Formating Usb Flash Drive

kdr_98

Jun 20 2006, 06:07 PM

Hi,

I have a problem with my USB flash drive.
When I insert it to my computer it gets detected and I get a drive letter for it.
When I click the drive letter in Explorer it says 'Insert a medium in drive X:'
I can't format it in Windows XP also.

Does anyone know how to format this drive so I can use it again ?

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cangor

Jun 20 2006, 07:21 PM

QUOTE(kdr_98 @ Jun 20 2006, 11:07 AM)

you should be able to right click the icon for it and click format, even in windows XP

hope that helps, but it seems that that might not work either...

good luck.

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dreus

Jun 20 2006, 08:36 PM

I'm not sure how relevant or helpful this might be but did your flash drive happen to come with installation material? I remember that when I bought my usb key, it came along with a CD and software that I had to install before getting it to work properly on my desktop (an old computer, to say the least). However, I didn't have to go through the same process with my much newer laptop; it was instantly recognized.

The next bit is more of a hunch, but could be worth a shot.

-Hit Start
-Run
-Type in "cmd"
-See if you can locate your drive in the dos prompt thingy. e.g. cd x:/
-If so, type "format x:/" and see what happens

Good luck!

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kdr_98

Jun 20 2006, 08:54 PM

No the drive is also not accesable by command prompt.

It's reconised by the system , because I got a drive letter.
But somehow, somewhere in the bootrecord it's defined as removeable drive.

It has become in this status since I tried to make it a linux boot disk.

But I have forgotten with witch program I did that.
If I could make the drive accesable under Linux or Windows it would be great.

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dreus

Jun 20 2006, 09:13 PM

Just another quick idea. Have you given a look in the device manager to see if anything can be done to perhaps uninstall/install the drive?

Sorry I can't be of more help. Regrets and again, hope you find a way...

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fffanatics

Jun 20 2006, 10:51 PM

OK try this. Right click on My Computer and select manage. Then go to Storage and finally Disk Management. Then it should list all you drives and have pictures of them. If an area is grayed out it will allow you to partition and / or format that drive so it will be accessable with windows and any other FAT32 or NTFS filesystem depending on what you format it as.

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Hadi

Jun 21 2006, 07:21 AM

I think you probably didn't install correctly your usb flash disk, try formatiing it in this way: Only for Windows:
1-Go to control panel and then administrative tools (you must have an administrator account to be able to do this)
2-Go to computer management and make sure that your USB is properly connected to your PC, laptop...
3-Maximize the storage button by clicking the plus sign next to ''storage''.
4-Click on ''disk management'' you will see a list of all your removable hard drive letters.
5-Right-click on your USB letter and choose format from the list, on the file system choose ''Fat 32'' you could refer to your help and support file by going to: Start/Help and support/ to choose the correct one, but I do prefer FAT32. Then click on ''OK'' to begin the format process.
Hope this will work and tell me how things happened. Regards!!

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kdr_98

Jun 21 2006, 09:35 AM

The problem is that it reports 'Removeable drive' like a floppy disk or DVD drive.
And then it reports 'no media present'.

I have 2 drives of the same type the other works fine.
So there must be somthing wrong with the Master Boot record / boot record of FAT.

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fffanatics

Jun 21 2006, 07:36 PM

flash drives do not have boot records on them since they are not used for booting unless a boot disk is installed onto it. There could be something wrong with the page file, but did my suggestion work or do anything at all because even if it says no media present it will still show up under disk management. Let us know so we can better help you and bit more detail on what it says in this case would help.

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kdr_98

Jun 21 2006, 08:56 PM

QUOTE(fffanatics @ Jun 21 2006, 12:51 AM)

The drive is present there but it says 'no medium' present. (the same as an empty CD drive)
I'm working on a dutch Windows , so the message may differ a bit.
There is also no parttion persent on that drive.

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Latest Entries

nnsoccer

Sep 7 2009, 11:44 AM

Start - Run - cmd - format J: /x (or other letter)

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aloKNsh

Feb 4 2009, 11:17 AM

QUOTE (cangor @ Jun 21 2006, 12:51 AM)

you should be able to right click the icon for it and click format, even in windows XP

hope that helps, but it seems that that might not work either...

good luck.

hey its a good way but in many cases it doesnt work so u shd try another process

insert usb drive and then right cilck on my computer icon and then on manage and then select on storage and then removal storage find ur usb and then select then format option.....

and be happy

for further assistence contact me ..........

testingpirakx@gmail.com

rite2alok@gmail.com

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Antv912

Jan 25 2009, 06:29 AM

Or you could select everything there and hit the delete button? Works for me!

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Parubilla

Jan 20 2009, 12:03 AM

QUOTE (kdr_98 @ Jun 21 2006, 04:44 PM)

Finally have found it on an other forum http://www.bootdisk.info/forum/index.php?showtopic=20

It was solved after running the program http://www.apacer.com/en/support/downloads...lity_Repair.zip

First I did repair (takes some time).
Then a format.
And then after a few times plug-in and out the drive works back normal.

Thanks for the help

Why is this topic still open?? It seems a couple years ago this person found an answer, it should be closed and if a person encounters the same problem recently, can find the answer here... Does people really read all the posts in a topic before post another reply??...