Can't format usb key

[SHENDERS20622]

Trying to format a 1 gig usb key.XP asks do you want to format?I say yes and XP says you can't format this.I have tried the HP Format tool and that won't let me format it.Is there a way or program to low-level this thing.Suprisingly little info on this as I know a lot pf people run into this.

Key is seen by XP but you cannot put any data on it as well.
thanks for any insight.

 

[Matthias99]

Dumb question, but are you sure the USB port is working properly?

 

[SHENDERS20622]

Yes sir,works fine on 3 different machines.

 

[Matthias99]

Originally posted by: SHENDERS20622
Yes sir,works fine on 3 different machines.

Weird.

If you are sure the USB port is functioning properly, my next guess would be that the memory key itself is bad. Unfortunately, there's not a whole lot you can do to troubleshoot these things; they're usually little more than a flash memory chip wired to a CF/IDE->USB chip.

 

[Mark R]

Have you tried formatting this stick on another PC?

If the same thing happens, have you tried going to 'administrative tools -> computer management -> disk management' and seeing how the stick is detected?

 

[Oyeve]

Originally posted by: Mark R
Have you tried formatting this stick on another PC?

If the same thing happens, have you tried going to 'administrative tools -> computer management -> disk management' and seeing how the stick is detected?

QFT. Also, is the lock switch on the USB drive on lock? I know it sounds stupid but A similar thing happened to me with an SD card.

 

[SHENDERS20622]

Hi No lock on it and it is seen in disk management as Disk 1,properties are policies optimize for performance,volumes says Disk 1,Removable F,partition style MBR,capacity 0.Cannot make any changes to it.

 

[Oyeve]

Originally posted by: SHENDERS20622
Hi No lock on it and it is seen in disk management as Disk 1,properties are policies optimize for performance,volumes says Disk 1,Removable F,partition style MBR,capacity 0.Cannot make any changes to it.

Can you delete the partition?

 

[MUKid]

Do you actually need to format a USB drive? If you want to erase everything on it, can't you just erase it? I've got one and I've never formatted it, even when I first got it. Are you sure you actually can?

Not to sound stupid - hey, that's why I lurk these forums - to learn weird stuff, right? But anyway, it never occurred to me that you'd need to format a USB drive. Have you actually formatted one before? Has anyone?

 

[Mark R]

Originally posted by: Oyeve

Originally posted by: SHENDERS20622
Hi No lock on it and it is seen in disk management as Disk 1,properties are policies optimize for performance,volumes says Disk 1,Removable F,partition style MBR,capacity 0.Cannot make any changes to it.

Can you delete the partition?

I'm not sure it would help.

I wanted to see what would happen to an old 32 MB USB stick if I tried to create 2 partitions. Deleted the partition already on it. And that was that. The stick was completely dead. It would detect as 0 MB after that.

Had to throw the stick away.

 

[bruceb]

It should be formatable with either FAT, FAT16 or FAT32 ... they will not take NTFS formats

 

[SHENDERS20622]

Can't delete partiton in XP.Know any way to zero fill?


This is what I did,got it off a forum


"Quick and easy - err well I thought so until I typed the directions...
OK, this is the easiest way by far...you don't need to find any files, or disks, and it won't let you do it if it's not correct.

First, double click on the usb removal icon, click on dispaly device componets, then click on storage device and click on properties, then go to policies, and then select optimize for performance, then click ok, and close.

Now make sure you look and see what drive letter your usb drive is using.

Now go to the run command and type in cmd for the command prompt. Here comes my favorite command because it brings me back to my dos days.

Now type this is, of course substituting your USB drive letter for the part where it says drive letter here.
format (drive letter here): /FS:NTFS /X

Now, once this has been completed, here is the trick, open up My Computer, and go up to and click, tools, options, view, and click on Show hidden files and folders, and uncheck Hide protected operating system files(recommended), click yes to the dialog box warning you about this, and then click apply and then ok. Ok, now click on your C Drive and browse down the the files ntdetect and ntldr and COPY them to the base folder of your flash drive."

Now your done.

If this doesn't work, right click on the My Computer icon and then select Manage. Now go down to the Disk Management title on the left side of the window and click on it. This will load the logical disk manager and allow you to check to see if your USB drive has the partition set to active. If it doesn't, right click on the lower window where it gives the information to your USB drive, and select Mark Partition as active.

Best of luck

P.S. Sorry so messy, but hopefully you can muddle though it.


When I got to this part I can't copy the required files to it.On startup the machine tries to boot from the usb key.

 

[Zoinks]

"Warning! Windows XP also provides a tool to format USB flash drives, but the results of that process are error-prone. In a worst case situation, it can even destroy the flash RAM in a USB flash drive."

From: http://www.tomshardware.com/2005/09/09/windows_in_your_pocket/page2.html

Try downloading the tool they recommend.

 

[SHENDERS20622]

Thanks,but tried the HP tool if you will and it says can't format drive.

Maybe if I run it through my wash machine .......or better yet my yard chipper yeah the chipper wins, i'll feel better.

Better half paid 100.00 for this $39.00 usb key and I blew it up.

microwave????,1 gig of Southern fried memory.

 

[iRONic]

Why not return it for a refund?