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Missing/Unreadable files on two exFat USB drives

Devilhawk4 -  
fabul Posted messages 42168 Registration date   Status Moderator Last intervention   -
Hello,

I acquired two 500GB USB drives that are formatted as exFAT (I only noticed this recently).

I cut and pasted numerous files (videos, photos, PDFs, MP3s, ...) onto these USB drives.
Unfortunately, I had to realize that the folders were present but the files were "invisible" because they occupy space on the USB drives.
I thought it was the USB drives that had a problem, but I found that I was not the only one experiencing issues with exFAT formatted drives/USBs.

Aside from formatting advice to another format, I haven't found how to recover the "hidden" files.

I tested Recuva, chkdsk, and I also checked the hidden files and system files on the USB drive, but I see nothing.
I also tried Ubuntu, but these USB drives are unreadable on that system.

The only visible and functioning files are all the PDFs, a few videos (of low quality), and some music.

Is there a possibility to recover these files?

I am using Windows 10.

Thank you in advance for your help/response.

6 answers

  1.
    fabul Posted messages 42168 Registration date   Status Moderator Last intervention   6 069
     
    Hello,

    You probably got scammed with Fake Capacity USB drives.

    Files copy into empty space past the "Real" memory limit.

    The files are lost.

    These USB drives are cheap, but they are either worth little (if they can be flashed) or nothing at all.

    Post me logs from ChipGenius so we can see if there's something we can do to save your drives and give them their true size, their actual capacity, which can vary from about 1 to 32GB.

    https://www.softpedia.com/get/System/System-Info/ChipGenius.shtml
    0
    1. Devilhawk4
       
      Thank you for your response.
      Fortunately, aside from a few photos, I don't have much of interest.
      I am testing this program tonight and I will keep you informed.
      0
  2. fabul Posted messages 42168 Registration date   Status Moderator Last intervention   6 069
     
    When you have proof, you can claim it from the seller.

    If ChipGenius does not provide you with enough evidence, you can analyze it with H2testw; this can serve as a second piece of evidence, but analyzing with a read/write of 500GB can take a long time, especially if it's USB 2.0.

    And you need to format the drive before testing it with H2testw.
    0
    1. Devilhawk4
       
      Here is what I get:

      Description: [E:]Mass Storage Device USB (General UDisk)
      Device Type: Mass Storage Device

      Protocol Version: USB 2.00
      Current Speed: High Speed
      Max Current: 100mA

      USB Device ID: VID = 048D PID = 1234

      Device Vendor: General
      Device Name: UDisk
      Device Revision: 0100

      Manufacturer: General
      Product Model: UDisk
      Product Revision: 5.00

      Controller Vendor: ChipsBank
      Controller Part-Number: CBM? - New Controller - 0xE60 - [2017-12-12]
      Flash ID code: 2CC40832A600 - Micron - 1CE/Single Channel [TLC]

      Tools on web: http://dl.mydigit.net/special/up/chipsbank.html


      Possible Flash Part-Number
      ----------------------------
      Unknown


      Flash ID mapping table
      ----------------------------
      [Channel 0] [Channel 1]
      2CC40832A600 --------
      -------- --------
      -------- --------
      -------- --------
      -------- --------
      -------- --------
      -------- --------
      -------- --------

      However, when I click on the Flash ID Code, I get a window with unreadable text like: ÉÁ´æ´óʦ½Øͼ_1575554493.

      What should I do?
      0
  3. fabul Posted messages 42168 Registration date   Status Moderator Last intervention   6 069
     
    It may be a too recent ChipsBank controller, the exact reference is not described.

    You can try a ChipsBank tool to see if it detects it.

    Download Chipsbank CBM2099 UMPTool v7100 (2019-01-03); CBM209X_UMPToolV7100(2019-01-03).rar; size: 4,466,045 bytes

    (The latest)

    Here: https://www.usbdev.ru/files/chipsbank/cbm2099umptool/

    You can set it to English and check the settings in "Settings"

    Flash it as a key (Normal) (not Autorun)

    In Fix capacity mode

    Capacity Optimize

    Etc...

