Partition a USB Flash Drive

[BroBQ]

Has anyone figured this out? I've tried 4-5 different ways and still nothing.

 

[Kreij]

Why would you want to partition a USB flash drive?
No offense meant, just wondering.

 

[BroBQ]

I use flash drives to repair windows, install windows, etc ... I have created a AIO installer for Windows Vista/Windows 7 to install all version both 32 bit and 64-bit

I have this located on a 16gb usb flash drive. I still have about 7gb free and want to store other software on this flash drive. Software that I use after a reinstall, spyware/virus software, codes, etc ... I know I can keep this software on a directory on the flash drive... but just want to partition the drive.

 

[newtekie1]

Acronis Disk Director Suite will let you do it.

 

[pbmaster]

Lol, Acronis will let you do anything. It's a great program.

 

[BroBQ]

Tried it... doesn't work

 

[newtekie1]

Tried it... doesn't work

Yes it does.

 

[DirectorC]

This is the scary stuff that happens when you use Google:

'USB flash drives cannot be partitioned in the Windows operating if the drive is identified as removable media. The only way to partition the USB flash drive is to flip the removable bit so that it is recognized as fixed media instead which can be partitioned like any normal hard drive'

Infoz/Appz:
http://www.lancelhoff.com/multi-partition-a-usb-flash-drive-in-windows/

http://www.ghacks.net/2009/04/17/partition-usb-flash-drives/

I got that from searching for 'partition flash drive'.

I should get paid for this.

 

[BroBQ]

This is the scary stuff that happens when you use Google:

'USB flash drives cannot be partitioned in the Windows operating if the drive is identified as removable media. The only way to partition the USB flash drive is to flip the removable bit so that it is recognized as fixed media instead which can be partitioned like any normal hard drive'

http://www.lancelhoff.com/multi-partition-a-usb-flash-drive-in-windows/

http://www.ghacks.net/2009/04/17/partition-usb-flash-drives/

I got that from searching for 'partition flash drive'.

I should get paid for this.

I've tried that information and it doesnt work. I've tried this on 4-5 different usb flash drives as well... and, again... Acronis does not work. its been tried a few times

 

[DaveK]

This is the scary stuff that happens when you use Google:

'USB flash drives cannot be partitioned in the Windows operating if the drive is identified as removable media. The only way to partition the USB flash drive is to flip the removable bit so that it is recognized as fixed media instead which can be partitioned like any normal hard drive'

Infoz/Appz:
http://www.lancelhoff.com/multi-partition-a-usb-flash-drive-in-windows/

http://www.ghacks.net/2009/04/17/partition-usb-flash-drives/

I got that from searching for 'partition flash drive'.

I should get paid for this.

And people can also use Google when asking which video card is better or what CPU cooler to get, but it's easier to post on a forum and for people to share their knowledge.

 

[BroBQ]

Just so you know... you can try to increase the size of ur ego all you want... I searched google and found a ton of information on this... none of it has worked. Thats why i'm asking for help here. And, isnt that what these fourms are for? to ask for help? wtf ....

 

[DirectorC]

And people can also use Google when asking which video card is better or what CPU cooler to get, but it's easier to post on a forum and for people to share their knowledge.

You're talking about technical steps to get something done vs personal opinions and advice. So no it's not the same thing.

 

[DirectorC]

I don't want to make you feel like I'm baggin on ya, coz I'm not. But honestly a high percentage of posts like these could be solved if the user had done research first. It's good to know you did.

Try this, it has worked for some: http://www.angelfire.com/falcon/speedload/Enabler.htm

 

[BroBQ]

You shouldn't even make comments like that... That is the whole point of using Forums. To ask questions regardless of using google, msn, yahoo, etc ... before posting questions here. I've tried all of the info out there. Over and over again. I know there is tons of info on this. But known of this has worked.

 

[newtekie1]

Acronis will do it, I have a flash drive with two partitions as we speak that I created using Acronis.

