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How to format an unformatted flash drive

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Last response: August 4, 2011 5:37 AM in Storage

July 24, 2011 8:47:41 AM

Hello,
I'm using Windows 7 on my PC and Vista on my Laptop. Right clicking on Vista the format option is there but errors. Downloaded 'HP USB Disk Storage Format Tool, V2.2.3' but errors with 'There is no media in the specified device.' ?

More about : format unformatted flash drive

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ram1009

July 24, 2011 3:51:55 PM

I would try formatting on an XP machine whose formatting abilities are better known to me and if the error message persists I think you have a bad drive.

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charlie cosmic

July 25, 2011 4:47:05 AM

Thanks, I'll give it a go.

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wintermint

July 25, 2011 5:35:14 AM

Hey, try this:
http://download.cnet.com/HP-USB-Disk-Storage-Format-Too...

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charlie cosmic

July 25, 2011 6:01:58 AM

Same result as HP USB Disk Storage Format Tool V2.2.3 - There is no media in specified drive.

Thanks for your input.

Charlie C

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wintermint

July 25, 2011 6:14:06 AM

I think it's missing the MBR which is fixable through CMD. However, I forgot the steps but google something like "How to format MBR with CMD"

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charlie cosmic

July 25, 2011 7:16:06 AM

Tried File Scavenger Version 3.2 - Disk Physical 5 Drive not found. Devices see the stick as I:

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wintermint

July 25, 2011 7:29:48 AM

Try what i suggested.

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charlie cosmic

July 25, 2011 7:39:25 AM

MBR is reconised in Windows 7 command line.

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wintermint

July 25, 2011 9:18:50 AM

Try the usb tool from hp again and change format to fat32 or ntfs

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charlie cosmic

July 25, 2011 9:39:12 AM

Already tried NTFS and no joy. The stick is a 32gig HD.

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wintermint

July 25, 2011 5:25:57 PM

Eh.. I'm out of ideas.. try to run it as fat32 instead and see any luck there is all i can say now

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charlie cosmic

July 25, 2011 5:42:02 PM

Thanks for all your suggestions, I'm now thinking about the problem in a different way.

Regards

Charlie C

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charlie cosmic

August 2, 2011 5:06:37 AM

Best answer selected by charlie cosmic.

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charlie cosmic

August 2, 2011 5:08:26 AM

ram1009 said:

I would try formatting on an XP machine whose formatting abilities are better known to me and if the error message persists I think you have a bad drive.

I don't know anybody with XP.

Thanks for your input.

Charlie C

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charlie cosmic

August 4, 2011 5:37:16 AM

wintermint said:

Eh.. I'm out of ideas.. try to run it as fat32 instead and see any luck there is all i can say now

The Flash drive is going into storage

Quote:

no pun intended

until I spot another possible solution.

Regards.

Charlie C

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