    Your memory (without details on capacity) is described somewhere as 32Gb

    So you could have 32Gb (actual) keys

    If the ChipsBank tool is not updated enough to recognize your controller and memory, you can return in the future to the same USBDEV.RU page to find a more recent tool, or try an older tool,
    (You never know).
    0
  4. Devilhawk4
     
    Hello,

    Apologies for the delay, here is some information:

    The ChipsBank application doesn't seem to recognize my USB drives.
    However, I managed to find, in the application files, an H2testw application that I launched.

    It creates files on the USB drive and verifies each file it has created itself (I'm mentioning this for those who are interested). The test isn't finished yet (that's why I didn't write sooner), but it will be completed today. From what I can see already, it will be a 16GB USB drive (I haven't tested the second one, but it should be the same). I don't know if the software will offer me to modify the drive to display only 16GB.

    I will come back to provide more information this evening.
    0
    1. fabul Posted messages 42168 Registration date   Status Moderator Last intervention   6 069
       
      You can try ChipsBank APTool, the latest

      https://www.usbdev.ru/files/chipsbank/cbm2099aptool/

      But it can be dangerous to completely lose your USB key, DO NOT CHECK 8 bit, I had issues sometimes.

      Check the boxes on the right in Settings with question marks ?????? and flash it

      Then, try UMPTool again, it might detect it this time

      Otherwise, you can try older tools or newer ones when they come out.
      0
      1. Devilhawk4 > fabul Posted messages 42168 Registration date   Status Moderator Last intervention  
         
        This one detects and indicates this:
        [99] {512000M(16104M)[FIX]}
        MT29F512G08EBHAF,CE:1,2CC40832A6

        When I click on Start, it stops at 1.5% and I get the message Too many bad blocks, MP fail.(4031)[0:0:3]
        0
      2. fabul Posted messages 42168 Registration date   Status Moderator Last intervention   6 069 > Devilhawk4
         
        You can try an older version of APTool.
        0
      3. Devilhawk4 > fabul Posted messages 42168 Registration date   Status Moderator Last intervention  
         
        I tried other versions. Either it directly shows me an error message, or it ejects my USB drive...
        0
  6. Wilfried
     
    I have the same problem, could you please let me know if you have found a solution???
    0
    1. fabul Posted messages 42168 Registration date   Status Moderator Last intervention   6 069
       
      https://www.softpedia.com/get/System/System-Info/ChipGenius.shtml
      0
      1. Devilhawk4 > fabul Posted messages 42168 Registration date   Status Moderator Last intervention  
         
        My problem with my 2 USB drives is not resolved. Moreover, they still show 500GB.
        I wanted to test this new version, but it is detected as a dangerous Trojan.
        I then checked the official website, and it states that they have preferred to remove it from their downloads.
        0
      2. fabul Posted messages 42168 Registration date   Status Moderator Last intervention   6 069 > Devilhawk4
         
        Disable your antivirus.
        0
  7. Mayaksa Posted messages 1 Status Member
     
    Hello,
    you can reinstall the USB device driver to fix your invisible USB:
    Step 1: Go to Device Manager.


    Step 2: Look for the Universal Serial Bus controllers option, right-click on USB drivers, then click on Update Driver Software. Do this for all USB drivers by selecting them one by one.

    Step 3: Now restart your computer system.

    Regarding the retrieval of your data, you need to check if the USB device can be found in disk management: Press Win + R, then type Diskmgmt.msc to open the window. If yes, you can use a third-party tool, I often use Bitwar data recovery; you can also choose one that you rely on, then you can recover your videos and other files.





    I'm not sure whether it can help you, but I hope you can resolve the issue and recover your data soon.
    -1