"Can't Format External Hard Drive? 6 Solutions to Assist You"

Have you ever encountered the error message "Windows was unable to format a removable disk"? This issue can be quite concerning as it blocks you from accessing or formatting the drive.

Therefore, in this article, I will explain the reasons behind the inability to format an external hard drive and provide six straightforward steps to resolve the issue. Keep reading!

Possible Reasons Why You Can't Format External Hard Drive There could be several reasons why you are unable to format your external hard drive. Here are some common issues that might be causing the problem: 1. **Hardware Issues**: The external hard drive might have physical damage, such as broken connectors or internal components, preventing it from being recognized by the system. 2. **File System Incompatibility**: Your computer might not support the file system currently used by the external hard drive. For example, if the drive is formatted with NTFS on a Mac, it may not allow formatting without third-party software. 3. **Virus or Malware**: Malicious software can sometimes interfere with the formatting process, making it impossible to format the drive. 4. **Open Files or Processes**: If there are open files or active processes running on the external hard drive, the operating system might prevent you from formatting it to avoid data loss. 5. **Locked or Write-Protected**: The drive might be locked or set as write-protected, which would block any attempts to format it. 6. **Volume Type Restrictions**: If the external hard drive is set as a system volume or has other restrictions, like being the boot drive, formatting might be prohibited. 7. **Driver or Firmware Issues**: Outdated or corrupted drivers for the hard drive's controller or firmware problems can lead to formatting issues. 8. **Software Glitch**: Sometimes, a bug in the operating system or disk management tool can cause the formatting process to fail. 9. **Storage Errors**: Bad sectors or other storage errors on the hard drive can make formatting difficult or impossible. 10. **Incorrect Disk Management Settings**: Incorrect settings in the disk management utility, such as assigning the wrong drive letter, might prevent formatting. To troubleshoot and resolve these issues, try different methods like checking the hardware connections, using a different computer, scanning for viruses, updating drivers, or using alternative formatting tools.

There could be several reasons why you're unable to format your external hard drive. Here are a few possible causes to consider:

Bad Sectors:

A bad sector on a storage device has become damaged and is no longer responsive to read or write operations. Bad sectors can manifest on various types of storage mediums, such as traditional hard disks, SSDs, USB flash drives, memory cards, pen drives, micro SD cards, and more. Windows does not accommodate formatting a hard drive with corrupted sectors.

There is a link available to assist you in learning more about bad sectors.

[Bad Sector Explained] What Is a Bad Sector?

A bad sector occurs due to mechanical damage, often caused by head crashes, manufacturing defects, normal wear and tear, physical stress, sudden power outages, or dust ingress.

Physical damage:

Removable disks are more susceptible to physical damage than internal hard drives. For example, it might become damaged if you drop it, or if it's exposed to unfavorable conditions. The methods in this article won't fix a storage device with physical damage.

Write-protection:

Write protection is a feature that prevents users from altering the contents of a storage device, such as an SD card or a flash drive, by blocking actions like formatting or deleting data. Generally, there are two types of protection available for these devices: hardware-based and software-based. 1. Hardware-based write protection usually involves a physical switch found on the side of the SD card or flash drive. When the switch is set to the locked position, the device becomes read-only, and any attempt to modify or delete files will be prohibited. 2. Software-based write protection, on the other hand, relies on specific software or settings that control access to the device. This method can be more flexible, as it allows write protection to be enabled or disabled without any physical changes to the device. However, it may require administrative privileges or specific software tools to activate or deactivate the protection.

Insufficient permissions:

Occasionally, formatting your drive might necessitate administrative privileges on your computer. Fortunately, it's straightforward to fix the formatting issue using Command Prompt or Disk Management.

Virus/malware:

If your device is infected with a virus or malware, your sensitive data could be stolen, compromised, or deleted, and the hardware could even be completely fried.

You risk infecting a computer with a virus if you connect a USB drive, SD card, or another device to one that doesn't have antivirus software installed.

By the way, there are some links to help you if you can't format a USB or SD card.

Can't Format External Hard Drive? 6 Solutions to Assist

In this section, we present six solutions to assist you in resolving the issue where you're unable to format an external hard drive, including guidance on how to format an external hard drive that is not visible. By following these methods, you'll be able to identify the reason behind the inability to format external hard drives.

Method 1: Scan and Repair Bad Sectors

Sectors that are damaged and cannot be read or written are referred to as bad sectors, which interfere with the formatting process. Utilize tools like Partition Master or the CHKDSK.exe software to scan and repair damaged sectors to resolve the "Can't Format USB" issue.

