Resolved Pen Drive reveals I/O error, Does not format

Hello,
It's been a while since I posted. But I am glad that I am a member.
Here is the problem:-

I have a MoserBaer 4 GB Pen Drive that was working fine till yesterday(It contains a lot of important data). I copied some files on an old computer at my office using it and it worked fine(the computer was running Win XP and had no antivirus). As a precaution, I scanned the pen drive on my computer with a registered version of QUICKHEAL Total Security Antivirus. It immediately detected a file (autorun.inf) and deleted it. Now I know what is that file and why most antiviruses delete it, but the point is that after that incident, my pen drive stopped functioning.
When I plug it in, it takes forever for the computer to recognise it and the whole system starts to run extremely slowly. When I double click on the Drive icon, nothing happens and when i right click, the options take forever to come up and then they do not work.
I tried everything and whenever i try to copy files now, It says an I/O error.

Kindly Help.

 

http://www.softpedia.com/get/Security/Secure-cleaning/Autorun-Eater.shtml

Download and run this software on your pendrive and see if that helps. You may have got other viruses from the unprotected PC so a further scan with good AV software would be advisable. Microsoft Security Essentials is free from microsoft and should clean your pen drive.

http://www.microsoft.com/security_essentials/support.aspx?mkt=en-us

The old Win XP PC you got the infection from will be infected and should be cleaned as it will continue to pass the infection on. I am amazed you have a PC in a buisiness enviroment with no AV protection, it is obviously infected and could cause havoc if not cleaned and installed with protection for the future.

 

Thanks mark.
Gonna do it today.

 

Hi
I finally formatted it using the DOS from my computer. The drive is clean now but the problem still persists. It is still too slow to respond although the computer recognizes it but it still shows an I/O device error.
I tried autorun Eater as suggested but no luck still.

When I check the properties tab(right click is working now although it takes forever to come up), it shows the disk is full i.e. no free space is available. When I use the disk management utility of My Computer it shows the drive as healthy and 100% free space is available(I formatted it yesterday).
Any suggestions ?

 

Ok, not much more I can suggest other then getting the drive replaced, I see on the manufacturers site it has a lifetime warranty.

Try this short guide first and if it still won't function correctly get it replaced.

http://www.quickonlinetips.com/archives/2005/08/fix-format-usb-flash-drives/

One final thought, I see you ran the Autorun eater but did you also run Microsoft Security Essentials as I suggested.

 

HI
I went through that article mark. I have tried all and nothing works. The problem persists. Guess it would be better to fix it at the manufacturers.
Thanks

 

I thought Flash Drives were the future ARIE !!!

Now I know !

 

Some drives are supplied with an autorun.inf file. They might have software for encryption or to make a "virtual" drive. I have seen Antivirus programs falsely identify the autorun.inf file as malware.

[Too late now, but you may have been able to get the antivirus to un-delete/restore the file (it is probably stored in it's "virus vault ").]

 

Yep, The drive had an autorun.inf file. My Sweet little Antivirus killed it and here I am, tearing my hair out in frustration.
Am going to the manufacturer's today.

 

Always put down to improving experience.

 

Ahh, so it was a false positive. But beware if that same file name appears during any scan with your AV as it can be a virus.

You should be able to reinstall the software on your drive.

 

Mark I visited the moserbaer website. They do not have any such software available to repair or download. Can you help ?

 

Hey wait !!
I think I found Something at their website.
Let me give it a try

 

Hurrah !!!!
Its working !!!
I repaired the FirmWare of the drive and it works like a charm !!!

 

A big Thanks


Thank you all for the suggestions.
I managed to repair the drive afterall.
here is the link for anyone with the same problem
http://shop.moserbaer.in/support-downloads.asp?links=downloads

Thanks !!

 

Your welcome and thank's for supplying the link.