Windows 7: thumb drive troubles

Jonathan_King · 11 Dec 2009

I am having trouble with my thumb drive. I can format it okay with FAT32, but not NTFS. Both Full and Quick format both end with "The format did not complete successfully". I have also tried from the command prompt and GParted. GParted did not return any errors, but Windows would not recognize it. Any suggestions?

nate42nd · 11 Dec 2009

Try it from an elevated cmd prompt.

You could use #1-#11 in this tutorial (method 2) to do it.

USB Windows 7 Installation Key Drive - Create[2]=General%20Tips

rsvr85 · 11 Dec 2009

JK - You could open a command prompt and type;

diskpart
list disk
select disk # (be deadly sure it' the right disk!)
clean
create partition primary
select partition 1
active
format fs=ntfs quick
assign
exit
exit

Jonathan_King · 12 Dec 2009

Thanks for the tips, Nate and Stu. Neither solution worked. Nate: the program succeeded, but it formatted my drive as FAT32.

nate42nd · 12 Dec 2009

If you used method 2 in that tutorial and typed format=ntfs I don't know how that could happen.

I have had flash drives I could not format to different that default. Maybe this is one.

You may need to try a different flash drive.

Sorry I could not have been more helpful. Good luck

Jonathan_King · 12 Dec 2009

I have been thinking similar thoughts. Let me post a screenshot, just for your benefit.

I did not do a full format, just for the sake of time, but believe me, after it finishes an hour later, it gives the same message.

I am still having trouble with my Event Viewer, so I cannot check the error. Later tonight I will do a Repair Install.

Windows 7: thumb drive troubles

thumb drive troubles problems?