| As a new type of storage media, USB flash drives | | | | with the actual file on your flash drive (full path should |
| and flash memory cards become more and more | | | | be included), and replace the "filename2" with the same |
| useful in our modern world. However, have you ever | | | | file on you computer hard drive (full path should be |
| encountered the cases that you could not open the | | | | included). When the comparison is done, windows will |
| files saved on a flash drive or memory card, even if | | | | tell you whether they have any difference or not. If |
| you can see the file names in windows explorer? | | | | they are the same, congratulations, the file on your |
| Windows would tell you that the files were corrupt and | | | | flash drive is OK. Now you can do the comparison for |
| refuse to load them. This thing is not strange because | | | | the second file. |
| the flash chip installed inside your USB flash stick has | | | | However, if you have a lot of files on the flash drive, |
| its life cycle. For example, a TLC flash chip can only be | | | | you have to do the comparisons for each file, which is |
| written about 500 - 1,000 times before it goes bad. A | | | | a little bit annoying, sometimes even impossible. |
| MLC flash chip can last longer, around 10,000 write | | | | Moreover, if you find a bad block manually using the |
| times. When the flash chip begins to go bad, it | | | | above method, it's not easy for you to fix it manually, |
| generates some unstable memory blocks called bad | | | | and you might need to trash the whole drive for |
| blocks, and your files will corrupt if they use the bad | | | | safety reason. |
| blocks on the flash chip. | | | | Another convenient way is using professional |
| Big Issues | | | | software to scan and find out all the bad blocks |
| You can't tell whether your flash chip is still in good | | | | automatically. Some powerful software can even |
| condition or not! Let's imagine the following cases: | | | | quarantine the bad blocks for you transparently, so |
| - You saved a lot of important files on it. Few days | | | | your files won't be able use these bad blocks in the |
| later, you found the files could not be opened, while | | | | future. Therefore, you can save your hard earning |
| you didn't have any backup file. Could you tell me your | | | | money and don't have to buy the new USB flash |
| feeling? | | | | sticks and memory cards every once in a while. |
| - You copied some business files to your flash drive, | | | | What Should You Keep In Mind When Choosing The |
| and then went out for a presentation with your clients. | | | | Software |
| Unfortunately, you found the files were corrupt and | | | | |
| you could not continue your presentation. What could | | | | 1. Is the software easy to use with convenient |
| you do? | | | | interface? |
| - You find some bad blocks on your flash drives, are | | | | 2. Can the software detect your USB flash sticks and |
| you going to trash them? It will be a big waste since | | | | memory cards automatically? |
| they are not cheap, and a number of good blocks are | | | | 3. Since large-size USB flash drives and memory |
| still available on them. Two Ways To Test The Health | | | | cards use FAT32 file system in windows, does the |
| Condition Of Your USB Flash Drives And Memory | | | | software support them too? |
| Cards | | | | 4. Does the software come with built-in quarantine |
| One option is to do it manually. First, you can copy a | | | | feature, so it can fix your flash drive automatically |
| test file to the USB flash drive, and then unplug it from | | | | when bad blocks are found? |
| the computer in order to clear the cache memory. | | | | 5. If the software does come with quarantine feature, |
| After that, plug it to your computer again, and go to the | | | | is this function totally transparent to the user, so the |
| windows command prompt mode. Now you can type | | | | user doesn't have to know anything about windows |
| a DOS command in the command window: "FC | | | | file system? |
| filename1 filename2 /b". Please replace the "filename1" | | | | 6. Is the software price reasonable? |