Getting "The directory name is invalid" Error on My USB Drive

[Clearlove7]

A few days ago, opening my SanDisk Cruzer Blade 128GB in File Explorer triggered the error:

“The directory name is invalid”

This USB stick was used as a Windows bootable drive in the past. It was recently reformatted to store some documents, and everything seemed fine until now.

The error appears every time the drive is accessed, no matter which computer or USB port is used. Is the drive damaged, or is there a way to fix this and recover the files? Thanks in advance for your help!!!

[SBrown]

@Clearlove7 Have you checked our knowledge base articles?
( Get Support for Your SSDs and Flash Products | Sandisk )

Try this one.

• Steps to Check Drives and Memory Cards for Errors or Failures on Windows and macOS | Sandisk

Have you opened a Support Case?
If not, contact SanDisk Technical Support for assistance.
( Contact Support | Sandisk )

[johnjacobb40]

Don’t format your SanDisk USB, as that could permanently erase your files. Start by using reliable data recovery software like Stellar Data Recovery to recover your photos and videos. Once your files are safely recovered, you can format the drive to restore functionality. Since the drive is new, it’s also a good idea to contact SanDisk support—they may replace it if it’s defective.