Proven Ways to Fix 'Please Insert a Disk into USB Drive' Error

You plug in your USB drive, ready to organize your files, but suddenly an error message pops up: "Please insert a disk into removable disk I." That's confusing—after all, the drive is plugged in, right? This is actually a common problem that many Windows users have experienced. Before you smash the drive out of frustration, take a breath. Here, we'll provide seven simple solutions to resolve the 'Please insert a disk into USB drive' error without losing your data. Let's get going!

Overview of the 'Please Insert a Disk into USB Drive' Error

Meaning

This error message typically indicates that Windows detects the physical presence of your external drive, but it cannot read or recognize the data stored on it. Many users reported that this issue is not limited to USB flash drives, but can also occur with other portable devices, such as external hard drives, memory cards, SSDs, etc. Well, what are the causes of the 'USB stick please insert a disk into drive' error?

Causes

A USB flash drive can become inaccessible or unreadable for the following reasons:

• Loose or broken connection.
• Drive letter conflicts.
• Bad sectors on the drive.
• Virus or malware infection.
• Corrupted file system or partition table.
• Outdated or incompatible USB device drivers.
• Uninitialized removable disk.
• Windows cannot to load the hard drive manufacturer's firmware.

Rescue Data from the Unreadable USB Flash Drive

During troubleshooting, it may be necessary to reformat the problematic USB drive to get it working again. So, we suggest retrieving files from the drive before attempting any DIY fixes, and tools like 4DDiG Data Recovery can do the job. With a 98.6% success rate, this free program is great for recovering data from unreadable, inaccessible, or RAW drives. More details about 4DDiG are as follows:

• Recover data from a problematic USB drive in just 3 simple steps.
• Handles various data loss scenarios such as formatting errors, accidental deletions, virus attacks, and more.
• Supports over 2,000 file types, including photos, videos, documents, emails, and more.
• Works with all major USB brands and types — including SanDisk, Kingston, Samsung, Toshiba, and more.
• Equipped with Quick Scan and Deep Scan modes.

Download the tool from its official website and follow the given steps to recover data from your USB drive:

Step 1: Connect your flash drive to the computer, launch 4DDiG, and select the device from the home interface. Proceed by clicking "Scan."

Step 2: If you locate the files you wish to retrieve, feel free to pause or stop the scanning process.

Step 3: Preview the desired files to ensure they are intact. Then, select them and hit the "Recover" buttom in the bottom right corner.

Methods to Fix the Please Insert a Disk Into USB Drive Error

Option A: Check the USB connection

If your USB says "Please insert disk in drive," the very first thing to do is eliminate connection issues. Remove the pen drive and plug it back into a different USB port on your computer. Or, try plugging the device into another computer to check if the issue persists. On the other hand, it's possible that your USB port can't supply enough power for some USB devices (especially large external hard drives). In such a case, try using a USB hub with an external power source or connect the device to the computer's rear USB ports.

Option B: Update the Driver

One possible fix for the 'Please insert a disk into usb drive D' error is to update your USB device driver. This is because outdated drivers can cause the operating system to have trouble recognizing or interacting with your USB device. To do so: 

Step 1: Right-click on the Windows icon followed by selecting "Device Manager."

Step 2: Expand the last section in the list.

Step 3: Locate and right-click on your memory stick. Pick "Update Driver" from the menu.

Option C: Perform a Disk Check

If the 'Please insert a disk into USB drive' error is caused by file system corruption, consider running a command-line utility called CHKDSK. This tool checks for issues in the file system structure (like a corrupted MFT or bad entries in the file allocation table) and fixes them if possible. Here's how to use it: 

Step 1: Write "CMD" into the Windows search box, and then open the app as an administrator.

Step 2: Type and run the "chkdsk #: /f /r" command in Command Prompt. Replace "#:" with the drive letter of your USB flash drive.

Option D: Run the Windows Troubleshooter

For non-tech-savvy users, there's one more solution to fix the 'Please insert a disk into USB drive D' error: run the Hardware and Devices troubleshooter. In recent versions of Windows 10 and Windows 11, this tool has been hidden from the Settings menu, but you can still access it manually.

Step 1: Press Windows + R, enter "msdt.exe -id DeviceDiagnostic" and click "OK."

Step 2: In the next window, hit "Next." The troubleshooter will scan your system for hardware issues and guide you through potential solutions.

Option E: Create a New Volume

On some occasions, the 'USB stick please insert a disk into drive' error occurs because the USB device isn't partitioned correctly. You can usually tell by seeing 'Unallocated' next to the drive in Disk Management. To resolve this issue, follow the steps below: 

Step 1: Navigate to Disk Management, look for your USB stick, and right-click its unallocated space. Select "New Simple Volume" from the list.

Step 2: In the wizard, click "Next", then set the volume size (or leave default) and click "Next" again.

Step 3: Assign a drive letter and click "Next".

Step 4: Choose a file system (e.g., NTFS or FAT32), check Perform a quick format, then click "Next".

Step 5: Click "Finish" to create and format the volume.

Option F: Scan for Virus

If the error message 'Please insert a disk into removable disk I' still pops up, the next method you should try is running an antivirus scan. Many users do not install antivirus software or enable real-time protection on removable devices, leaving them more vulnerable to infection. Also, removable devices usually lack built-in security mechanisms.

Option G: Manual Repair

Still no luck? It's a good idea to check if there are any signs of malfunction with your USB drive, such as unusual noise, system crashes after inserting it, or excessive heat. If the problem is related to a physical failure, your best bet is take the drive to a professional repair shop. This is especially true when your USB drive shows as "No Media" in Disk Management.

So, there you have it, that's everything related to the 'USB says please insert disk in drive' issue and how to resolve it.

Bottom Line

We've explored seven possible fixes to help you get rid of the "Please insert a disk into USB drive" error. If the issue persists, we recommend using a reliable data recovery tool as soon as possible to ensure you don't lose any important files. However, it's best to replace your pen drive if the problem is related to hardware failure. Contact the manufacturer to check if your device is still under warranty. Plus, regular maintenance of your devices, such as checking for updates and safely ejecting drives, can help prevent future disruptions.