flash drives not erasing

Discussion in 'Software' started by jukeboxjoe, Apr 27, 2011.

  1. jukeboxjoe

    jukeboxjoe Private E-2

    Can anyone tell me how to delete items from my flash drive. I have 2 8g and for some reason they both say i only have 386 mb of free space. If I try to format i get a message saying to close all other apps to continue but then nothing happens.

    Thanks in advance.

    Joe
     
    jukeboxjoe, Apr 27, 2011
    #1
  2. plodr

    plodr MajorGeek Super Extraordinaire Moderator Staff Member

    I move programs and files off my flash drives, then I erase them from the computer desktop.
    We have about 25 different size and vendor flash drives in the house from 256MB to 16GB and I've always done it this way except once.
    The exception was user stupidity! I tried to put more on the stick than it would hold. I couldn't move, copy, or delete anything.
    I ended up using the HP tool to format the stick and I'm again using it.

    Do Not format the drive using the windows format tool.
    Can you move things off to regain space?
     
    plodr, Apr 27, 2011
    #2
  3. jukeboxjoe

    jukeboxjoe Private E-2

    Hi plodr. when I try and access the drive using control panel I get a blank screen. I am running xp home but when I try and use the drive it shows that i have made a recovery flash drive. Other than that it aleays says the drive is empty.
     
    jukeboxjoe, Apr 27, 2011
    #3
  4. plodr

    plodr MajorGeek Super Extraordinaire Moderator Staff Member

    When you plug it in, do you see the USB icon in the tray?
    If so, open My Computer and it should appear in Devices with Removable storage.
    Right click it and select Explore.

    Do both 8GB drives react the same way? Did you buy these from eBay? There was, in the past, a scam, where you bought a supposedly large USB stick and ended up with a very tiny one.
     
    plodr, Apr 28, 2011
    #4
  5. jukeboxjoe

    jukeboxjoe Private E-2

    good morning: Firstly both flash drives were from different sources and even different cities. They are both 8gb drives and different makes. After going to my computer and clicking on icon for removable drives nothing shows. When I check properties it shows a fat 32 and 397 mb of available space on one and the same on the other, except when I insert the second drive it comes up with a slide show of my pictures.Even after verifying that there is something on the drive, when I go to my computer and click on that drive it shows a blank screen indicating the drive is empty.
     
    jukeboxjoe, Apr 28, 2011
    #5
  6. DavidGP

    DavidGP MajorGeeks Forum Administrator - Grand Pooh-Bah Staff Member

    Hi

    What Windows version and Service Pack you using?

    Try this and open Device Manager and then expand the Universal Serial Bus branch, to show all USB devices, then make a mental note of what is showing on screen, then plug in one of those USB pens and then if the list doesn't refresh then click the USB branch and re-open it.

    Likely you will now see a USB Mass Storage Device listed, right lick it and choose Uninstall, then when uninstalled take out the USB Pen, then plug it back in and hopefully the drivers will re-install.

    If you cannot get access to the drive still, then you may need to change the drive letter of the device (change it to something like X Y or Z), and instruction HERE (same route in Vista and 7) to do that.
     
    DavidGP, Apr 28, 2011
    #6

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