2 years, 5 months ago
I've messed up the formatting of my USB flash drive. Can anybody help?
I was messing around trying to repartition my 4-gig Flash drive, and I seem to have boogered something up. It will no longer boot up; my computer bypasses it completely.
When I put it in my Linux computer, cfdisk refuses to read it at all:
FATAL ERROR: Bad primary partition 0: Partition begins after end-of-disk Press any key to exit cfdisk
When I load up fdisk and list the partition table, this is what I get (there's only supposed to be one partition):
Disk /dev/sdb1: 3673 MB, 3673066496 bytes
114 heads, 62 sectors/track, 1014 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 7068 * 512 = 3618816 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x8ef631df
This doesn't look like a partition table
Probably you selected the wrong device.
Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/sdb1p1 ? 298888 576017 979374166 66 Unknown
Partition 1 has different physical/logical beginnings (non-Linux?):
phys=(734, 123, 14) logical=(298887, 44, 21)
Partition 1 has different physical/logical endings:
phys=(120, 143, 6) logical=(576016, 53, 22)
Partition 1 does not end on cylinder boundary.
/dev/sdb1p2 ? 488024 1046080 1972168331 7 HPFS/NTFS
Partition 2 has different physical/logical beginnings (non-Linux?):
phys=(187, 180, 14) logical=(488023, 102, 52)
Partition 2 has different physical/logical endings:
phys=(784, 0, 13) logical=(438415, 82, 1)
Partition 2 does not end on cylinder boundary.
/dev/sdb1p3 ? 464038 740418 976730017 7d Unknown
Partition 3 has different physical/logical beginnings (non-Linux?):
phys=(252, 59, 46) logical=(464037, 2, 39)
Partition 3 has different physical/logical endings:
phys=(139, 118, 4) logical=(132754, 18, 28)
Partition 3 does not end on cylinder boundary.
/dev/sdb1p4 ? 467468 468646 4161562+ 6f Unknown
Partition 4 has different physical/logical beginnings (non-Linux?):
phys=(370, 101, 50) logical=(467467, 100, 21)
Partition 4 has different physical/logical endings:
phys=(10, 114, 13) logical=(468645, 52, 17)
Partition 4 does not end on cylinder boundary.
Partition table entries are not in disk order
I've tried repartitioning, I've tried reformatting in Windows, I don't know what to do. Can someone please help?
When I put it in my Linux computer, cfdisk refuses to read it at all:
FATAL ERROR: Bad primary partition 0: Partition begins after end-of-disk Press any key to exit cfdisk
When I load up fdisk and list the partition table, this is what I get (there's only supposed to be one partition):
Disk /dev/sdb1: 3673 MB, 3673066496 bytes
114 heads, 62 sectors/track, 1014 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 7068 * 512 = 3618816 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x8ef631df
This doesn't look like a partition table
Probably you selected the wrong device.
Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/sdb1p1 ? 298888 576017 979374166 66 Unknown
Partition 1 has different physical/logical beginnings (non-Linux?):
phys=(734, 123, 14) logical=(298887, 44, 21)
Partition 1 has different physical/logical endings:
phys=(120, 143, 6) logical=(576016, 53, 22)
Partition 1 does not end on cylinder boundary.
/dev/sdb1p2 ? 488024 1046080 1972168331 7 HPFS/NTFS
Partition 2 has different physical/logical beginnings (non-Linux?):
phys=(187, 180, 14) logical=(488023, 102, 52)
Partition 2 has different physical/logical endings:
phys=(784, 0, 13) logical=(438415, 82, 1)
Partition 2 does not end on cylinder boundary.
/dev/sdb1p3 ? 464038 740418 976730017 7d Unknown
Partition 3 has different physical/logical beginnings (non-Linux?):
phys=(252, 59, 46) logical=(464037, 2, 39)
Partition 3 has different physical/logical endings:
phys=(139, 118, 4) logical=(132754, 18, 28)
Partition 3 does not end on cylinder boundary.
