Ubuntu
usb-imagewriter package

USB Flash Drive bricked?

Asked by Pasi Elo

Ok, so I burned on .iso file using USB ImageWriter to my USB stick. Now the stick invisble in most file managers and can't be formatted. I also can't install the distro that should on the USB stick. Kinda bummed because it was my only USB drive and I need it.

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Ubuntu usb-imagewriter Edit question
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actionparsnip (andrew-woodhead666) said : 		#1

If you hold a strongish magnet near on the device on both sides for 10 seconds or so it should blank the device off. Not actually an Ubuntu question, more a hardware question.

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actionparsnip (andrew-woodhead666) said : 		#2

Using the image writer there is no burning at all in the process. The data is simply copied. You burn a CD as a high power laser is used to modify the dye on the surface of the disk. A much lower intensity laser is used to read the data thus the term 'burning'

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N1ck 7h0m4d4k15 (nicktux) said : 		#3

Hi Pasi Elo,

try to use a formating - partitioning utility such as Gparted or/and the pre-installed Disk Utility (Disks) to completely DELETE the filesystem and create another one (FAT32 is preferred for USB-Sticks).

Also you can provide here some terminal output for debugging purposes. When you attach the USb-stick to USB-port of you pc , open a terminal (CTRL+ALT+T) and issue the following command

   dmesg | tail

paste here the Full OUTput please.

Regards
 NikTh

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Pasi Elo (elo-pasi) said : 		#4

Here is the output to dmesg | tail

pasi@pasi-LIFEBOOK-AH530:~$ dmesg | tail
[ 1539.960003] hda-intel: IRQ timing workaround is activated for card #0. Suggest a bigger bdl_pos_adj.
[ 1697.643723] usb 2-1.3: USB disconnect, address 3
[ 1739.808599] usb 2-1.3: new low speed USB device using ehci_hcd and address 5
[ 1739.908215] input: Logitech Optical USB Mouse as /devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:1d.0/usb2/2-1/2-1.3/2-1.3:1.0/input/input12
[ 1739.908364] generic-usb 0003:046D:C016.0002: input,hidraw0: USB HID v1.10 Mouse [Logitech Optical USB Mouse] on usb-0000:00:1d.0-1.3/input0
[ 1742.716076] usb 2-1.5: USB disconnect, address 4
[ 2043.040532] usb 2-1.5: new high speed USB device using ehci_hcd and address 6
[ 2043.142094] scsi7 : usb-storage 2-1.5:1.0
[ 2044.142507] scsi 7:0:0:0: Direct-Access Generic- SD/MMC 1.00 PQ: 0 ANSI: 0 CCS
[ 2044.144221] sd 7:0:0:0: Attached scsi generic sg2 type 0

I can't format using GParted because it doesn't show up as a device. Disk Utility finds the USB Drive but can't format it.

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actionparsnip (andrew-woodhead666) said : 		#5

Have you tried a different USB port?
Have you tried it in a Windows booted system?

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Pasi Elo (elo-pasi) said : 		#6

Yes I tried all my USB ports and all have the same problem. GParted doesn't recognize, Disk Utility does and File Manager does too but can't access it.
I tried to formatting using Windows XP but it gave me an error.

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actionparsnip (andrew-woodhead666) said : 		#7

I'd go for the magnet

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