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Flash Drive Won't Format? Try This

Yellowbeard

By Yellowbeard
in USB Flash Drives

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Yellowbeard

Yellowbeard

Posted
Posted

I recently had a Flash Voyager 8mb drive get to a state in which I could not use it or format it. The entire file directory was corrupted and the file names all were intermingled with what I can only describe as hieroglyphics. Sorry, I did not get a screen shot of it but, if you see it, you will know what I mean.

 

Also, I could not format the drive using any of the regular formatting methods. This made me think that not only was the file table corrupted, the Master Boot Record was corrupted and that the partition (and thus the entire drive) was unusable and unformattable. I tried a Windows based partition utility, a command line format, and Partition Magic in DOS. None of these worked.

 

As a last resort, I dug out the trusty old Windows98 boot floppy. This floppy utility has the Fdisk program and with it, I was able to revive my drive. For those of you unfamiliar with how to use Fdisk, here is a step by step tutorial. I hope this helps some people.

 

I used the WIN98 SE OEM image which I found at http://www.bootdisk.com

Lots of good utilities to be had there. You can also use a disk burning program to make a bootable CD with the Windows98 utility on it. If you do this, obviously, you'll need to set the system to boot from the CD first. However, I did mine with a floppy so we'll go with that.

 

Once you have extracted the image and made your floppy disk, you will need to enter your bios and make certain that your system will boot from the floppy disk. If your floppy is already first in your boot order, you can skip this step.

 

http://www.houseofhelp.com/upload/Images/USBFdisk/1.jpg

 

Save the settings, and reboot:

 

http://www.houseofhelp.com/upload/Images/USBFdisk/2.jpg

 

When WIN98 boots, you will have 3 options. In this case, select option 2 as you will not need CD-ROM support. If you are using a CD-ROM copy, use option # 1.

 

http://www.houseofhelp.com/upload/Images/USBFdisk/3.jpg

 

Once it boots, you will get an A: prompt. Type Fdisk and hit enter:

 

http://www.houseofhelp.com/upload/Images/USBFdisk/4.jpg

 

Your next 2 prompts are inquiries about disk size, enter (Y) for both:

 

http://www.houseofhelp.com/upload/Images/USBFdisk/5.jpg

 

http://www.houseofhelp.com/upload/Images/USBFdisk/6.jpg

 

Here, you will want to check and make sure the current fixed disk drive is your USB drive as most likely Fdisk will not detect your USB drive as # 1. So, select option # 5:

 

http://www.houseofhelp.com/upload/Images/USBFdisk/7.jpg

 

In my example, my 8gb Flash Voyager is disk #2, so I selected (2) and hit enter:

 

http://www.houseofhelp.com/upload/Images/USBFdisk/8.jpg

 

Your partition should show up, even if it is damaged. You'll want to select #3 to delete the existing partition:

 

http://www.houseofhelp.com/upload/Images/USBFdisk/9.jpg

 

You'll now want to select option # 1 to delete the primary DOS partition:

 

http://www.houseofhelp.com/upload/Images/USBFdisk/10.jpg

 

The next step is a verification of the proper partition. As I only had 1 partition, I selected (1):

 

http://www.houseofhelp.com/upload/Images/USBFdisk/11.jpg

 

Enter volume label is another verification step. Since mine has no label, I left this blank and hit enter:

 

http://www.houseofhelp.com/upload/Images/USBFdisk/12.jpg

 

And, the point of no return, ARE YOU SURE? I chose (Y):

 

http://www.houseofhelp.com/upload/Images/USBFdisk/13.jpg

 

Now that your drive has no partition information at all, you'll need to create a new DOS partition, option # 1:

 

http://www.houseofhelp.com/upload/Images/USBFdisk/14.jpg

 

And, option #1 again as you must have a primary partition first:

 

http://www.houseofhelp.com/upload/Images/USBFdisk/15.jpg

 

Once you make this choice, the program will verify the entire drive integrity and take you to the next menu:

 

http://www.houseofhelp.com/upload/Images/USBFdisk/16.jpg

 

