Summary: Are you facing 0 bytes error or USB no media problem? This post shares 8 ways to fix USB drive, SD card, or pen drive showing 0 bytes error. Also, learn how to safely recover lost photos and videos from 0 bytes drive using Stellar Photo Recovery. You can free download the software here and recover 0 bytes files.
The 0 bytes error is not new. Many users complain about facing this error while trying to access their SD card or pen drive on the computer.
Zero bytes implies no data in the storage drive. The error is bound to make you panic as it points towards data loss from the removable storage media.
However, there are various ways to repair USB or SD card showing 0 bytes error and restore the lost data.
Contents
Following are the probable factors that can trigger 0 bytes error in removable disks:
No media error does lead to permanent loss of files from the storage drive, if not fixed. If your camera card or pen drive contains important photos and videos, immediately repair the 0 byte drive and restore its files.
Follow the below troubleshooting methods to fix USB 0 bytes error problem:
Connect your SD card, USB drive or pen drive to another computer. Check if the 0 bytes error appears or not.
If you can access the storage media without error, it means the issue is with your computer. Immediately backup the files stored in the removable disk and format the media to fix the issue.
In case you still see the 0 bytes or empty media on another computer, then move to the next solution.
If the SD card is showing 0 bytes error, try by changing the card reader. The SD card error may be due to the damaged card reader.
If the SD card or USB drive error is not a hardware issue, it could be a virus in the computer or the storage media.
Install a trusted anti-virus software to scan your computer and the removable media. The anti-virus would delete malicious software causing 0 bytes error.
After which, you should be able to access the photos, videos, or music stored in your pen drive or memory card.
The files may be there in the USB or SD card but hidden due to corruption in the media. Unhide and view the files by using CMD command in Windows.
Steps to run CMD command in Windows 10:
Once the process completes, check the storage drive if you can access its files.
You can run the Check Disk Utility (CHKDSK) command to fix storage media corruption and view the files on SD card/ USB or pen drive showing 0 byte error.
CHKDSK utility can repair the file system errors which may be the cause of the USB 0 bytes problem.
Steps to run CHKDSK command:
Use this method if the 0 byte SD card or pen drive shows its data unallocated in disk management.
Steps to fix SD card/ USB error in disk management:
4. Set partition size, drive letter, and file system (FAT 32 or NTFS).
5. Click Finish.
Master Boot Record or MBR contains information about the logical partitions on the storage drive. When MBR of a drive gets corrupt or damaged, it may show disk errors such as 0 bytes.
Windows allow you to rebuild and fix damaged MBR. Automatic MBR repair tools are also available that can fix removable media MBR.
But, if you are a novice and not familiar with command lines, avoid this method to fix the 0 byte error.
Steps to fix MBR in Windows 10
Now check if the removable disk 0 byte error is fixed or not.
If the above methods don’t fix the ‘no media or 0 bytes problem’, try to format the removable media. Formatting fixes all kinds of corruption and errors in a storage drive.
Steps to format USB/ SD card/ pen drive in PC:
Note: Format camera or smartphone SD cards within the device.
The 0 bytes error makes your files inaccessible. You cannot open and view your stored photos and videos. Even formatting, which fixes the drive error, results in data loss. There are some best USB and SD card recovery tools available, but all may not be capable of recovering 0 bytes files.
Here we recommend Stellar Photo Recovery software that recovers photo and video files from SD card or USB drive showing 0 bytes. It can restore lost files from formatted drives as well.
You can restore lost files from all brands and types of SD card, USB drive and pen drives showing 0 bytes error. The software works on SDXC, SDHC, CF card, USB flash drives, memory stick, XQD, SmartMedia, and more.
The free version of Stellar Photo Recovery software scans the drive and let you preview the recoverable photos, videos, and audio files.
No media or 0 bytes error in the SD card or USB drive makes your photos and videos inaccessible. You may also lose data on your USB drive permanently. But you can try the above methods to fix the 0 bytes error in USB flash drives, SD cards, and other media.
However, don’t forget to recover your photos and videos from the storage drive that shows 0 bytes error. Always use professional software, such as Stellar Photo Recovery that efficiently restores videos and photos from corrupt or formatted SD cards, pen drives, USB flash drives, etc.
A free trial of the software is also available that allows you to preview the found media files before recovery.
Nishat Paiker is an expert technical writer and editor with over 8 years of experience. She has deep knowledge about data recovery and loves to explore new technology and DIY tools. Nishat has keen interest in photography. You will often find her giving photography tips and hacks.
