Unable to format a 512GB USB thumb drive on 32-bit Win OS


  1. Posts : 1
    32-bit Win7
       #1

    Unable to format a 512GB USB thumb drive on 32-bit Win OS


    The USB thumb drive will not format for me, I have tried the traditional avenues of right-clicking on the drive and selecting format, but it fails within seconds. I have tried using diskpart but when I type list disk I find disk 1 but it shows No Media. So I rebooted my machine and now when I do list disk I now see a status of online with a size of 500GB, but diskpart is still showing 0B free. I am trying a Clean all command to see where it takes me. I finally got a response from the Clean All command, Diskpart has encountered an error: The semaphore timeout period expired. See the System Event Log for more information. Any ideas of what I can try to get around this error would be greatly appreciated.
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 7,351
    Windows 7 HP 64
       #2

    Never seen a USB thumb drive bigger than 128G. And I've seen many fake drives.
    Test it with H2testw to see if isnt fake. H2testw Download
      My Computers


  3. Posts : 2,774
    Windows 7 Professional 64-bit
       #3

    Megahertz07 said:
    Never seen a USB thumb drive bigger than 128G. And I've seen many fake drives. Test it with H2testw to see if isnt fake. H2testw Download
    It wants to do a Write & Verify of my current 16GB stick, which has information out the Wazzoo on it. Does this program destructively Write or does it leave any data already existing on the usb stick alone?
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 2,497
    Windows 7 Pro 64 bit
       #4

    A fake flash drive is a small capacity drive that has been altered to show a capacity larger than it actually has. Real capacity may be 2 GB or even less. Sometimes they are drives that failed manufacturers tests and were supposed to be destroyed but fell into the hands of fake sellers. They have become a serious problem in recent years, particularly with drives in the larger sizes sold by outlets such as eBay from sellers in the Orient. Packaging of these drives is often very good.

    512 GB flash drives do exist but will cost about $250 and up. eBay advertises 2 TB flash drives for as little as $12.66 but they have to be fake.
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 2,497
    Windows 7 Pro 64 bit
       #5

    RolandJS said:
    Megahertz07 said:
    Never seen a USB thumb drive bigger than 128G. And I've seen many fake drives. Test it with H2testw to see if isnt fake. H2testw Download
    It wants to do a Write & Verify of my current 16GB stick, which has information out the Wazzoo on it. Does this program destructively Write or does it leave any data already existing on the usb stick alone?
    I don't believe these programs actually overwrite files but they might just as well. Any previous data on the drive will likely be non recoverable except by professional data recovery methods.
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 7,351
    Windows 7 HP 64
       #6

    I don't remember if it erases the written data. What I remember is that it writes a pattern till the drive is full and shows real capacity.
    Once I bought a 64G USB thumb drive that Explorer properties shows 64G but was actually 2G.

    Edit: The read me file says it doesn't erase any data.
    Unable to format a 512GB USB thumb drive on 32-bit Win OS Attached Files
    Last edited by Megahertz07; 26 Aug 2016 at 15:20.
      My Computers


 

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