USB help requested.

October 9, 2008 7:28 PM

Windows Vista or XP, Kingston USB drive. I can save a text file to the USB, but not .doc or .jpeg - I am informed "cannot create file or directory". USB is not full and not damaged (as far as I can tell). Suggestions enthusiastically welcomed.
posted by Neiltupper to Computers & Internet (6 answers total)

Are you talking about trying to save the file to the USB drive, or copying it after saving it to the hard drive? If the former, try the latter.
posted by yclipse at 7:39 PM on October 9, 2008

Best answer: One thing to note is that you can't have more than 255 files or folders in a directory (when fromatted as FAT32 like most USB sticks.) Mrs. Advicepig's grampa couldn't save anything else on his not yet full usb stick because everything was on the top level. We created a number of folders to help organize things and he can save to it again.
posted by advicepig at 7:46 PM on October 9, 2008

Best answer: Right click on it and select format.
posted by damn dirty ape at 8:03 PM on October 9, 2008

Actually, sort of a modification to ape's suggestion...

A good trick on a questionable stick is to copy all the files off elsewhere, then run a disk wiper program like EraserPortable and do an in-depth secure wipe. I have found it sometimes help failing sticks...
posted by Samizdata at 8:34 PM on October 9, 2008 [1 favorite]

Response by poster: Are you talking about trying to save the file to the USB drive, or copying it after saving it to the hard drive?

Both.

I haven't tried the other suggestions yet, as it's not in my possession right now. I'll try those in the morning.
posted by Neiltupper at 12:40 AM on October 10, 2008

Response by poster: Thanks for the responses. I copied all the files (all top level) to a folder on my desktop, reformatted the drive and copied the folder back to the USB. Success.
posted by Neiltupper at 2:43 PM on October 10, 2008