First, let's utilize the tool Partition Master to check for bad sectors. Here's a step-by-step guide:

Step 1. Launch AOMEI Partition Assistant. Right-click the disk that you wish to check and select "Surface Test".

Step 2. The operation will be performed immediately, and all bad sectors will be marked in red.

With just a simple click, you can scan and locate bad sectors.

By the way, you can also use the CHKDSK.exe software to scan bad sectors. It's a bit troublesome, so let's see how to use it.

Step 1. Press the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box, type cmd, and press Enter.

Step 2. The Command Prompt window will appear

Step 3. Type chkdsk g: /f /r /x at the command prompt. Replace "g" with the drive letter of your flash drive.

Now, let's see if the Windows System has a solution for the "can't format USB" issue.

Method 2: Remove Write Protection

Windows is unable to format a write-protected flash drive. This protection can occur due to various reasons, including a physical lock switch on the drive, the drive being set to read-only mode, incorrect registry settings, or a damaged file system. Each cause necessitates a different approach to resolve the issue.

< strong > 1] Search For A Physical Switch. < /strong >

First, examine the side of your flash drive for a physical lock switch. If present, slide it to the unlock position. Then, connect it to your computer and format it as needed. Shift the lock switch to remove the write protection. Afterwards, check if the Windows System has a solution for the "can't format USB" problem.

[2] Remove Read-Only Properties Using the Diskpart Tool.

Step 1. Connect your flash drive to your computer and ensure that it is detected.

Step 2. Press the Windows key + R on your keyboard to open the Run dialog box. Next, type "diskpart" into the Run dialog box and click OK to launch the Diskpart Command Prompt.

Step 3. After that, type list disk and press Enter. This will show a list of disks present on your computer. Now, type select disk n, where 'n' represents the drive letter of your USB flash drive. Press Enter to proceed.

Step 4. Type and execute the following command—`attributes disc clean read-only`. This will modify your USB drive's settings so that it is no longer read-only. You can now format the flash drive as needed.

Now you can verify if the issue has been resolved.

3] Write Protection can be disabled through Registry editing.

Ensure your flash drive can be detected by plugging it into your computer first.

Step 1. Open the Run dialog, type regedit, and press Enter or click OK to access the Registry Editor.

Step 2. Go to the following path.

Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\StorageDevicePolicies This is a path in the Windows Registry. In English, it would be: Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\StorageDevicePolicies

If the StorageDevicePolicies key does not exist, create it manually by right-clicking the Control key and selecting New > Key.

Step 3. You can change WriteProtect by double-clicking it and altering the value from 1 to 0.

If WriteProtect does not exist, right-click the new StorageDevicePolicies key and select New > DWORD. Specify the name as WriteProtect. Double-click WriteProtect and set the value to 0.

Step 4. Restart your computer after closing Regedit. You'll need to properly format your USB device before reconnecting it.

Check if the issue still persists.

Method 3: Remove the Virus

Small USB flash drives make it convenient to backup or transfer data to a computer. However, they are often carried around and used on multiple computers, which increases the risk of virus infection. In such cases, a reliable antivirus program can effectively remove the malware or virus.

Step 1. Type "Windows Security" into the search box located next to the Windows logo on the computer screen.

Step 2. Click on "Virus & Threat protection," then select the "Virus & Threat protection" icon. Under the "Current Threats" section, you should see "Scan Options." Here, you'll find four different scanning options to choose from.

Step 3. If it's your first time using the tool and you want to check everything, select the Full Scan option. Click the radio button next to Full Scan, then click the Scan Now button.

Step 4. Pressing this will initiate a full system scan, during which Windows Security will display a progress bar with the scan results. If everything is okay, the message "No current threats" will be shown.

Step 5. If Microsoft Defender detects any threats, you will receive a notification saying "Threats Found," accompanied by a list of the infected files. To eliminate the threats from your computer, click the "Start Actions" button, and Microsoft Defender will proceed to remove the threats.

Now, let's see if the Windows System has a solution for the "can't format USB" issue.

Method 4: Format External Hard Drive using Command Prompt

The simplest method to format external media such as USB drives, pen drives, etc., is using the Windows Command Prompt.

Step 1. Open the Command Prompt program from the Windows menu.

Step 2. Enter the following command with the appropriate drive letter and file system.

Example 1: format D: /fs:ntfs

E.g. 2: format J: /fs:FAT32

Now, let's see if the Windows System has a solution for the "can't format USB" issue.

Method 5: Format External Hard Drive Using Disk Management

Another excellent tool for managing disks and partitions on Windows computers is Disk Management. With just a few simple clicks, you can create a new volume on the removable drive that Windows is unable to format.

