Question 1

What is USB3.1 and USB Type-C?

Answer

What is USB 3.1?
USB 3.1 is a new standard defined by USB-IF (USB Implementers Forum).
- USB 3.1 Gen1 (SuperSpeed): merely a renaming of USB 3.0 (theoretical bandwidth of up to 5Gbit/s)
- USB 3.1 Gen2 (SuperSpeedPlus): an impact on the transfer speeds (double the theoretical bandwidth of up to 10Gbit/s) What is USB Type-C?
(1) USB Type-C is a new connector type introduced by USB-IF in the USB Type-C Specification 1.0.
(2) The Type-C connector is a reversible plug-and-play connector for USB devices.
(3) USB Type-C can be applied to the host device, the USB device and cables. How do I know my host device has a USB 3.1 port?
- Please refer to the below connector table to check the USB port of your platform.
For further confirmation, please check the specifications of your host device or seek for the technical support from your host device manufacturer. Can I upgrade to USB 3.1 e.g. by using adapters?
- Yes, you can upgrade your device to USB3.1 Gen1 / Gen2 by an supported add-on card. Is USB 3.1 the same as Type-C?
- No, USB 3.1 is the USB specification, whereas Type-C is merely a USB connector type. Does USB 3.1 always come with Type-C connector?
- There are three types of connectors that comply with USB 3.1, including Type-A (Standard-A), Type-B (Standard-B / Micro-B) and Type-C. Please refer to the below connector table for more information.

Question 2

Why is the actual storage capacity of the product slightly less than the volume written on the product specification?

Answer

All storage products will display a less memory capacity on a computer than stated. The discrepancy is resulted from the way flash memory and hard drive manufacturers calculate the megabyte of memory.
Hard drive manufacturers calculate a megabyte (or 1,000x1,000 bytes) as 1,000KBs, when in fact the correct calculation is 1,024KBs. So, for a 8GB storage device, Windows will calculate it as having a capacity around 7.2GB. In addition, addlink will save partial memory capacity for firmware, software applications, data storage and maintenance.

Question 3

Why can't I transfer a 4GB or larger file to my USB flash drive or memory card?

Answer

This is due to FAT32 limitation. Files larger than 4GB can NOT be stored on a FAT32 volume. Formatting the flash drive as exFAT or NTFS will resolve this issue. WARNING: Backup your data. Formatting will delete all the data in your device.
SOLUTION 1 - Format in exFAT
exFAT file system that allows a single file larger than 4GB to be stored on the device. This file system is also compatible with Mac.
Windows 7 and Mac OS 10.6.6 and higher are compatible with exFAT out of the box. Older operating systems may need a patch installed for exFAT compatibility. NOTE: exFAT file system is NOT compatible with some host devices such as TV, game systems, older operating systems, car stereos etc. Formatting a drive in exFAT
1. Double-click on My Computer.
2. Right-click on the flash drive or memory card, then select Format.
3. In the File System list, click exFAT.
4. Click Start.
5. Click OK to start formatting.
SOLUTION 2 - Format in NTFS WARNING:
Formatting the device as NTFS will make it unwriteable on a Mac computer. Most Mac computers can read NTFS, but not write.
NTFS is a journaled file system, this creates more read/write activities. Therefore, it MAY decrease life expectancy of your device.
Once the device is formatted as NTFS, you MUST use "Safely Remove Hardware" to remove your device. STEP 1 - Optimize the flash drive for performance
1. Plug in the device to the PC.
2. Open The Computer Management Console
a) Windows 8
b) Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7
3. On the Left side select Device Manager
4. On the right side expand Disk Drives
5. Right-click on the flash drive, then select Properties.
6. Click the Policy tab.
7. Select Optimize for performance, then click OK. STEP 2 - Format the flash drive
1. Double-click My Computer.
2. Right-click on the flash drive, then select Format.
3. In the File system list, click NTFS.
4. Click Start.
5. Click OK to start formatting.

Question 4

How do I fix a Write Protect error?

Answer

Write protection errors occur when a flash drive detects a potential fault within itself. The drive will go into write-protected mode to prevent data loss. There is no method to fix this. To verify the issue is related to the flash drive and not your computer we recommend that you try plugging the USB drive into another port on your computer. You should also try the drive on another computer if possible. Note: If using a company computer, ensure your IT department does not block saving files to removable drives.

Question 5

Why can't my USB drive be recognized by TVs, DVD players or car audio systems?

Answer

Here are the system requirements for USB drive:
-Desktops or laptops with working USB Ports
-Microsoft Windows 2000
-Microsoft Windows XP
-Microsoft Windows Vista
-Microsoft Windows 7
-Microsoft Windows 8
-Mac OS 9.0 or later
-Linux Kernel 2.4.2 or later

We cannot guarantee normal function of USB drive on non-computer environments. Some devices might not accept NTFS file system, so you may want to check with your media device manufacturer for more information and further support.

Question 6

How to remove computer viruses from my USB drive?

Answer

All computer viruses including stored files will be erased after USB drive is formatted. If the computer virus continues to be rewritten to the USB drive, we would recommend you to scan your computer with a virus scanner. Remove the virus once it is found. To format the USB drive:
Right click on the removable storage device in "My Computer", select "Format," and then click the "Start" button. After the formatting process is completed, please disconnect and then reconnect your USB drive to restore it's functionality.

Question 7

How to prevent files from being damaged or lost from the USB drive?

Answer

addlink suggests that you:
Connecting your USB drive to the rear USB ports of your computer. Try to avoid using an USB hub or an extension cable.
Do not use several USB devices at the same time to avoid any possibility of insufficient power supply.
Making sure that you execute the "Safely Remove Hardware" option before disconnecting the USB drive from your computer.

Question 8

Why will I get an error message, "Confirm Stream Loss," when data is written to my USB drive?

Answer

When you transfer data stored in a NTFS disk partition to a USB drive that was formatted FAT or FAT32, Windows will prompt a "Confirm Stream Loss" error message. This error message is caused by the "Thumbs.db" file, which is generated by Windows when the partition is NTFS. This issue will not damage the data stored in the USB drive. By deleting the "Thumbs.db" file before transferring data to the flash drive, the error message will be eliminated.

Note: "Thumbs.db" is a hidden file. To display this file in Windows, please go to "Tool" > "Folder Options" > "View." Under "Hidden files and folders," select "Show hidden files and folders."

Question 9

Why can my USB Drive work on other computers, but not mine?

Answer

If the USB drive can work normally on some platforms, but not on yours, then the problem probably lies on your computer system. You may want to try the following steps to solve this problem:

If you had previously installed any USB driver for other device, please remove it first. Have your computer entered safe mode before removing all the unknown devices (Device Manager > Universal Serial Bus Controllers). Restart your computer in normal mode, and then reconnect the USB drive.
If the above steps cannot solve your problem, please upgrade the BIOS settings, and make sure that the USB setting is enabled. Please follow the procedures: enter BIOS > Load Optimized Defaults [Y] > Integrated Peripherals > USB Legacy support [Enable] > Save & Exit Setup [Y].
Reinstall the USB driver on your computer motherboard.
Update the BIOS for your motherboard.

Question 10

When can I safely remove the USB drive from my computer?

Answer

Never remove the USB from a computer when its LED is flashing. A flashing LED signifies that data is still being transferred. Removing the USB during data transmission may cause data loss and/or USB damage. Select the JetFlash hardware icon on the system tray to safely remove your USB.