Many of us use portable media, because they incredibly simplify routine work, for example, transferring files from one computer to another, etc. But sometimes there are problems, for example, they cannot format a USB flash drive, what should I do? In this article, we will help you in detail with solving this simple problem.
Introduction
Modern manufacturers offer a large selection of USB-drives, drives and other storage devices. The former are distinguished by simplicity in erasing and recording data, as well as by the largest capacity of information, with very small dimensions.
They differ in memory size, color, shape and design. Very often problems arise with them. One of the cases is the inability to format in a simple way. Often people, not thinking about solving a problem, take money and go buy a new storage device. This option justifies itself by the low cost of these devices.
Why can’t they format the flash drive?
There are a lot of reasons for formatting problems in Windows:
- Problems with USB connectors.
- Damage to flash drives.
- System errors
- File occupancy.
But do not be scared and rush to replace the device with a new one. In 95% of cases, it is possible to fix the breakdowns and return the device to working condition. But even with such a high probability of successful error correction, one should not forget about 5% of cases when the medium has exhausted its resource.
Windows cannot complete formatting a flash drive - what should I do?
First you need to make sure that no important data is left on the device, and if you are formatting at a given time, then use the safe removal of the device. This is done as follows: in the taskbar there will be a flash drive icon, right-click on it, then on “Remove device”. After that, the device can be removed from the computer port and perform subsequent operations, which will be described in the paragraphs below. We strongly do not recommend disassembling a flash drive - you will not find anything interesting there for yourself.
What to do if you can’t format the USB flash drive
Many have encountered a problem when it is not possible to format a flash drive or memory card. If you encounter this problem, do not rush to throw away the defective device or carry it to the service. Every PC user with basic computer skills can restore a memory device.
This article will help you. So, if you can’t format the flash drive, feel free to proceed to the following points. The treatment of this disease in a flash drive is carried out exclusively using specialized tools, which will be discussed, but first you need to find out why the carrier began to fail in formatting.
Two simple causes of failure
Programs are also organisms in a way, they live their own separate lives from our own. And they have problems that are treated according to their symptoms. In our case, refusal from formatting. In the list below we will tell you in detail about the most likely causes of the breakdown:
- It is likely that the reason for the failure of the system to format the USB flash drive is an antivirus. It happens that software designed to fight viruses does not allow system processes for formatting devices, as they often have a similar structure. To check and confirm this reason, you only need to temporarily turn off the security software, as well as Windows Defender, perform the procedure of cleaning the drive again. This formatting should be carried out in a standard way (via PC).
- Another reason for the failure of the computer to format the USB flash drive lies in the incomplete processes conducted with this device. For example, if you previously opened any image, text, sound, or any other file from the drive without terminating programs with this information. Cleaning up fails, first you need to complete all the processes associated with the flash card. After that, the software should enable formatting.
Formatting a flash drive through the console
If you don’t know how to format, or if something goes wrong with you, we recommend that you look at the instructions on how to format a USB flash drive in FAT32 :
- Press the key combination "Win + R", a window appears with an input line.
- Enter “diskmgmt.msc” (without quotes), the “Disk Management” window will open.
- We right-click on our flash drive, select "Format".
If this method does not help, then boldly proceed to the next.
Format SD card using a specialized program
For this method, you will need the USB Disk Storage Format Tool. After downloading the program from any available resource for you, you will need to do the steps described below:
- We open the program, in the field Device select our SD-card.
- Check the box next to Scandrive and click CheckDisk.
- Remove the label from Scandrive and put in Correcterrors. Click CheckDisk.
- In the FileSystem field, select the file system (NTFS, FAT, FAT32 or EXFAT). This item is the answer to the question of how to format a USB flash drive in NTFS - this program is also capable of this.
- In VolumeLabel, make the disk a new name.
- Set the selection label near Verbose, click FormatDisk,
- In the field that appears, click on the final OK button
If this method does not suit you because of the operating system or hardware incompatibility, then in the next paragraph a program with similar functionality will be presented.
SDFormatter program
SDFormatter is a program for solving problems with cards used in both phones and other devices. When opened, it opens like a regular window.
In the Drive field you need to select your card, which should be formatted, and press the Option button. A new window opens with two fields. In the first column you need to select FULL (Erase), and in the other column set ON. After we try the usual formatting.
Diskpart command
This method will help to format a write-protected flash drive. We press the "Win + X" buttons, we need a "command line", a window will open. Enter "Diskpart", and then write "list disk", then "select disk 1", then "attributes disk clear readonly".
We exit by typing the "exit" command, re-format the USB flash drive or SD card in the usual way. And finally, the last way that will definitely help you in solving your problem. In the next paragraph of the article we will tell you what to do if your flash drive says "format the disk for future use."
Formatting with Flashnul
Again, "Win + X" opens a familiar window, where we write: "cd D: \\ flashnul" - then enter "flashnul –p". In the list that opens, we find our flash drive, remember its number. Suppose that it has number 3, then you need to register the command: “flashnul 3: –F” The last command will erase (completely) all data from the device, after which it will be necessary to format using the first method (formatting through the console).
Notes and Cautions
In this article, not all possible methods for solving formatting problems are described. If none of the above methods helped, you can contact your system administrator to help you solve your problem.
In addition to this article, we’ll give some tips on the proper use of information storage devices, as well as answer a few questions about why such problems arise.
During the deletion of files from information storage devices, if the same files are restored again and cannot be erased in any way, the diagnosis begs for itself - the device has died and nothing will help.
Recommendations for extending drive life as long as possible
First, always try to turn off the devices in which your drives are located using safe shutdowns, rather than simply removing the battery or pulling the plug of the power cord from the network (wall outlet). In addition, it is strictly not recommended to pull the drives out of the devices while recording information on them, as this often leads to failure of the removable device.
If you take out a memory card from your smartphone, it is recommended that you turn it off at the beginning in your phone’s settings. Then turn off the device and remove the drive. It is also possible to wipe the contacts with a dry rag and blow out the telephone connector from where the storage element was removed. It does not hurt to download the SanDisk utility on your smartphone to check the card.
Attention! The listed methods are used to restore the flash drive. If they didn’t help you, and there is still a question about why they cannot format the USB flash drive, then you can try to restore the drive with other software, for example D-Soft Flash Doctor, EzRecover or JetFlash Recovery Tool.
Finally
We hope that after reading this article you fully understand the material you have read and will no longer ask the question: "Why can’t I format the flash drive?" On other operating systems, the formatting scheme is almost the same, so there should be no problems.