Windows Can't Format My 8MB Flash Drive
If the Windows operating system on your computer can’t format a Universal Serial Bus flash drive, the USB device might be “write protected” to prevent users from changing data or deleting files. Troubleshoot the problem by removing the hardware or software write protection before formatting the drive.
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About Formatting
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Most USB flash drives come ready-formatted by the manufacturer so that you can plug the device into the computer to move or store files transferred from the computer’s hard drive. Formatting the flash USB device is a useful way to delete all data without opening the drive on your computer. Sometimes you might also need to format a USB flash drive so that you can use it on a computer with a different operating system. Formatting drives automatically wipes all data, so you’ll lose any files stored on the device.
Write Protection
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Write protection locks the USB drive so that users can open the drive and read files stored on the device but can’t change or delete existing files or add new files. Computers can’t format USB flash drives on which write protection is enabled. Hardware write protection and software write protection are the two main types of write protection on USB flash drives.
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Disabling Hardware Write Protection
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Some USB flash drives come with a physical lock feature that write protects the data on the device. While the lock is in place, you won’t be able to format the drive. Check the casing on the USB flash drive for a small switch or button labeled with “Lock” or a padlock icon. Flick the switch or press the button to the “Off” position. Insert the USB flash drive into a USB port on your computer. In the “Computer” folder, right-click the device’s icon, and then select “Format” from the context menu.
Disabling Software Write Protection
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To disable software write protection on the USB flash drive, insert the device into the computer. Right-click the device and then select “Properties” in the context menu. Click the “Security” tab on the dialogue window. Click “Edit” to view the drive’s permissions. Click and enable the “Allow” button next to both the “Write” and “Full” options. Click “Apply” to implement the changes, and then click “OK” to exit the dialogue window. Right-click the drive’s icon, and the select “Format” to format the drive.
Other Problems
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If disabling write protection doesn’t help, the USB flash drive might be faulty. Flash drives can take a lot of knocks while in your pocket, purse or laptop case, and this can sometimes damage the device. If the device is new, consider returning it to the manufacturer. Check the warranty details that came with the device to find out how to get a replacement.
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