Flash Drive Problems

[DudeItsMe]

One of my professors is having trouble with a flash drive, I figured I'd try to help.

He says he has a word file that keeps causing computers to crash. If he tries to open it, the computer will freeze. He's tried deleting it, but that freezes it also. He tried to back up the drive so he wouldn't lose everything, but once it gets to that particular file, it just stays there for hours trying to copy it. He said eventually the drive got too hot to touch.

I'm not sure what his problem is. My first thought was to suggest a file shredder type program, but didn't know any names off the top of my head. Anyone else have any ideas for a fix?

 

[Axman]

Yeah, don't get involved with your professors' computing. Tell him that there is a computer forum called hardforum.com and that there are helpful people there, but don't expect to be able to be responsible for his shit without serious poteial for backlash. You would't screw his daughter, keep your tools out of his box, too.

 

[Taffy Apple]

Copy everything but that file off and reformat.

But dont get involved. If it goes tits up then your guaranteed to fail whatever he's teaching!!!

 

[DudeItsMe]

Yeah, don't get involved with your professors' computing. Tell him that there is a computer forum called hardforum.com and that there are helpful people there, but don't expect to be able to be responsible for his shit without serious poteial for backlash. You would't screw his daughter, keep your tools out of his box, too.

He just asked a question in class, and I was nice enough to help.

He's been nice enough to help me and others with investment advice, teaching Economics, and even put in extra time to help find an answer to a question I had about paychecks at my place of employment.

I figure trying to help him fix a flash drive is the least I can do for all the help he's given me.

Besides, how do you know I wouldn't screw his daughter?

And... are you one of the helpful people at hardforum.com

 

[Axman]

You know, I haven't the slightest. But I can check in while I'm at work, so at least I'm here often

Not to completely disregard your helping him, if you're cool about it and he's nice. Just, you know, you don't drink with your professors until the semester's done; same thing applies to tech support. I wouldn't want personal relationship stuff intruding on a professorial one, and I think the statement is support for that argument enough.

For what it's worth, it just sounds like the file is corrupt. I've seen it a few times here (we have studends who are allowed to use flash drives for big projects) where it is sometimes the cause of just unlucky file transfers and sometimes the cause of a failing drive.

Also, if it's big enough to be formatted NTFS, you really should stop the device before unplugging it. NTFS uses some simple indexing/ error checking that remains active even when you aren't using the drive. And while this isn't true for FAT, it is still a good habit to maintain.

Also, I was donating plasma when I made that terrible typo previously. It's crazy hard to type one-handed, especially when the touchpad they give you is sensitive about movement less than an inch above the thing and it keeps registering your thumb as a mouse click somewhere that isn't the cursor.

 

[DudeItsMe]

Well, I wasn't planning any major expedition into his office or anything. Just thought I'd see if I could get a quick answer, especially after the help he's given me with my employer.

I'll just tell him to copy everything but that file and... how do you format it

If there's not a simple way to explain it, or a link that explains it, no need to bother telling me... I never said I'd do it for him