Can't format USB Stick!!

ksaggu · 01-07-2008, 06:19 AM

I got a 8GB USB Stick today from eBay, I transferred two files on to it to see if it works okay but when I put the USB in the computer again one of the files wasn't opening and it said it was corrupted. So i tried to delete the file but again it wouldn't let me so i tried to format the USB. I have tried formatting through windows (right click and click on format) and it is not letting me do it as it says "Windows cannot complete the the format".

Now I can't access the files or the stick. Please help...

**Deleted090308** · 01-07-2008, 06:38 AM

Hi, welcome to TSF.

Open disk management (Right click "My computer" > choose "Manage" > Disk Management):

In disk management - right click the drive > delete the partition/drive.
Then right click the drive again > choose "New partition" and follow the wizard.

ksaggu · 01-07-2008, 08:42 AM

Hi, thanks for getting back to me. I tried doing as you said however when i try to delete the Partition in Disk Management, the option is there but it doesn't let me click it... Now what do i do??

ksaggu · 01-07-2008, 09:17 AM

I also used a different memory stick (that works fine) but again I get the same problem - I cannot click on "Delete partition...".

Do I have to do something on the computer for it to allow me to select it?

**Deleted090308** · 01-07-2008, 10:37 AM

Are the sticks write protected?

You could use Diskpart - but it's a bit more complicated, so be careful.
http://www.microsoft.com/resources/d....mspx?mfr=true

ksaggu · 01-07-2008, 11:43 AM

Hi, I am using Disk Part but I don't know how to clean my USB Stick. If I type "list disk" then I do not find the memory stick however if I type "list volume" then I find it. I selected it and typed clean but it says "there is no disk selected".

What am I supposed to do?

ksaggu · 01-07-2008, 11:45 AM

I don't think that the USB Stick I am having trouble with is write protected.

**Deleted090308** · 01-07-2008, 01:22 PM

Try Parted Magic instead.
Direct download link: http://rubenal.com/felipe1982/parted...pmagic-1.9.iso

Orchard · 06-30-2009, 12:02 PM

I was looking for an answer to this question and this thread has helped me to find it, but I am running Windows Vista and the process is slightly different. My USB thumb drive was inaccessible after I formatted it previously as ExFAT.

In Windows Vista, you click the "Start" button and then right click on "Computer" and select "Manage". That opens the disk management window. From there, you right click on the usb drive that you could not format before. If it is displaying "unallocated space", you can opt to create a "New Simple Volume". This gives you additional formatting options and should enable you to format the drive successfuly.

01-07-2008, 06:19 AM	#1 (permalink)
ksaggu Registered User Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: London, UK Posts: 10 OS: XP SP2	Can't format USB Stick!! I got a 8GB USB Stick today from eBay, I transferred two files on to it to see if it works okay but when I put the USB in the computer again one of the files wasn't opening and it said it was corrupted. So i tried to delete the file but again it wouldn't let me so i tried to format the USB. I have tried formatting through windows (right click and click on format) and it is not letting me do it as it says "Windows cannot complete the the format". Now I can't access the files or the stick. Please help...

01-07-2008, 06:38 AM	#2 (permalink)
Deleted090308 Not... Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 22,277 OS: Xp	Re: Can't format USB Stick!! Hi, welcome to TSF. Open disk management (Right click "My computer" > choose "Manage" > Disk Management): In disk management - right click the drive > delete the partition/drive. Then right click the drive again > choose "New partition" and follow the wizard.

01-07-2008, 08:42 AM	#3 (permalink)
ksaggu Registered User Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: London, UK Posts: 10 OS: XP SP2	Re: Can't format USB Stick!! Hi, thanks for getting back to me. I tried doing as you said however when i try to delete the Partition in Disk Management, the option is there but it doesn't let me click it... Now what do i do??

01-07-2008, 09:17 AM	#4 (permalink)
ksaggu Registered User Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: London, UK Posts: 10 OS: XP SP2	Re: Can't format USB Stick!! I also used a different memory stick (that works fine) but again I get the same problem - I cannot click on "Delete partition...". Do I have to do something on the computer for it to allow me to select it? __________________ *Khush Saggu*

01-07-2008, 10:37 AM	#5 (permalink)
Deleted090308 Not... Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 22,277 OS: Xp	Re: Can't format USB Stick!! Are the sticks write protected? You could use Diskpart - but it's a bit more complicated, so be careful. http://www.microsoft.com/resources/d....mspx?mfr=true

01-07-2008, 11:43 AM	#6 (permalink)
ksaggu Registered User Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: London, UK Posts: 10 OS: XP SP2	Re: Can't format USB Stick!! Hi, I am using Disk Part but I don't know how to clean my USB Stick. If I type "list disk" then I do not find the memory stick however if I type "list volume" then I find it. I selected it and typed clean but it says "there is no disk selected". What am I supposed to do? __________________ *Khush Saggu*

01-07-2008, 11:45 AM	#7 (permalink)
ksaggu Registered User Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: London, UK Posts: 10 OS: XP SP2	Re: Can't format USB Stick!! I don't think that the USB Stick I am having trouble with is write protected. __________________ *Khush Saggu*

01-07-2008, 01:22 PM	#8 (permalink)
Deleted090308 Not... Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 22,277 OS: Xp	Re: Can't format USB Stick!! Try Parted Magic instead. Direct download link: http://rubenal.com/felipe1982/parted...pmagic-1.9.iso

06-30-2009, 12:02 PM	#9 (permalink)
Orchard Registered User Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 1 OS: Windows Vista 32 Bit	Re: Can't format USB Stick!! I was looking for an answer to this question and this thread has helped me to find it, but I am running Windows Vista and the process is slightly different. My USB thumb drive was inaccessible after I formatted it previously as ExFAT. In Windows Vista, you click the "Start" button and then right click on "Computer" and select "Manage". That opens the disk management window. From there, you right click on the usb drive that you could not format before. If it is displaying "unallocated space", you can opt to create a "New Simple Volume". This gives you additional formatting options and should enable you to format the drive successfuly. Last edited by Orchard; 06-30-2009 at 12:11 PM.