/dev/sdb1p4 ? 467468 468646 4161562+ 6f Unknown
Partition 4 has different physical/logical beginnings (non-Linux?):
phys=(370, 101, 50) logical=(467467, 100, 21)
Partition 4 has different physical/logical endings:
phys=(10, 114, 13) logical=(468645, 52, 17)
Partition 4 does not end on cylinder boundary.
Partition table entries are not in disk order
I've tried repartitioning, I've tried reformatting in Windows, I don't know what to do. Can someone please help?
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M$5 Answers
Follow the step below to fix it:
Step 1
Insert your flash drive into the computer and wait until the readiness (if any) light stops flashing. If a message pops up on the screen asking if you want to format the drive---click "no."
Step 2
Left click on the "Start" button, then left click on "My Computer" or "Computer." You should see the icon for your flash drive listed. If you don't, skip to step 5. Right click on the drive and choose "Properties."
Step 3
A window will open up showing the properties of your flash drive. You may also see a pie chart icon indicating its full/empty status. Click on the tab at the top of this window that says "Tools."
Step 4
Click the "Check Now" button under "Error Checking" to start Windows error checking the drive. You will get a window that pops up asking if you want Windows to fix any errors that are found, check that box as well as the box for "Scan for and attempt recovery of bad sectors," then click "Start." If Windows complains of being unable to read the drive or wants to format it first, click "No."
Step 5
If the steps in Windows failed, your final option is to use the command structure beneath Windows to try to fix the drive manually. Click the "Start" button then type "cmd" in the search or run area to open up a command prompt.
Step 6
Browse to your flash drive's directory by typing in its drive letter followed by a colon: for example "k:" If you do not know your drive's letter, experiment to find it starting with the letter "E" if you have a single CD-ROM in your computer (which is usually "D"). Go down the alphabet until you get the message: "The System Cannot Find the Drive Specified." The last drive letter you got is probably your flash drive.
Step 7
Type in "chkdsk" at the command prompt and wait for the check to complete (it should be fairly quick). If check disk finds errors, it will offer to fix them. Choose "y" at the command prompt and it will repair the drive.
Step 1
Insert your flash drive into the computer and wait until the readiness (if any) light stops flashing. If a message pops up on the screen asking if you want to format the drive---click "no."
Step 2
Left click on the "Start" button, then left click on "My Computer" or "Computer." You should see the icon for your flash drive listed. If you don't, skip to step 5. Right click on the drive and choose "Properties."
Step 3
A window will open up showing the properties of your flash drive. You may also see a pie chart icon indicating its full/empty status. Click on the tab at the top of this window that says "Tools."
Step 4
Click the "Check Now" button under "Error Checking" to start Windows error checking the drive. You will get a window that pops up asking if you want Windows to fix any errors that are found, check that box as well as the box for "Scan for and attempt recovery of bad sectors," then click "Start." If Windows complains of being unable to read the drive or wants to format it first, click "No."
Step 5
If the steps in Windows failed, your final option is to use the command structure beneath Windows to try to fix the drive manually. Click the "Start" button then type "cmd" in the search or run area to open up a command prompt.
Step 6
Browse to your flash drive's directory by typing in its drive letter followed by a colon: for example "k:" If you do not know your drive's letter, experiment to find it starting with the letter "E" if you have a single CD-ROM in your computer (which is usually "D"). Go down the alphabet until you get the message: "The System Cannot Find the Drive Specified." The last drive letter you got is probably your flash drive.
Step 7
Type in "chkdsk" at the command prompt and wait for the check to complete (it should be fairly quick). If check disk finds errors, it will offer to fix them. Choose "y" at the command prompt and it will repair the drive.
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M$Report Abuse
It is possible the flash drive is damaged. If Linux or a Mac won't even read it the connections might be damaged. A short can happen if you are not properly grounded and you accidentally touch the USB connection to the metal surrounding your USB slot while inserting or removing the device.
There may be damage to the computer side of the USB connection, feel free to look at the connectors to see if there's an obstruction or bend.
