USB Drive keeps asking to be formatted

[dane523]

Okay so i've recently bought a Kingston Data traveller 150 64GB. Unfortunately I decided i wanted to split it into 2 partitions of NTFS and FAT32 and so used O&O Partition Manager to format the driver and delete the partition.

 

Ever since then everytime I insert the pen drive into my PC it tells me it needs to be formatted as it shows up in Disk Management as a RAW drive.

 

I have used testdisk which allows me to write over the MBR and fix the boot sector, it then instructs me to restart my pc and the USB stick then works fine. However it won't allow me to safely remove the drive and if I restart my PC the stick again comes up that it needs reformatting.

 

Can anyone help me come up with a permanent solution?

[Dalo Harkin]

Are you formatting as FAT32 or NTFS (99%) of pen drives use FAT32, but it depends on the size, 64GB should be NTFS, but if you plan on using the flash drive in an older system (pre XP) you will need FAT32

 

And dont partition the drive as its not worth it, especially for a non attached device

[dane523]

It was formatted as FAT32 but then i reformatted it as NTFS, i have given up trying to partition it and have taken the above steps, but it still keeps saying it needs reformating.

 

Due to the steps I have taken above I believe the MBR is faulty, anyway to permanently fix this?

[Dalo Harkin]

There are normally some 'tools' from the manufacturers website that can help you out if you get stuck.

 

If it came in FAT32, use FAT32, thats where your issue will lie. Do it from the disk management area of windows (admin tools>computer management>disk management) as opposed to right clicking the drive from my computer

[dane523]

Yeah that is what I have now been using, but in disk management it doesn't give me an option to format in FAT32? just NTFS and exFat?

[Dalo Harkin]

ExFat is fine AKA FAT64 it's used in W7 and Vista, can also be supported in XP and Server 2003 via updates if you need to use it in an older system.

 

Did it come as Exfat then? or FAT32?

 

I would be looking more into why its not working as NTFS as it should do.... did you check the manufacturers website for formatting tools

[dane523]

it was formatted as FAT32 when i received it.

 

I have had a look on the manufacturers website and it just shows you a video guide to doing it using vista.

 

I'll have another go formatting it when I get home in an hour or so.