Forum Home
Press F1
 
Thread ID: 102130 2009-08-08 04:46:00 Formatting a Flash Drive johcar (6283) Press F1
Post ID Timestamp Content User
799264 2009-08-08 11:22:00 Try formatting them in a different PC, I don't think you will be able to format them in NTFS, so you should try FAT.

Sounds like it isn't making a proper connection.

He's already tried both.

And from a different PC
Blam (54)
799265 2009-08-08 11:30:00 Try doing it another way.

Try formatting it the same way as This article (technet.microsoft.com(en-us,printer).aspx) - Only to the point of formatting - no need to do the rest .

BTW - it does normally work, done it several times as well as doing it today to load windows 7 RTM, instead of a DVD.

Or if you dont want to read the article fully
Launch the DiskPart utility by typing diskpart at the Start Menu.
Then run the list disk command to check the status of your drive
Now run select disk 1 where the "1" is actually the corresponding number of your USB drive.
Run clean.
Once the thumb drive is clean, you can run create partition primary.
Now make the partition active by entering active
Then you need to set up the file system as Fat32 by running format fs=fat32 quick (quick, of course, specifies that you want to perform a quick format to speed up the process)

WARNING- Just make sure when you type in " Select Disk1" That it IS the actual USB drive - done it once without thinking / forgetting I had two drives on the PC and wiped the wrong drive --- Bugger!!
wainuitech (129)
799266 2009-08-08 23:59:00 Just adding to above Heres the whole Process (www.imagef1.net.nz) - thats formatting normally, not quick, and its being done on Windows 7 but Vista will do the same. wainuitech (129)
799267 2009-08-12 01:49:00 I have just got a response from Kingston, after sending them a picture on the offending drives. They inform me that they have never made a drive that looks like the one I have, so it is counterfeit (clever though, all looks legit in proper packaging). So I am now trying to see what Graysonline have to say about it.

Depending on their response (most likely along the lines of "tough ****, it was an auction") I will try Wainui's suggestion.

Although if that is their response, I will definitely drop them as a supplier of auction items...

Will update this thread when I get their response...
johcar (6283)
799268 2009-08-12 02:01:00 Gave DiskPart a crack anyway - no joy johcar (6283)
799269 2009-08-12 02:10:00 I have a Kingston DataTraveler 8GB and you can format in NTFS and you shouldn't have an issue if the flash drive is not dead. Have it exchanged for a goodie Roger Hunt (13648)
799270 2009-08-12 02:14:00 Could be DOA - or it was a rip off in the first place.

Will be interesting to see how Grays respond.
wainuitech (129)
799271 2009-08-12 02:15:00 Roger, the issue with the two I have is that they are counterfeit (but bought through what I had previously considered a reputable auction house), so are extremely unlikely to met with a positive response for an exchange.

However I will await the response from Graysonline with interest
johcar (6283)
799272 2009-08-12 02:16:00 Shouldnt it be format (drive):/FS:FAT ?

Thats why its saying the parameter is incorrect
Speedy Gonzales (78)
799273 2009-08-12 02:34:00 From my interpretation of Wainui's instruction, you don't need to specify which drive in the Format instruction, because it is already selected (earlier) johcar (6283)
1 2 3