Step 1. Right-click on "This PC", select "Manage", then click "Disk Management" to launch the Disk Management tool.

Step 2. Next, select your external hard drive and right-click on it.

Step 3. Select the "Format" option and choose the "Perform a quick format" choice.

Step 4. Choose the appropriate file format and click "OK".

Check if the issue has been resolved.

Method 6: Attempt Formatting on Another Linux Operating System

There's another approach you can attempt to isolate the issue before resorting to disk replacement. Linux commands can format disks into virtually any file system, including NTFS and FAT32. So, if you're unable to format the disk in Windows, Linux provides a great alternative.

To format the disk as NTFS on Linux, follow these steps in the Terminal, ensuring that the disk is connected: 1. Open the Terminal: You can do this by pressing `Ctrl + Alt + T` or by searching for "Terminal" in your application launcher. 2. Identify the disk you want to format. You can use the `lsblk` command to list all available block devices. The disk you're looking for is likely named `/dev/sdX`, where `X` is a letter representing the specific disk (e.g., `/dev/sda`, `/dev/sdb`, etc.). 3. Unmount the disk if it's currently mounted. Replace `X` with the appropriate letter: ``` sudo umount /dev/sdx ``` 4. Format the disk using the `mkfs.ntfs` command. Again, replace `X` with the correct letter: ``` sudo mkfs.ntfs -f /dev/sdx ``` The `-f` flag ensures a fresh format, overwriting any existing data on the disk. 5. After the formatting process is complete, you can mount the newly formatted NTFS disk. Create a mount point directory first: ``` sudo mkdir /mnt/ntfs_disk ``` 6. Mount the disk: ``` sudo mount -t ntfs-3g /dev/sdx /mnt/ntfs_disk ``` Now, the NTFS-formatted disk is mounted at `/mnt/ntfs_disk`, and you can access its contents. Remember to replace 'X' with the correct identifier for your disk throughout these commands.

sudo mkfs -t ntfs /dev/sdb1 This command translates to: Create an NTFS file system on the first partition of the /dev/sdb device as a superuser.

If you want to format it as FAT32, run the following command:

sudo mkfs -t vfat /dev/sdb1 This command creates a FAT32 file system on the first partition of the device /dev/sdb. The "sudo" prefix is used to run the command with superuser privileges, which is often necessary for modifying disk partitions or file systems.

After that, you can run the lsblk command to verify the file system change.

After completing these steps, disconnect the device from the Linux system and connect it to a Windows PC. You shouldn't encounter any issues now.

Bonus Tip: How to Safely Format an External Hard Drive? If you're looking to format your external hard drive without losing data or encountering issues, follow these steps: 1. **Backup Your Data**: Before formatting, ensure you have a backup of all important files on the external drive. You can copy them to another storage device or upload them to a cloud service. 2. **Connect the External Drive**: Plug in your external hard drive to your computer using a USB cable or other compatible connection method. 3. **Open File Explorer**: On Windows, press `Win + E` to open File Explorer. On macOS, click on the Finder icon in the Dock. 4. **Locate the Drive**: In File Explorer or Finder, find the external hard drive listed under "Devices" or "External Disks." 5. **Right-Click and Select Format**: Right-click on the external hard drive's icon and choose "Format" from the context menu. On macOS, select the drive, then click "Erase" in the top menu bar. 6. **Choose File System**: In the Format window, select a file system. For compatibility with most devices, choose either "NTFS" (Windows) or "ExFAT" (cross-platform). macOS users might prefer "MS-DOS (FAT)" for compatibility with Windows machines. 7. **Volume Label**: Optionally, give your drive a new name or keep the existing one. 8. **Check the Options**: Make sure the "Quick Format" option is selected in Windows to speed up the process. There's no equivalent option in macOS, but it should be a quick process anyway. 9. **Start Formatting**: Click "Start" on Windows or "Erase" on macOS to begin the formatting process. A warning message will appear, reminding you that all data will be erased. 10. **Wait for Completion**: Wait until the formatting is finished. This may take some time depending on the size of the drive. 11. **Verify Data Integrity**: After formatting, perform a quick scan or test the drive to ensure it's working correctly and there are no bad sectors. Now your external hard drive is safely formatted and ready to use. Remember, always back up your data regularly to prevent loss in case of unexpected issues.

"Partition Master can be utilized on a Windows PC to format an external hard drive to FAT32. Rather than employing alternative methods, you can accomplish the formatting in just three straightforward steps. This partition manager, available for free download and usage, makes it easy to format a drive."

