Formatting USB Flash Drive Device
Hello,
I have a small 32MB usb flash drive. I recently attempted to copy a bunch of folders onto it, which turned out to be too much for it. I successfully cancelled the operation.
However, since then, then drive has become unuseable (Win2k - tried on more than 4 computers). I always get prompted to format the drive, but any attempt to do so is unsuccessful.
I was wondering if there is a certain program that could be used to format the device? I have obviously used MS format command. Nothing seems to work here! Any ideas welcome!
Thanks a lot for your help, and best regards,
I have a small 32MB usb flash drive. I recently attempted to copy a bunch of folders onto it, which turned out to be too much for it. I successfully cancelled the operation.
However, since then, then drive has become unuseable (Win2k - tried on more than 4 computers). I always get prompted to format the drive, but any attempt to do so is unsuccessful.
I was wondering if there is a certain program that could be used to format the device? I have obviously used MS format command. Nothing seems to work here! Any ideas welcome!
Thanks a lot for your help, and best regards,
Try this
Put in the flash drive
go to device manager and look for this usb drive
right-click and disable it
remove the usb drive and put it back .Check if it is still prompting to format
Sunray
Put in the flash drive
go to device manager and look for this usb drive
right-click and disable it
remove the usb drive and put it back .Check if it is still prompting to format
Sunray
ASKER
Hi LucF,
There is only one primary partition (approx. 30MB) - and it says that it's healthy.
If I try to "Explore" it - I get the error "The device is not ready".
If I try to format (NTFS or FAT), I get the error: "The format failed to complete successfully"
I have also tried to format into FAT32 - where I get the error "Volume size is too small".
Any idea what would be the best file system for this device? I've also been using "Allocation Unit Size = Default" that o.k.?
Thanks a lot for your help!
There is only one primary partition (approx. 30MB) - and it says that it's healthy.
If I try to "Explore" it - I get the error "The device is not ready".
If I try to format (NTFS or FAT), I get the error: "The format failed to complete successfully"
I have also tried to format into FAT32 - where I get the error "Volume size is too small".
Any idea what would be the best file system for this device? I've also been using "Allocation Unit Size = Default" that o.k.?
Thanks a lot for your help!
Please still try to remove the partition and recreate it, just to make sure the partition table is rebuild.
>> I've also been using "Allocation Unit Size = Default" that o.k.?
Should be ok.
Should be ok.
ASKER
Well, the option to delete partition is greyed out.
One thing to note aswell, is that it doesn't seem to have a file system entry in the "Disk Management" area. Which kinda implies that it needs to be formatted I suppose!
I actually got it to work there once - but after I unplugged the device, and replugged it back in, I needed to format it again, and it didn't work again! - I'm starting to think that it is just messed up!
One thing to note aswell, is that it doesn't seem to have a file system entry in the "Disk Management" area. Which kinda implies that it needs to be formatted I suppose!
I actually got it to work there once - but after I unplugged the device, and replugged it back in, I needed to format it again, and it didn't work again! - I'm starting to think that it is just messed up!
ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION
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There is a utility on Dell's website you can use to format USB memory. I don't know if it only works on Dell systems or not...but its worth a shot I guess! Get it here:
http://support.dell.com/FileLib/Type.aspx?c=us&l=en&s=DHS&Category=32&OS=WW1&OSL=EN&SvcTag=&SysID=PLX_PNT_P4_GX260&DeviceID=3581
-dogztar
http://support.dell.com/FileLib/Type.aspx?c=us&l=en&s=DHS&Category=32&OS=WW1&OSL=EN&SvcTag=&SysID=PLX_PNT_P4_GX260&DeviceID=3581
-dogztar
USB keys use regular FAT. You'll have to find a utility that will format it as such. Try the link posted above.
ASKER
Thanks a lot guys, I'll try it out over the weekend (didn't bring it to work today). I'll let you know!
Well I just installed the Dell util I linked above and it installed and runs fine on my MSI/Athlon system (which is most definitely *NOT* a Dell) so unless the chip is really scrambled, that should do it. Don't bother copying the bootable files unless you want to boot your system from the key (which requires BIOS support and is hard to come by except on the latest motherboards).
-dog*
-dog*
ASKER
Killdisk worked! - Somehow!
Anyway, thanks a lot for all your help, much appreciated! =)
Anyway, thanks a lot for all your help, much appreciated! =)
Glad to help ;-)
Good call LucF...I would not have guessed you could use killdisk on a USB flash drive, good idea!
dogztar
dogztar
;-)
it didnt work for me when i tried to format sandisk mini cruzer 256 using the utility from dell website it shows the drive geometry couldnot be matched.
done any one have any other solution for this problem
thanking you
done any one have any other solution for this problem
thanking you
Try this:
Put the device in one of the computers, then go to disk manager:
Rightclick "My computer" => "Manage" => "Storage" => "disk manager"
the drive should be visible there, right click it and remove the partition on it. Then create a new one, afterwards, format it.
Greetings,
LucF