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Formatting Flash Drive

Discussion in 'PC Hardware' started by virginia, 2006/03/09.

  1. 2006/03/09
    virginia Lifetime Subscription

    virginia Geek Member Thread Starter

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    Can/should you format a flash drive similar to how 3 & 1/2 floppies have been done in the past. If so, any cautions or hints?
     
    virginia,
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  2. 2006/03/10
    mattman

    mattman Inactive Alumni

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    It may be wise of you to check. I have recently been through a "file system error" with an MP3 drive, they are now up to 20 gig or so.

    Guess...probably formatted as FAT, probably not FAT32 and definitely not NTFS.

    Can you give us details on the drive? Maybe finding the manufacturer's website for the drive will help.

    Matt
     
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  4. 2006/03/10
    charlesvar

    charlesvar Inactive Alumni

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    Hi Virginia,

    Flash drives can be formated, but AFAIK, the choices are limited to FAT or FAT32.

    Right click on My Computer > Manage > Disk Management > bottom panel > Right click on the flash drive's graphic rectangle > Format. In the drop down menu next to File System, choose either Fat or Fat32.

    The drives come formated as Fat and ready to use and never felt the need to format them.

    Regards - Charles
     
    Last edited: 2006/03/10
    charlesvar,
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  5. 2006/03/10
    rsinfo

    rsinfo SuperGeek Alumni

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    USB drives can be formatted - news to me, but I suppose you learn new things everyday.
     
    rsinfo,
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  6. 2006/03/10
    virginia Lifetime Subscription

    virginia Geek Member Thread Starter

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    Thanks for the responses. I did locate the flash drive through My Computer and it is a FAT. I didn't go any further as the right click option of "Format" gave me a little concern as I didn't know what would happen if I selected it - if it would start formatting at that point. I think I will just leave things alone and only worry about formatting if it appears necessary.
     
    virginia,
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  7. 2006/03/11
    TonyT

    TonyT SuperGeek Staff

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    A usb drive, memory card, pen drive, all are formatted already but can be formatted again just like a hard disk. They can even be "erased' using forensic typem software and may need to be because even if a file on one of these drives is deleted, it is still recoverable just like deleted files on a hard disk. At least most can be recovered.

    I learned about this the hard way...I recovered images from my camera's memory card even after the card had been formatted.
     
    TonyT,
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  8. 2006/03/13
    Rob Allen

    Rob Allen Inactive

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    Where can the "forensic typem software" be found? Would like to get it.
    Thanks,
    Rob Allen
     
    Rob Allen,
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  9. 2006/03/13
    Russ

    Russ Well-Known Member

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    Russ,
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