Step 1. Launch AOMEI Partition Assistant, right-click the partition on your external hard drive/USB/SD card that you want to format and choose "Format".

Step 2. Assign a new partition label, file system (NTFS/FAT32/EXT2/EXT3/EXT4/exFAT), and cluster size to the selected partition, then click "OK".

Step 3. In the Warning window, click "Yes" to continue.

Step 4. Click the "Execute 1 Task(s)" button in the top-left corner to review the changes, and then click "Apply" to begin formatting your external hard drive, USB, or SD card.

Aside from formatting an external hard drive, it boasts numerous other features. Let's delve further into them.

What Makes Partition Master the Best Choice?

The main features of Partition Master Free include:

Powerful yet free: Partition Master Free boasts several features, including the ability to resize, move, merge, migrate, and copy disks or partitions, convert to local, change the label, defragment, verify, and analyze partitions.

Comprehensive Disk Management Tool: This utility enables you to manage any number of storage devices and check the disk. It allows you to convert MBR to GPT or transform FAT32 to NTFS as per your requirements.

Wizards: Are you migrating your OS to a newer, faster HDD or an ultra-speedy SSD? Maybe you need to duplicate or copy a partition? Look to the toolbar for a Wizard to assist with these tasks and more. Partition Master Free also supports working with SSDs.

Business License: Home entrepreneurs can quickly and easily obtain a Business License for Partition Master Free.

If you're experiencing disk management issues, don't hesitate to download it.

Conclusion

Thus, from the article, you can grasp the reasons behind an unsuccessful external drive formatting and how to address the problem. Additionally, you can securely format your external drive by installing and utilizing the Partition Master Free tool.

Although it can be challenging to resolve the formatting issue with your external drive, it's crucial to ensure data retrieval by creating backups. This way, even if you're unable to recover the device itself, you can still regain access to your data.

Frequently Asked Questions Related to "Can't Format External Hard Drive"

If you have any further questions regarding formatting external hard drives, please refer to the following frequently asked questions and their respective solutions.

1. Why am I unable to format my external drive?

You might encounter the inability to format your external drive due to several reasons, including bad sectors, physical damage, write protection, insufficient permissions, or the presence of viruses or malware.

2. How do I perform a forced format on my hard drive?

1. Right-click on the USB or external device you wish to format and select "Format" from the context menu. 2. In the Format window, choose the appropriate "Cluster size," select a File system (such as NTFS, FAT32, or exFAT), and enter a desired "Partition label." 3. Click "OK" to proceed. 4. In the main window, click "Execute Operation" and then confirm by pressing "Apply" to start formatting the hard drive partition.

3. How do I format an unresponsive external hard drive? To format an unresponsive external hard drive, follow these steps: 1. **Connect the Hard Drive**: Plug the external hard drive into your computer using a USB cable or the appropriate connection method. 2. **Open File Explorer**: On Windows, press `Win + E` to open File Explorer. On macOS, click on the Finder icon in the Dock. 3. **Check Disk Utility (macOS only)**: If you're using a Mac, open 'Disk Utility' from Applications > Utilities. Look for your unresponsive hard drive in the list and click 'First Aid' to see if it can be repaired. If not, proceed to formatting. 4. **Find the Drive in File Explorer/Disks**: In File Explorer (Windows) or Disks (macOS), locate the unresponsive hard drive. It might show as "Unknown" or with a generic name. 5. **Right-click and Choose Format**: Right-click on the hard drive entry and select "Format" from the context menu. 6. **Format Options**: - **File System**: Choose a file system like NTFS (Windows) or exFAT (compatible with both Windows and macOS). - **Volume Label**: Give your drive a new name (optional). - **Allocation Unit Size**: Leave this at the default unless you have specific requirements. 7. **Warning**: Formatting will erase all data on the drive. Make sure you've backed up any important files. 8. **Start Formatting**: Click "Start" on Windows or "Erase" on macOS to begin the formatting process. Wait for the process to complete. 9. **Verify Functionality**: Once formatted, try accessing the drive to ensure it's now responsive. If it still doesn't work, there may be hardware issues, and you should consider professional assistance. Remember that formatting should be a last resort, as it removes all data. If the drive contains valuable information, consult data recovery services before proceeding.

If the drive still isn't working, unplug it and try using a different USB port. It could be that the faulty port is malfunctioning, or your specific disk is causing compatibility issues. If it's connected to a USB 3.0 port, attempt using a USB 2.0 port instead. If it's plugged into a USB hub, connect it directly to the PC to eliminate the hub as a potential source of the problem.