There are tools that might help if there's nothing physically wrong with the device, such as the HP USB Disk Storage Format Tool. http://www.pcworld.com/downloads/file/fid,64963-page,1/description.html
If you have access to a Mac you might try connecting it to one and seeing if formatting it HFS style at least gets you going again.
The link below references recent patches in Windows (Vista and XP) that might help.
Remember when removing a USB device to use the "Safely Remove Hardware" option, don't just yank it out when you're done. http://www.terryscomputertips.com/computers/flash-drive-not-recognized.php
You may be able to force Windows to see it again if you can find it in your Devices list in the Control Panel, System, Device Manager. http://www.terryscomputertips.com/computers/flash-drive-not-recognized-part-2.php
There may be damage to the computer side of the USB connection, feel free to look at the connectors to see if there's an obstruction or bend.
There are tools that might help if there's nothing physically wrong with the device, such as the HP USB Disk Storage Format Tool. http://www.pcworld.com/downloads/file/fid,64963-page,1/description.html
If you have access to a Mac you might try connecting it to one and seeing if formatting it HFS style at least gets you going again.
The link below references recent patches in Windows (Vista and XP) that might help.
Remember when removing a USB device to use the "Safely Remove Hardware" option, don't just yank it out when you're done. http://www.terryscomputertips.com/computers/flash-drive-not-recognized.php
You may be able to force Windows to see it again if you can find it in your Devices list in the Control Panel, System, Device Manager. http://www.terryscomputertips.com/computers/flash-drive-not-recognized-part-2.php
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M$
I found this software that might help you.
I'm not trying the software yet, just for in case.
Try h2testw fix your usb
I'm not trying the software yet, just for in case.
Try h2testw fix your usb
You can leave an optional "tip" with Mahalo's virtual currency, Mahalo Dollars. If you are asking a difficult question that might require some research, or if you'd like a wide variety of feedback, a higher tip often leads to more answers to your question.
M$
I've had both hard drives and flash drives go screwy on a re-partition occasionally.
It's somewhat risky, but you could try running a drive eraser...
http://hddguru.com/content/en/software/2006.04.13-HDD-Wipe-Tool/
Will fill the drive with 0's.
Under linux you can do the same thing with
#dd if=/dev/zero of=/dev/sdb bs=1M
the of= parameter is the drive you want to blast.
If nothing else comes up you might try that... I'm leary of doing it on a flash drive (I have, and it worked, but I'm still a bit leary)
It's somewhat risky, but you could try running a drive eraser...
http://hddguru.com/content/en/software/2006.04.13-HDD-Wipe-Tool/
Will fill the drive with 0's.
Under linux you can do the same thing with
#dd if=/dev/zero of=/dev/sdb bs=1M
the of= parameter is the drive you want to blast.
If nothing else comes up you might try that... I'm leary of doing it on a flash drive (I have, and it worked, but I'm still a bit leary)
You can leave an optional "tip" with Mahalo's virtual currency, Mahalo Dollars. If you are asking a difficult question that might require some research, or if you'd like a wide variety of feedback, a higher tip often leads to more answers to your question.
M$
I think people are way overthinking this. I realize you said you were using linux, but sometimes Windows has a fairly simple fix. Plug the drive in, then go to 'My Computer' and right click on the drive. You should have the option to format it. (use Windows 7. This may help your formatting issue)
One thing to mention however, if you've performed many reads and writes to the drive, some sectors may have begun to go bad.
If you want to use linux all the way, then gparted is a fairly reliable tool. Using gparted you can erase the drive letter, or just format from what you have. FOREWARNING: it is a very powerful tool. Don't use it unless you know what you're doing.
One thing to mention however, if you've performed many reads and writes to the drive, some sectors may have begun to go bad.
If you want to use linux all the way, then gparted is a fairly reliable tool. Using gparted you can erase the drive letter, or just format from what you have. FOREWARNING: it is a very powerful tool. Don't use it unless you know what you're doing.
You can leave an optional "tip" with Mahalo's virtual currency, Mahalo Dollars. If you are asking a difficult question that might require some research, or if you'd like a wide variety of feedback, a higher tip often leads to more answers to your question.
M$
