USB Passport Disk Corruption

Topic

New Reply

I have a 4 Tb WD Passport disk that was connected to my computer when I installed

KB890830 Malicious Software Removal Tool (Feb 2023) MRT.exe
KB5022729 2023-02 Cumulative Update for .NET Framework 3.5, 4.8 and 4.8.1 for Windows 10 Version 22H2 for x64
KB5022834 2023-02 Cumulative Update for Win 10 v22H2 x64

After the updates had been installed, I rebooted. During the reboot, Windows decided that it had to repair this Passport drive.  I have no idea what it did or what it thought was wrong with the disk.  After the reboot, Windows no longer sees this disk as NTFS-formatted, and it wants me to do a quick format.  I am not sure what I can do to recover what is on this disk.  I assume that a quick format will make the current backup files (Aomei Backup) inaccessible.  I have no idea if the problem occurred because of some update in the February updates.  Can someone suggest a course of action?  Thanks.

C:\Windows\System32>f:
The volume does not contain a recognized file system.
Please make sure that all required file system drivers are loaded and that the volume is not corrupted.

 

 

Reply | Quote

Replies

I had a similar occurance with a 2TB WD Passport drive with W10 22H2 and used the external WD drive in another device with W10 22H2 and guess what? no issues! drive was accessible and all files present…
Back on the original device, I switched off external drive checking within MSFT Defender and inserted the WD external drive and all was ok thereafter.

MSFT Defender is a pain as it snoops external USB drives, switching that off worked here thereafter YMMV

No problem can be solved from the same level of consciousness that created IT- AE

1 user thanked author for this post.

oldfry

Reply | Quote

I was able to fix the disk via running “chkdsk f: /F” twice.  I am not sure why the first “chkdsk” did not correct the problems.  After fixing the disk, I was able to create a backup on the disk.  I have attached the outputs of the chkdsk runs.

 

 

1 user thanked author for this post.

oldfry

Reply | Quote

You needed to run it twice because the first repair made the FAT readable, but it contained errors that could not be checked until the FAT was readable.

Lesson: disconnect your backup disk before installing updates / rebooting.

cheers, Paul

1 user thanked author for this post.

oldfry

Reply | Quote

I use an external WD 1 TB My Passport drive for backing up and storage naturally.  I plug it into a USB port when I use it, and when I’m done it immediately gets unplugged.  I wouldn’t dream of having this external drive connected while I was online, let alone doing a Windows Update!  I have USB ports within convenient reach so the plugging & unplugging is not a bother.

Being 20 something in the 70's was much more fun than being 70 something in the 20's.

1 user thanked author for this post.

Microfix

Reply | Quote

Unplugged and safely stored away once data and images created or restored.
Same for all my external drives per device as a rule. All kept in a fire and waterproof case for my peace of mind.

No problem can be solved from the same level of consciousness that created IT- AE

Reply | Quote

Normally, the Passport is disconnected, but this time I decided to plug it in during the updates so that it would be ready after the reboot for a backup.

Reply | Quote

I use a couple utilities from https://www.uwe-sieber.de/drivetools_e.html

RemoveDrive.exe – Safe removal of drives
RestartSrDev.exe  – restarts “Safely Removed” devices which have the “Code 21” or “Code 47” problem code

Have been using them for years across multiple machines that aren’t physically present and my workstation for nightly backup routines. They have worked great. I have scheduled tasks that disable the drive on startup and one to re-enable before backup routine, then the command to remove after backup. Have been really pleased with that setup.

Never Say Never

1 user thanked author for this post.

oldfry

Reply | Quote

Charlie wrote:

I wouldn’t dream of having this external drive connected while I was online

My external Nvme SSD and WD HDD are connected while running Windows updates.
Never had a problem.
I can see the Windows update queries the drives during restart after the updates.

Reply | Quote

Okay, maybe I might dream about leaving it plugged in all the time, but in the real, awake state of conscious thinking, that backup drive gets unplugged and stored away after using.  That’s me though, always cautious.

Being 20 something in the 70's was much more fun than being 70 something in the 20's.

Reply | Quote

I leave 2 WD external drives connected via USB at all times, and a 3rd that stays disconnected except when making weekly images.

Have not had any problems so far with the always connected USB drives.

Windows 10 Pro 22H2

Reply | Quote