The problem is getting Windows to recogonize the second partition, which isn't easy, as I'm sure you found out via google. The second partition is there, created by Acronis, but Windows doesn't use it or assign it a drive letter because most flash drives are marked as removable and Windows will not allow removable media to have more than one partition, and if you create a second partition with a 3rd party utility such as Acronis, Windows will not recognize it.

So you need to find and use one of the many work arounds out there to make Windows detect the drive as a fixed disk, and not removable.

The problem is that most of the work arounds change Windows, and not the flash drive itself, so it will only work on the single Windows install you apply it to. If you move the flash drive to another computer, the second partition will not be seen...

The only real way to change this is to change the Removable Media Bit. Changing the Removable Media Bit will allow both partitions to work on all Windows systems. BootIt does this on some drives, but not all. I don't know of a tool that works with all drives. I know the Removable Media Bit is in the SCSI Inquiry Data string, but I don't know how to change that on a flash drive.

 

[95Viper]

Try this, it is free for the 32 bit version:http://www.partition-tool.com/resource/usb-hard-drive-partition.htm

Edit: Give this a try to, it is free and works on 64 bit:http://www.partitionwizard.com/

But, newtekie1 is correct, 'cause I have done it with Acronis.

 

[mars]

USB Partitioning

Do you know the technical part of it? How does the flipping of the removable happen? How can we partition a USB without using a 3rd party software? Can you suggest any programming language? and what algo should I use? thanks!

 

[de.das.dude]

just use XP install CD, fo till the drives menu, partition and exit/turn comp off. done. i did this. so it works. but, you need USB boot option on, i think.
also note that windows will set aside 8mb at first, but if you reallocate, it will go away(use your logic)

 

[95Viper]

Here is some info on the Lexar Boot-it app.
It works with some USB drives/sticks.
It has the option to do the flip bit, too.
(Remember to make it bootable... mark it "Active")

Lexar tool makes creating bootable USB flash drives easy
How to Create Multiple Partitions on a USB Drive
Get the file here @ 911cd.net forums or click on this link>Lexar Boot-it zip file
I, as always, checked this file with Kaspersky, Malwarebytes, and Superantispyware - it came up clean for me, please, check it yourself, as you should always do when downloading from any source that you are not 100% sure of.


This thread has risen!

 

[mars]

I tried Lexar bootit and yes it really works. But what I need to know is how Lexar does it. I am required to do a software that works exactly like it and I should do it from scratch. did a lot of research and im having troubles dealing with the "flipping of the bit" what does it do to the USB that makes it recognize by the computer as a fix media?

thanks for your reply

 

[95Viper]

I hope, this may help some with what you are looking for.

Quoted from USB Storage - FAQ for Driver and Hardware Developers:

Spoiler

Quote:
Q. What must I do to trigger AutoRun on my USB storage device?
The AutoRun capabilities are restricted to CD-ROM drives and fixed disk drives. If you need to make a USB storage device perform AutoRun, the device must not be marked as a removable media device and the device must contain an Autorun.inf file and a startup application.

The removable media device setting is a flag contained within the SCSI Inquiry Data response to the SCSI Inquiry command. Bit 7 of byte 1 (indexed from 0) is the Removable Media Bit (RMB). An RMB set to zero indicates that the device is not a removable media device. An RMB of one indicates that the device is a removable media device. Drivers obtain this information by using the StorageDeviceProperty request.

For more information about the SCSI Inquiry command, see http://www.t10.org .

For more information about StorageDeviceProperty, see the STORAGE_DEVICE_DESCRIPTOR storage structure in the WDK documentation at http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-gb/library/ff566971(VS.85).aspx.

For more information on Autorun.inf files see "Creating an AutoRun-Enabled Application" at http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa969330.aspx.

Some more info: Re: Howto Flip Removable Media Bit (RMB)

 

[mars]

thanks. Big Help