topic Re: USB Flash Drive Failure in VMB4000r3 in Arlo Pro 2

USB Flash Drive Failure in VMB4000r3

PNelson — Thu, 11 Sep 2025 00:15:09 GMT

I have had multiple USB flash drive failures in the Arlo Pro2 VMB4000r3 base station.

The drive goes into read only mode to protect the existing data. I can read from the drive, but no longer write to the drive.

I reported on this back in 2021.

https://community.arlo.com/t5/Arlo-Pro-2/Two-Sandisk-Cruzer-USB-Flash-Drives-going-bad-within-6-months/m-p/1811402

I upgraded to a SanDisk Ultra 32 GB and it lasted almost 3 years. I probably have gone through 3-4 USB flash drives. SanDisk has replaced them under warranty.

Has anyone else experienced this problem?

Paul

Re: USB Flash Drive Failure in VMB4000r3

PNelson — Thu, 11 Sep 2025 00:22:59 GMT

I noticed my more updated post from 2022.

https://community.arlo.com/t5/Arlo-Pro-2/Recommended-USB-stick-for-base-station-VMB4000r3/m-p/1878201#M56231

I have gone through 4 USB drives. The Ultra model lasted longer (almost 3 years) than the cheaper (?) Cruiser model that lasted less than a year.

Paul

Re: USB Flash Drive Failure in VMB4000r3

StephenB — Thu, 11 Sep 2025 12:41:23 GMT

@PNelson wrote:

The drive goes into read only mode to protect the existing data. I can read from the drive, but no longer write to the drive.

When you connect the drive to a PC, does Windows offer to "repair" the drive? If so, let it do that. Then try to write a file to the drive from the PC.

Often the read-only mode happens when the drive is pulled without ejecting it from the app. Or sometimes when there is a power failure at the hub when the drive is in use. There is a "dirty bit" on the drive that flags that problem. The windows "repair" will clear that bit.

Re: USB Flash Drive Failure in VMB4000r3

PNelson — Thu, 18 Sep 2025 14:57:52 GMT

I attempted a Windows repair but there was a message saying ( i think) the drive is write protected.

I noticed the problem with the USB Flash drive after I rebooted the base station. Perhaps the reboot caused the problem?

I am careful to use the eject procedure to remove USB drives from computers, etc.

Paul

Re: USB Flash Drive Failure in VMB4000r3

StephenB — Fri, 19 Sep 2025 16:25:06 GMT

@PNelson wrote:

I attempted a Windows repair but there was a message saying ( i think) the drive is write protected.

The info here might be useful:

https://support-en.sandisk.com/app/answers/detailweb/a_id/39716

@PNelson wrote:

I noticed the problem with the USB Flash drive after I rebooted the base station. Perhaps the reboot caused the problem?

If you rebooted by power-cycling, that is a possibility. If you rebooted using the app, then the base station should have finished any writes that were in process before it rebooted.