Question:

I have a Transcend JetFlash 790 64GB flash drive that I bought three days ago from a local store. I ran a fake flash tester program on it and selected the quick size test (destructive) option, which warned me that it would erase all data on the drive. I proceeded with the test and got an error message saying that the device has duplicate or bad blocks. I tried to format the drive and run the test again, but the drive disconnected itself and became inaccessible in Windows Explorer. It only shows up as SMI USB MEMORY BAR USB Device in Device Manager. I also tried using JetFlash Online Recovery, but it failed to recover the drive. I have not dropped or damaged the drive physically. How can I fix this problem? Is the NAND chip corrupted or defective? What are the possible causes and solutions for this issue?

Answer:

> How to Fix a Transcend JetFlash 790 64GB Flash Drive That Fails the Fake Flash Test >
> If you have a Transcend JetFlash 790 64GB flash drive that you bought recently and you want to check its authenticity and performance, you might be tempted to use a fake flash tester program. However, this could be a risky move, as some of these programs can damage your flash drive and make it unusable. This article will explain what happened to your flash drive, why it failed the fake flash test, and how you can try to fix it. >
> What is a fake flash test and why did it fail? >
> A fake flash test is a program that writes and reads data to and from your flash drive to verify its capacity and speed. Some of these programs, such as FakeFlashTest, offer a quick size test (destructive) option, which claims to erase all data on the drive and test its entire capacity in a few minutes. However, this option is not recommended, as it can cause irreversible damage to your flash drive, especially if it is a high-capacity or high-performance one. >
> The reason why your flash drive failed the fake flash test is that it has a different controller chip than the one expected by the program. The controller chip is the brain of the flash drive, which manages the communication between the computer and the NAND chip, which is the memory chip that stores the data. The Transcend JetFlash 790 64GB flash drive uses a Silicon Motion (SMI) controller chip, which is not compatible with the FakeFlashTest program. The program tried to write data to the flash drive using a wrong protocol, which resulted in corrupting the NAND chip and creating duplicate or bad blocks. These are blocks of memory that cannot be read or written properly, and they reduce the usable capacity and performance of the flash drive. >
> How to fix the flash drive after the fake flash test? >
> After the fake flash test, your flash drive became inaccessible in Windows Explorer, and it only showed up as SMI USB MEMORY BAR USB Device in Device Manager. This means that the controller chip is still working, but it cannot recognize the NAND chip or the file system on the flash drive. You also tried to use the JetFlash Online Recovery tool, which is a Transcend official repair tool that can restore your flash drive to its factory default settings, but it failed to recover the drive. This means that the damage to the NAND chip is too severe, and the tool cannot fix it. >
> Unfortunately, there is no easy or guaranteed way to fix your flash drive after the fake flash test. However, you can try some of the following methods, which might work in some cases. Before you try any of these methods, make sure you have backed up any important data on the flash drive, as these methods will erase all data on the drive. Also, be aware that these methods are risky and might cause further damage to your flash drive, so proceed at your own risk. >
> Method 1: Update or reinstall the USB driver >
> Sometimes, the problem with the flash drive is not caused by the flash drive itself, but by the USB driver on your computer. The USB driver is the software that allows your computer to communicate with the USB devices. If the USB driver is outdated, corrupted, or incompatible, it might prevent your flash drive from working properly. To update or reinstall the USB driver, follow these steps: >
> – Press Windows + R, input “devmgmt.msc” and press Enter. > – Expand “Disk Driver”, right-click the Transcend USB flash drive, and choose “Update Driver Software…”. > – Note: You can also choose “Uninstall” to uninstall the USB driver. Then, restart computer to reinstall the driver automatically. > – Follow the instructions on the screen to complete the update or reinstall process. > – Plug in your flash drive again and see if it works. >
> Method 2: Format the flash drive with a different tool >
> Sometimes, the problem with the flash drive is caused by the file system on the flash drive, which is the structure that organizes the data on the drive. If the file system is corrupted, damaged, or incompatible, it might prevent your flash drive from working properly. To format the flash drive with a different tool, follow these steps: >
> – Download and install a third-party formatting tool, such as AOMEI Partition Assistant, EaseUS Partition Master, or HP USB Disk Storage Format Tool. > – Launch the formatting tool and select your flash drive from the list of devices. > – Choose a file system that is compatible with your flash drive, such as FAT32, NTFS, or exFAT. > – Note: FAT32 is the most common and widely compatible file system, but it has a limitation of 4GB for the maximum file size. NTFS is more advanced and supports larger file sizes, but it is not compatible with some devices and operating systems. exFAT is a newer file system that combines the advantages of FAT32 and NTFS, but it is not supported by some older devices and operating systems. > – Click “Start” or “OK” to begin the formatting process. > – Wait for the process to finish and then plug in your flash drive again and see if it works. >
> Method 3: Flash the flash drive with a different firmware >
> Sometimes, the problem with the flash drive is caused by the firmware on the flash drive, which is the software that controls the operation of the flash drive. If the firmware is corrupted, damaged, or incompatible, it might prevent your flash drive from working properly. To flash the flash drive with a different firmware, follow these steps: >
> – Download and install a third-party firmware tool, such as ChipGenius, FlashBoot, or USBDeview. > – Launch the firmware tool and select your flash drive from the list of devices. > – Note the information about your flash drive, such as the vendor, model, controller, and memory chip. > – Search online for a compatible firmware file for your flash drive, based on the information you noted. > – Note: Be careful when downloading firmware files from unknown sources, as they might contain viruses or malware that can harm your computer or flash drive. Make sure you download the firmware file from a reputable and trustworthy website, and scan it with an antivirus program before using it. > – Back up the original firmware file from your flash drive, if possible, using the firmware tool. > – Load the new firmware file into the firmware tool and flash it to your flash drive. > – Note: This process will erase all data on your flash drive and might brick your flash drive if the firmware file is not compatible or the flashing process is interrupted. Do not disconnect or power off your flash drive or computer during the flashing process. > – Wait for the process to finish and then plug in your flash drive again and see if it works. >
> Conclusion >
> In this article, we have explained what a fake flash test is, why it failed on your Transcend JetFlash 790 64GB flash drive, and how you can try to fix it. We have also provided three possible methods to fix your flash drive, which are updating or reinstalling the USB driver, formatting the flash drive with a different tool, and flashing the flash drive with a different firmware. However, we have also warned you that these methods are risky and might not work in all cases, and that you should back up your data and proceed at your own risk. We hope this article has been helpful for you, and we wish you good luck with your flash drive.