The next option will ask if you want to use the entire drive capacity for the primary partition. I chose (Y) and the program again verifies the drive integrity:

http://www.houseofhelp.com/upload/Images/USBFdisk/17.jpg

 

http://www.houseofhelp.com/upload/Images/USBFdisk/18.jpg

 

Then, it again verifies the choice to use the maximum drive size and I chose (Y):

 

http://www.houseofhelp.com/upload/Images/USBFdisk/19.jpg

 

 

Once this is complete, if your drive is functioning properly, you will see a verification that your drive has a primary DOS partition and that it is using the entire drive space. You can now format your drive and use it again.

http://www.houseofhelp.com/upload/Images/USBFdisk/20.jpg

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  • 1 year later...
dan_me

dan_me

Posted
Posted

Use BootIt - Lexar USB Flip the Removable Media Bit Tool

 

http://www.pendriveapps.com/2008/05/01/bootit-lexar-usb-flip-the-removable-media-bit-tool/

http://files.filefront.com/lexar+usb+formatzip/;10112841;/fileinfo.html

 

"

<Flip Removable Bit> button is on its own, it's not related to other setting in window.

It changes the "removable bit" in the UFD's firmware to the opposite value, so it can set the device non-removable or reset it back.

>>>The issue with partitioning is most UFD's are marked with a "removable bit". This tells the system to treat the device as a removable or fixed disk. Windows XP does not recognize removable disk with multiple partitions nor lets your partition them. I found that the Lexar utility named "Bootit" is able to change this bit on the 16 gig flash Voyager and hence allows you to partition the drive in XP.<<<

"

 

Compatible UFD's:

-16 gig flash Voyager

-Lexar of course

-16 gig OCZ Rally 2

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  • 1 month later...
Choto Cheeta

Choto Cheeta

Posted
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Hi,

 

I am having same problem with my USB 8GB Corsair drive, unable to format as Windows is reporting that there is no media present in side the USB storage :(

 

http://img13.imageshack.us/img13/9866/screenshotxdp.jpg

 

When trying to format, it says, No disk / media present in the drive :confused:

 

http://img401.imageshack.us/img401/7899/screenshot02.jpg

 

Windows 98 SE (Installation CD) simply doesn't detect the pen drive.

 

Is there any option to get it running without trying RMA ? As I have some imp data in the device..

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  • 4 weeks later...
Th3_uN1Qu3

Th3_uN1Qu3

Posted
Posted
Burning DOS CDs is very very tricky. If you don't have a floppy drive, try Hiren's Boot CD, which can be burned the regular way (Nero's Burn Image option or any other program that can deal with ISOs). Hiren's Boot CD has lots of useful utilities and diagnostics, including several versions of Fdisk. I always have a copy with me.
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  • 3 weeks later...
online

online

Posted
Posted

Hi,

Got it today and it was recognized by Windows. Showed 64GB capacity. But couldn't copy all files I wanted so I decided to reformat it. And then it failed. I mean, it is mounted on Windows (Win2K and WinXP) but whenever I invoke format, it says "Format failed" and quits. Any idea what I can do?

 



E:\>Format F: /FS:ntfs

Insert new disk for drive F:

and press ENTER when ready...

The type of the file system is RAW.

The new file system is NTFS.

Verifying 64000M

Volume label (ENTER for none)?

Creating file system structures.

Format failed.

[/cOdE]

 

By the way, Corsair EzRecover doesn't see it and Lexar BootIt doesn't recognize it either. No luck with Panasonic SDFormatter either. Windows sees it but can't format.

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Yellowbeard

Yellowbeard

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Hi,

Got it today and it was recognized by Windows. Showed 64GB capacity. But couldn't copy all files I wanted so I decided to reformat it. And then it failed. I mean, it is mounted on Windows (Win2K and WinXP) but whenever I invoke format, it says "Format failed" and quits. Any idea what I can do?

 



E:\>Format F: /FS:ntfs

Insert new disk for drive F:

and press ENTER when ready...

The type of the file system is RAW.

The new file system is NTFS.

Verifying 64000M

Volume label (ENTER for none)?

