Windows says the key has errors

When you plug your PixiSafe key into a Windows PC, a message appears, for example:

• “There was a problem with this drive. Scan it now and fix it.”
• or “Do you want to scan and fix [USB drive]? There might be a problem with some files on this device.”

You run the scan… but the message comes back the next time you plug in, as if the repair did nothing.

Good news: in the vast majority of cases, your photos and videos are intact and the key works normally.

No. Your files stay readable and the key is not faulty. This message is just a precautionary check by Windows, not a sign of a failure.

To be sure: open the key in Windows File Explorer. Your folders, sorted by year and month, are there and your photos and videos open normally.

To be readable on iPhone, Android, Mac and PC alike, your PixiSafe key uses a universal storage format. This format sets a small “flag” on the key with each write, which it normally clears when the key is ejected properly.

But when the key is unplugged without ejecting — pulled from the phone, or unplugged mid-backup — that flag stays raised. The next time you plug into a PC, Windows spots it and offers, as a precaution, to check the key. The scan clears the flag, but it's set again the next time you use the key on the phone: hence the impression that the repair does nothing.

1. 1
   You can let Windows scan and repair safely: the operation deletes no photo or video. You can also simply close the message — your files stay accessible either way.
2. 2
   Open the key in File Explorer to check that your photo and video folders are there (they almost always are).
3. 3
   Keep using your key normally, on the phone and on the computer.

• Always wait for the “Done” message in the PixiSafe app before unplugging the key.
• On PC, before removing the key, use “Safely Remove Hardware” (the USB-drive icon in the taskbar, at the bottom right of the screen).
• Avoid unplugging the key while a copy is in progress.

In doubt, or the key really won't open on the computer? Our customer support replies quickly, 7 days a week. Write to us at contact@pixisafe.fr or check the getting started guide.