[SOLVED] USB is RAW - cannot format

[1651694]

so i went to china, and bought a "64GB" "sony" usb. get home, try it out. then my antivirus detects a worm! removed it just fine, then deleted autorun.inf from it to make it work again. then for a little while it works just fine, but i didnt test its 64GB capabilities, the most i used at any point is about 1.5 - 2BG. then all of a sudden, soon after (i think) i changed its drive letter, the file system is RAW. 0 bytes free space and 0 bytes used free space. try to open it with explorer, says i have to format it.

numerous attempts to format it fail. i tried formatting to FAT32: volume is too large. tried NTFS: it just says it fails, no explanation!

the driver name is 86Ameco Flash Disk USB Device, optimized for performance, in device properties it says the partition is Master Boot Record (MBR) and in the general tab on device properties it say that the device is working properly.

please help me with this problem asap

[Deleted090308]

Hi

Try wiping the drive completely with DBAN (although I'm not sure DBAN is able to do that with flash memory, if that's the case).
Then initialize and format the drive in Disk management.

Make absolutely sure you select the correct drive when using DBAN - otherwise you'll create a disaster.
The best would be to disconnect all HDDs when using DBAN.

[1651694]

DBAN doesnt seem to be able to erase the USB. when i try, it says it finished with non-fatal errors.

even so, i tried formatting with disk management, and then again with command prompt (format e: /FS:NTFS), but both failed like before

[Deleted090308]

Please post a screenshot of Disk management.

[1651694]

u mean while its formatting or just while showing the USB?

EDIT:any particular views/ details you want?

[Deleted090308]

Just with the USB stick connected to see what DM says.

[1651694]

Disk Management, in volume list view:

http://s228.photobucket.com/albums/e...t=Untitled.jpg

[Deleted090308]

Thanks.
Try deleting, then formatting the partition with Parted Magic.

[1651694]

i delete the partition with parted magic, then format it with parted magic?

[Deleted090308]

Yes, delete the partition first - then create a new. You can do that in the same session.

[1651694]

parted magic doesnt detect the USB

[Deleted090308]

Parted Magic is able to detect USB drives.
Sounds like you have a faulty drive.

[philay]

Originally Posted by eneles

Parted Magic is able to detect USB drives.
Sounds like you have a faulty drive.

1651694, Problem solved :http://www.techsupportforum.com/imag...ies/1-pray.gif

i had exactly the same problem with two china keys. The first worked ten minutes and became invisible with xp, and the second was totaly instable. (files deleted without explains)
solution : put your key in a pc with linux (me : unbutu version) and format it in fat32.
the pc sees the key, accept to format. When you return on xp he accepts to scandisk and all you want. two days using the key with no problem.
hope it will go

[1651694]

i think FAT32 only supports up to 32gb, and the usb is 64gb O>O

[Deleted090308]

That's only true when it comes to formatting FAT32 partitions in Windows.
Parted Magic is based on Linux and should be able to format the whole drive with FAT32.

[1651694]

thats all well and good, but i dont have a linux system and i dont know anybody with linux either =(

[Deleted090308]

Download and burn Parted Magic on a CD.
Then boot the computer with that disc.

[1651694]

thats what i did before on my Vista laptop.
i also tried it on my WinXp (SP2) computer, but i get some kind of video error.
i will try it on another computer.

[rich32]

Hi Mate,

I had the exact same problem (with my 120Gb "86Ameco Flash Disk USB Device") and I have finally fixed it.

You need to use this HP USB formatting utility:
<http://files1.extremeoverclocking.com/a3b2c2693b7bf0116eb241a970ab5141/bootdisks/SP27608.exe>

Run it using FAT32 and it reformats the whole thing.

Mine is 120GB and its working fine now. No other formatting/partitioning software worked for me, so I feel your pain.

This worked for me, if it doesn't work for you let me know because there were some fiddly things I did beforehand that may have altered my outcome.

Good luck,

-Rich32

[rich32]

A quick side note.

If you are storing large files (esp videos) you have to copy them from the USB drive to the computer before you run them because the microcontroller (microprocessor) in the 86Ameco cannot handle this type of high-demand operation.