Author Topic: Cannot format USB drive  (Read 5530 times)

Cannot format USB drive
« on: 03 April, 2008, 02:47:56 pm »
My USB drive has a corrupt file on it. When I try to format, it says "you do not have sufficient rights to perform this operation".
It's a Cruzer micro  drive but I have got rid of all the Cruzer stuff on it.
Any solutions?

sas

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Re: Cannot format USB drive
« Reply #1 on: 03 April, 2008, 02:54:09 pm »
Have you tried doing it as an administrator?
I am nothing and should be everything

Re: Cannot format USB drive
« Reply #2 on: 03 April, 2008, 03:00:12 pm »
No, will try it on home PC later - will that work? I don't think I can be an administrator on my work PC.

sas

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Re: Cannot format USB drive
« Reply #3 on: 03 April, 2008, 03:09:46 pm »
Nothing's ever certain with computers. If it's your work PC then the IT dept have probably disabled formatting to stop someone accidentally formatting their hard drive.
I am nothing and should be everything

Re: Cannot format USB drive
« Reply #4 on: 03 April, 2008, 03:21:21 pm »
I was wondering why that was, I could have sworn I have formatted media on this PC before.
Thanks.

Re: Cannot format USB drive
« Reply #5 on: 03 April, 2008, 03:29:13 pm »
are you sure you've got rid of everything on it?

are there any hidden or system files on it?

Open up the drive in Windows Explorer.
Tools -> Folder Options
Click the View tab
Check: Show hidden files and folders
Uncheck: Hide protected operating system files (Recommended).
"Yes please" said Squirrel "biscuits are our favourite things."

Re: Cannot format USB drive
« Reply #6 on: 03 April, 2008, 03:47:36 pm »
Yes, all hidden files are visible - there aren't any. The corruption has occurred long after I got rid of all the Cruzer-related stuff (I think there was a partition on the drive). 

Re: Cannot format USB drive
« Reply #7 on: 03 April, 2008, 04:00:40 pm »
How weird. Having tried several times to delete one folder on the drive (to be told it was unreadable), I checked the folder properties as per Greenbank above, then did a virus scan on it just for the hell of it (negative), and then tried to delete it... and it worked!

 :-\

Er, thanks Greenbank.

I see that when you use the "eject hardware" tool, the drive shows up as having two components, Cruzer Micro and a generic volume with appropriate drive letter. The Cruzer Micro does not show up in Explorer.