Creating file system structures.

Format failed.

[/cOdE]

 

By the way, Corsair EzRecover doesn't see it and Lexar BootIt doesn't recognize it either. No luck with Panasonic SDFormatter either. Windows sees it but can't format.

Did you try the method in the first post of this thread?

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online

online

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Yes, I did try the fdisk from Win98 and it worked without problems. I can't still format it, however. Tried it under Win98, Windows Millennium, Win2K, WinXP and even Vista. All utilities I could find were of no help. The stick shows no errors but formatting fails.
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  • 1 month later...
KellyFranssen

KellyFranssen

Posted
Posted

Mmmmm. Thought it might be a good idea to clean my Corsair GT 16GB after a year of use. It was getting slooooooow. So I tried to format is through Vsta's diskmanagement. It stops however, telling me that the formatting was not succesful. I tried cmd, but didn't work. Disconnected the drive, then connected and in the command I used the format, trying NTFS and FAT32.

 

At 49% it stops. And now what? I am using a laptop, no floppy disk available. I am running Vista Home Premium on an Acer Aspire 6935G. So startup-cd is probably NOT just Windows Vista, but a sort of recovery DVD.

 

Can anyone tell me what to do? Is there a booteable 98SE CD? If I had this, it would be simple (if it does work this way).

 

Kind regards,

Kelly

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  • 5 months later...
johnny2k

johnny2k

Posted
Posted (edited)

Hello everyone. I have a Corsair Flash Voyager 8GB Flash Drive and I was in the same situation Choto Cheta. I requested a RMA and was accepted. But, my heart had peace for the death of my pendrive. So I searched the internet and I discovered that the controller and memory are 165 of UT USBest, as found by windows. I looked for ways to update the flash memory pendrive and I found the "Super Stick Recovery Tool V1.0.2.19" of ********. The software recognizes allow my Corsair 8GB Flash memory. Update all my Pendrive and back again to work. Only problem the LED is always on when I remove the pendrive anceh Any ideas? I will try to install the correct drivers for my pendrive to see what happens.

I think that the laboratory course has everything you need to reproposed the pendrive, please consider distributing a free software similar to those of ********?

I hope to help someone else finding himself in my same situation. Sorry for my English, I am Italian.

I tried this workaround only on my Corsair Flash Voyager 8GB, I do not know if it works on other versions. I do not feel responsible for possible damage.

 

Regards

Giovanni

Edited by johnny2k
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johnny2k

johnny2k

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Posted

Update

 

I solved the problem of the LED always on. Use the software "UT165 1.65.25.0" with which you can do a reflash of the pendrive, you can choose some options, as the name of the seller, the status LED when idle etc etc. Warmly recommend it as a solution for the problem.

I tried this workaround only on my Corsair Flash Voyager 8GB, I do not know if it works on other versions. I do not feel responsible for possible damage.

 

Regards

Giovanni

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  • 2 weeks later...
  • 3 months later...
kevinm10

kevinm10

Posted
Posted
Old thread, but ran into this same problem today. Can't read, no media, won't format. Remembered that another usb flash drive OEM advised putting it in the freezer overnight. Did that with the Corsair 8G. Initially no change. Came back about 30 min later (after it had warmed up) and it works fine. Backed up my data. Thinking I should RMA anyway. Rma'd the other vendor as well.
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  • 1 month later...
Yellowbeard

Yellowbeard

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i have a flash voyager 8gb and i could only find ut165 1.65.10.0 and tried it.....instead of 8gb i'v got 560mb now.....plz help me out...i was facing the same problem CHOTO CHEETA....

 

Have you tried the method given in this sticky? Also, what OS are you using?

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M.Y.B

M.Y.B

Posted
Posted (edited)

no...i didnt try that....i am using win xp sp3.....

i tried the method given by jhonny2k in his last post as it sounded more simple but it turned out to be a big disapointment.....guys plz help me out!!!! the disk belongs to my frnd and he will kill me if he finds out....

 

is there any way to reinstall the firmware of the disk (if it has any)??

Edited by Wired
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