Rufus is a popular free software used to create bootable USB drives. However, sometimes users may encounter issues where the USB becomes unusable after using Rufus. In this article, we will discuss some possible fixes for a USB that has become unresponsive or unreadable after using Rufus on Windows 10.
Checking the USB Connection
The first step is to ensure that the USB is properly connected to the computer. Try connecting the USB to a different USB port or to another computer to rule out any issues with the USB port or the computer.
Checking Disk Management
Open Disk Management by pressing Win + X and selecting Disk Management. Look for the USB drive in the list and check its status. If the USB is not showing up, try the following:
- Restart your computer and try connecting the USB again.
- Try using a different USB cable.
- Check if the USB is locked or ejected.
Using the CHKDSK Command
Open the Command Prompt as an administrator and type the following command:
chkdsk [USB_drive_letter]: /f
Replace [USB_drive_letter] with the letter assigned to the USB drive. This command will scan and repair any errors on the USB drive.
Formatting the USB Drive
If none of the above solutions work, you may need to format the USB drive. Be aware that formatting will erase all data on the USB drive. Before formatting, make sure to back up any important data.
diskpart
list disk
select disk [USB_drive_number]
clean
create partition primary size= [size_in_MB]
format fs=ntfs label= [label_name]
Replace [USB_drive_number] with the number of the USB drive, [size_in_MB] with the desired size of the USB drive in megabytes, and [label_name] with the desired name for the USB drive label.
Reinstalling Rufus
If the issue is with Rufus itself, try reinstalling the software. Uninstall Rufus, restart your computer, and then download and install the latest version of Rufus from the official website.