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files not showing up in USB pen

us flag

I copied some files into a USB flash drive but when I navigate to it, it just displays empty folders. When I try to copy them again, it asks me to if I want to replace, so the files seem to be there but they're not showing. What could I do about this?

Ubuntu 20.04.3 LTS

David avatar
cn flag
Give an example of one of the files.
sudodus avatar
jp flag
What tool are you using to copy a file and to try to see the copied file?
us flag
they're music files, mostly. I'm just using Files.
sudodus avatar
jp flag
Please show us the complete file name of a problematic file. Music files can have special characters in the file name, and it can cause problems with some methods and tools. Also, what file system is there in the USB pendrive?
us flag
I've replaced a couple, and now I have a bunch of ".goutputstream" files. They play in my music players. (VLC and audacious)
us flag
"001 Ain't No Sunshine" or "001 Mercy Mercy Me". I don't think any of those characters are problematic."李帶菓 Li Daiguo - 笑功 Xiao Gong - 01 我只想再找個人愛,我沒真的耍過 wo zhi xiang zai zhao ge ren ai wo mei zhende shuaguo" this one could, though.
sudodus avatar
jp flag
Spaces are problematic in some tools and a single quote can also be problematic. And what is the extension if there is one (goutputstream or something else)?
sudodus avatar
jp flag
I have no experience of Chinese or Japanese characters in filenames, but I can imagine that they might confuse tools, that are not made to manage them. Are you using Ubuntu Kylin or at least some locale (language setting), that is fit for the characters in the file names?
us flag
I have other drives that don't have this problem. But now it won't mount, so I guess nevermind. Thanks all.
sudodus avatar
jp flag
If you are using FAT32 or exFAT or NTFS (a Microsoft file system) in the USB pendrive, Ubuntu might not be able to convert the special characters for that file system.
sudodus avatar
jp flag
If the drive won't mount, there might be another problem. [This link](https://askubuntu.com/questions/144852/cant-format-my-usb-drive-i-have-already-tried-with-mkdosfs-and-gparted/933035#933035) might help you analyze the problem, and I think also solve it.
us flag
Thanks, I'll look into it.
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