Author Topic: Low Level Formatting (Read 15983 times)

Xas1953NC · « **on:** January 02, 2016, 04:44:02 am »

Hello all. I low level formatted a TDK 16gb usb stick which resulted in it being shown having zero capacity. Removing the stick and inserting it again results in my being told it need to be formatted so I again low level formatted it, removed it, inserted it again and again received the message it needs to be formatted. Is there a cure? Thanks in advance.

Samson · « **Reply #1 on:** January 02, 2016, 08:38:56 am »

When unplugging it from the PC/ Laptop be sure to use the "Safely Remove Hardware" option and try again.

Xas1953NC · « **Reply #2 on:** January 02, 2016, 10:07:01 am »

Hello Samson, yes, I have also ensured doing that but to no avail.

Samson · « **Reply #3 on:** January 02, 2016, 10:22:34 am »

Does it show up in "Disk Management"? If so can you post what it states.
Presumably you have no data on it that you wish to recover? What are you trying to format it as FAT32 or NTFS?
Can you try it in another machine?

Xas1953NC · « **Reply #4 on:** January 02, 2016, 01:02:14 pm »

Hi Samson, in Disk Management the drive is seen as RAW and in a healthy state. What I did this time was to again do a low level format with HDDGuru and then leaving the drive in and doing a format with the computer system one. At the end of this format a panel came up with Format failed.

Samson · « **Reply #5 on:** January 02, 2016, 01:22:58 pm »

Take a look here...http://kb.sandisk.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/16368/~/how-to-partition-a-memory-card-or-a-usb-drive

Create a new partition and format (FAT32).

Xas1953NC · « **Reply #6 on:** January 03, 2016, 12:13:15 pm »

Hi Samson, I printed out the info from the link you gave me but there is no facility for making a New Simple Volume upon clicking on the RAW area in Disk Management. I will just bin the flash drive as I bought it for £5 from a market computer stall. I shall stick to buying one from a source where it can be returned if found with a problem. Thank you for your help.

Samson · « **Reply #7 on:** January 03, 2016, 12:56:18 pm »

"£5 from a market computer stall".....Ah, that kind of explains it

Loads of fakes and poor quality stuff floating about out there.

Check out Tesco, I bought 2 16GB Sandisk flash drives (stocking fillers for my nephews) for £4 each (5 year guarantee), in their clearance sale.
sold out of those now, but, just as an example you can get a 16GB Kingston USB 2.0 flash drive for £5 http://www.tesco.com/direct/kingston-16gb-data-traveler-usb-card/526-1525.prd?pageLevel=&skuId=526-1525

If you have USB 3.0 on you PC/ Laptop (or will do in the near future) then go that, the price per GB drops on larger drives, so also look at 32GB and 64GB too.

I've got a few flash drives, Kingston, Verbatim, Integral and Sandisk are all pretty reliable brands to look for, from reputable sellers

Xas1953NC · « **Reply #8 on:** January 03, 2016, 01:15:55 pm »

I do not normally buy from stalls but thought it was OK as it was on a card etc.

Shane · « **Reply #9 on:** January 07, 2016, 08:54:51 am »

This can happen if the thumb drive is dying or if it is a problem with the USB port itself or even the drivers.

In fact on my system sometimes when I plug my thumb drive in it does the same thing, so I unplug it and put it in a different USB slot and it is good to go. I have also had bad or underpowered USB ports do the same thing to me.

Best way to see if it is the drive or not is to try it in a different system

Shane

Xas1953NC · « **Reply #10 on:** January 07, 2016, 10:08:26 am »

Hello Shane, Have used the same socket on the computer for other sticks and they work Ok. I did try the stick on my laptop with the same result so perhaps the stick is u/s. Thanks.

Shane · « **Reply #11 on:** January 07, 2016, 10:16:06 am »

If it is doing it on a different machine then it is a safe bet the problem is the drive itself

Shane