USB-Stick not recognized, can not dd

Michaelx · 12-28-2019, 09:40 AM

Hi, i inserted a USB-Stick into the PC, now it is not recognized.
If i try to do a

1.cfdisk, it gives an error:
"Error: Error opening /dev/sdc: No medium found
Invalid device"

2. dd:
dd: opening `/dev/sdc': No medium found

3. fdisk :
Error: Error opening /dev/sdc: No medium found
r Retry
c Cancel

but the device is showing in /dev/ - directory..., an
.

I was able to access it earlier, but now i got stuck.
Any instructions , or help ?

DavidMcCann · 12-28-2019, 10:07 AM

If it mentions /dev/sdc, then it can see that it's a storage device. The problem is that it doesn't work. I'd say that the inability to write to it with dd is the crucial test. Since that doesn't use a filing system, it should work on any device, however corrupt. So, it looks like you have a dead usb stick. They don't last for ever, unfortunately, as I've experienced myself. The other possibility is a problem with the socket. Have you tried it in different sockets?

teckk · 12-28-2019, 10:17 AM

Start with the basics.
How do you know that it is /dev/sdc?
Have you been mounting the stick, then removing it without umounting? Or have you been playing with fdisk? Did you dd of=/dev/sdc by accident?

With the stick plugged in, what is the output of

Code:

fdisk -l
or
parted -l

Michaelx · 12-28-2019, 10:40 AM

unplugging the USB-Stick in question,

2 files get removed from the /dev/-directory , /dev/hidraw4 and hidraw3 .

hmmm.., further suggestions ?

teckk · 12-28-2019, 11:06 AM

Code:

udevadm info -a /dev/hidraw0

Code:

dmesg -w

Then plug the device in. Post the new lines.
Then the output of

Code:

fsisk -l

And see if the device is any good or not, what partitions it has on it, and what file system.

beachboy2 · 12-28-2019, 11:31 AM

Michaelx,

It sounds like your USB drive may be faulty.

Try installing dcfldd, zero the drive and then verify that it has been zeroed.

Then compare the two files with the comparison command (cmp).

dcfldd:
http://dcfldd.sourceforge.net/

Code:

sudo apt install dcfldd

Insert the USB drive and zero it:

Code:

sudo su

# dcfldd if=/dev/zero of=/dev/sdc bs=1M

Then remove and reinsert the USB drive.

Code:

# cmp /dev/zero /dev/sdc

My first output was:

7680 blocks (7680Mb) written.dcfldd:: No space left on device.

The cmp will hopefully fail at the point where it has reached the end of the drive.

If it fails before then, the drive isn't usable any more.

My second output was:

Code:

/dev/zero /dev/sdc differ: byte 1011713, line 1

which indicated a faulty drive.

Michaelx · 12-28-2019, 12:37 PM

.., BBL , be back later..., i have to double check something...

Michaelx · 12-29-2019, 03:40 AM

teckk

udevadm info -a /dev/hidraw0

dmesg -w
Then plug the device in. Post the new lines.

teckk, unfortunately, those commands do not work with the options you supplied, but thanks anyways....
I am using a distro based on debian 6.x

masterclassic · 01-10-2020, 10:38 AM

dmesg use needs sudo / root privilege.
You can try in a terminal window:

Code:

sudo dmesg

hazel · 01-10-2020, 11:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Michaelx

unplugging the USB-Stick in question,

2 files get removed from the /dev/-directory , /dev/hidraw4 and hidraw3 .

hmmm.., further suggestions ?

Then it isn't recognising the stick as a storage device. hidraw means raw human interface device, something like a USB keyboard or mouse. Seriously weird.