Windows cannot complete formatting: what to do

Sometimes, when performing even the most elementary actions, unforeseen difficulties arise. It would seem, nothing easier than cleaning the hard disk or flash drive, can not. Nevertheless, users often see a window on the monitor with a message that Windows cannot complete formatting. That is why this problem requires special attention.

Ways to solve the problem

An error may occur for various reasons. For example, this may occur due to damage to the file system of the storage device or partitions that hard drives are usually shared. The drive simply can be protected from recording, which means to complete formatting, you will have to remove this limitation. Even the usual infection with the virus will easily provoke the above-described problem, so before performing actions described in the article, it is desirable to check the drive of one of the antivirus programs.

Read more: How to clean your computer from viruses

Method 1: third-party programs

The first thing that can be suggested to solve such a problem is to use the services of third-party software. There are several programs that easily not only format the drive, but also perform a few more additional tasks. Among such software solutions, Acronis Disk Director, Minitool Partition Wizard and HDD Low Level Format Tool should be highlighted. They are the most popular among users and support devices of almost any manufacturers.

Lesson:

How to use Acronis Disk Director

Formatting Hard Drive in Minitool Partition Wizard

How to perform low-level formatting flash drive

The powerful Easeus Partition Master tool, designed to optimally use the hard disk space and removable drives, has great opportunities in this regard. For many functions of this program will have to pay, but it will be able to format it and can be free.

1. We run Easeus Partition Master.

   

2. In the field with sections, select the desired volume, and in the field of the left, click "Format Partition".

   

3. In the next window, enter the name of the partition, select the file system (NTFS), set the cluster size and click "OK".

   

4. We agree with the warning that until the end of formatting, all operations will not be available, and we are waiting for the end of the program.

   

You can also use the above software for cleaning flash drives and memory cards. But these devices are more likely to fail, so before cleaning they need recovery. Of course, here you can use general software, but for such cases, many manufacturers are developing their own software that is suitable for their devices.

Read more:

Flash drive restoration programs

How to restore memory card

Method 2: Standard Windows Service

"Disk Management" - own instrument of the operating system, and its name speaks for itself. It is intended to create new sections, changes in the size of existing ones, their removal and formatting. Consequently, this software has everything you need to solve the problem.

1. Open the service drivers (press the "Win + R" key combination and enter DiskMgmt.msc in the "Run" window).

   

2. Starting the standard formatting operation here is not enough, so we completely remove the selected volume. At this point, the entire space of the drive will be unallocated, i.e. Get the RAW file system, which means that the disk (USB) cannot be used until the new volume is created.

   

3. Click right-click to "create a simple volume".

   

4. Click "Next" in the next two windows.

   

5. Select any letter of the disc, except the one that is already used by the system, and again click "Next".

   

6. Install formatting options.

   

We finish creating volume. As a result, we get a completely formatted disk (USB flash drive), ready for use in Windows OS.

Method 3: "Command Line"

If the previous version does not help, you can formatting a "command line" (console) - an interface designed to manage the system using text messages.

1. Open the "Command Line". To do this, in the search for Windows, enter the CMD, click right-click and run on behalf of the administrator.

   

2. Enter diskpart, then List Volume.

   

3. In the list that opens, select the desired volume (in our example volume 7) and register Select Volume 7, and then Clean. ATTENTION: After that, access to the disk (flash drive) will disappear.

   

4. Entering the Create PRIMARY code, create a new partition, and the Format FS = FAT32 Quick command format volume.

   

5. If after that the drive is not displayed in the "Explorer", we enter the Assign Letter = H (H is an arbitrary letter).

   

The lack of a positive result after all of these manipulations hints on what time it is time to think about the status of the file system.

Method 4: Treatment of the File System

CHKDSK is a service program that is built into Windows and is designed to detect, and then correct errors on the disks.

1. Run the console again using the method specified above and set the chkdsk g: / f command (where G is the letter of the test drive, and F is the parameter entered to correct errors). If this disc is currently used, you will have to confirm the request for its disconnection.

   

2. We look forward to the end of the check and set the EXIT command.

   

Method 5: Loading in "Safe Mode"

Create interference formatting can any program or service of the operating system, the work of which was not completed. There is a chance that it will help the launch of the computer in the "safe mode", in which the list of system features is strongly limited, since the minimum set of components is loaded. In this case, these are ideal conditions in order to try formatted disc, using the second way from the article.

Read more: How to go to a secure mode on Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7

The article covered all ways to eliminate the problem when Windows cannot complete formatting. Usually they give a positive result, but if none of the presented options helped, the probability is high, that the device has received serious damage and may have to be replaced.