupt files) that might be relatively easily fixable or is a physical problem that could only be remedied with a soldering iron (not sure I want to go there) or a data recovery service (frankly, probably not worth the money). At this point, solving this damn problem is more important to me than getting what's left on the disk.

Thanks in advance!

 

[Megahertz07]

Welcome to the Forum.

Post here, as an attachment, a snapshot of disk management (C:\Windows\System32\diskmgmt.msc)
Expand the window and columns so we can read them.
Use the snipping tool to get the image.
Use the paper clip (top right icon on quick reply window) - browse to the file image - upload

 

[KubrickFan]

In Windows 7, nothing at all shows up under Disk Management for the USB, so there's no point in taking a screenshot.

I tried it again in a Windows 10 machine and paid more attention to the results. In contrast to the Windows 7 system, the light in the USB comes on; also, a letter drive appears for the USB in this case though it says "No Media." Interestingly, under Device Manager there's no yellow triangle exclamation point and Properties says the device is working normally. But it still doesn't show up under File Explorer. When I troubleshoot the device, I'm only told to plug it into a USB 2.0 port. I've tried all of the ones one machine but no dice.

 

[Megahertz07]

Does it show on disk management on Win 10?
If it does, Post here, as an attachment, a snapshot of disk management.
Inspect the 4 contacts on the USB drive.