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USB drive format

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timbo2410

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Just got a pair of 8gb usb drives. I've plugged em in and tried to format but it just comes up as "cannot format" ... any hints ... using win7 64 bit
 
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timbo2410 said:
Just got a pair of 8gb usb drives. I've plugged em in and tried to format but it just comes up as "cannot format" ... any hints ... using win7 64 bit
Click to expand...

what do you mean cannot format? what are you using to format it? can you copy files on it?
 
Jetster

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Just use them don't worry about format. No reason
 
FordGT90Concept

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8 GB would use FAT32. in excess of 128 GB would use FAT64/exFAT. If you intend to only use it on Windows NT and newer systems and it has 32+ GiB, you could use NTFS. NTFS may cause more wear on the drive than FAT but it's also far more flexible.

Is there a read-only switch? Have you tried a different USB port (e.g. in stead of front, try rear)? What operating system are you trying this on?
 
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FordGT90Concept said:
8 GB would use FAT32. in excess of 128 GB would use FAT64/exFAT. If you intend to only use it on Windows NT and newer systems and it has 32+ GiB, you could use NTFS. NTFS may cause more wear on the drive than FAT but it's also far more flexible.
Click to expand...
By default you can't format as NTFS, you need to disable the quick removal option. When using NTFS you can't just pull out the stick without risking corruption. You'll have to eject the drive in Windows first. So it's not really more flexible.
 
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Ya'll should be in the habit of ejecting before removing anyway. XD
 
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Why?
 
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ok I've got a brand new pair of 8gb Patriot xpress usb 3.0 sticks. I plugged them in and straight away I can see them in "my computer". It shows up as FAT32 removable drive. As soon as I try and write to them, I get the error needs formating. I used patriots own format utility but the error comes up "unable to format". I downloaded several USB format software tools. They say that the drives are write protected. I've tried to format through Win7, through the command prompt, via different software and done all the usual things. I cannot believe that two new sticks can be bad .. gotta be me doing something wrong surely.
 
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Sure sounds like there bad. And there is not switch on the sticks for write protecting data?
 
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timbo2410

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nope no switch that I can find and they are brand new, never been written on ??
 
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Can you right click on the drive in my computer, go to properties, and look through there to make sure Read Only is not checked? If there's no such option, I'd contact Patriot and ask if they know what is going on.

I can only think of three possible scenarios:
1) virus preventing access to external devices
2) administrator account required and/or software running on the computer that forbids data from being copied to an external devices
3) the drives are defective (static discharge during shipping, perhaps)
 
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timbo2410

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1. I've got an external 1tb hdd that runs off the same usb port. So I know that the port works fine.
2. I've enabled "use usb devices" under gpedit.msc.
3. I've restored the usb drives to factory settings using Patriots own utility.

Perhaps I should try formatting them in safe mode .. ??
 
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