Performing the formatting operation on a removable USB device, in fact, is one of the recommended ways to fix problems if the computer cannot detect a USB flash drive. How can this be done?
Instructions
Step 1
Check if the indicator light of the removable device is working - if the connector is damaged, the indicator will not light up - and try disconnecting the peripheral USB devices that are not currently in use, and plugging the USB flash drive through another connector on the back of the computer.
Step 2
Check your computer's BIOS settings - USB ports should be enabled. And try connecting the drive to another computer.
Step 3
Call the main menu of the Microsoft Windows operating system by clicking the "Start" button and go to the "Control Panel" item to update the required drivers.
Step 4
Expand the Device Manager link and identify the USB controllers you are using. If there are yellow question mark symbols next to one or more USB devices, you will need to uninstall and reinstall the required drivers.
Step 5
Return to the main menu "Start" and call the context menu of the item "My Computer" by right-clicking the mouse to perform the operation of the volume label of the unrecognizable removable device.
Step 6
Specify the "Manage" command and go to the "Disk Management" tab of the dialog box that opens.
Step 7
Find your USB flash drive and open its context menu by clicking the right mouse button.
Step 8
Specify the command "Change drive letter or drive path" and click the "Add" button.
Step 9
Select the desired volume label in the list of available ones and return to the main menu "Start" to carry out the procedure for formatting the selected removable USB drive.
Step 10
Go to the "Control Panel" item and expand the "Administrative Tools" link.
Step 11
Select Computer Management and expand the Storage Devices node.
Step 12
Select the "Disk Management" item and determine the device to be formatted in the directory.
Step 13
Expand the Action menu in the upper toolbar of the application window and select All Tasks.
Step 14
Select the "Format" command and confirm the execution of the command by pressing the OK button.
Step 15
Return to the main "Start" menu to carry out an alternative procedure for formatting the flash drive and go to the "Run" item.
Step 16
Enter the value cmd in the "Open" field and confirm the execution of the command for launching the "Command Line" tool by clicking the OK button.
Step 17
Enter: format drive_name: (here drive_name is the letter previously assigned to the removable device) in the command interpreter text box. Confirm the command by pressing the Enter function key.
