How To Format A Pny Flash Drive

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How to format USB to FAT32? If the USB flash drive is within 32GB, the native Windows File Explorer and Windows Disk Management are good FAT32 formatter. However, if you want to format 64GB or 128GB USB to FAT32, you can only depend on CMD (Usually diskpart and powershell) and a third-party FAT32 format tool.

*EaseUS Partition Master Free is an all-around FAT32 format utility that breaks the limit of the 32GB capacity on a USB flash drive, pen drive or memory card. You can apply the software to format any drive from 2GB to 256GB or even bigger to FAT32 without limitation. Read on and get to know the FAT32 file system and how to choose the right tool to format USB to FAT32.

Why Do We Format USB to FAT32?

If no suitable partition/file system is found and the rescue media creation is Multi-Partition Aware then the flash drive is searched to locate unallocated space to create a 1GB FAT32 partition. USB flash Rescue media is considered Multi-Partition Aware if the host OS is Windows 10 Release 1709 or later and the target Win PE/RE WIM is also. About how to format SD card to FAT32 in Windows 10/8/7, the methods differ from 32GB, 64GB, or 128GB SD card or USB flash drive. Here is a full guide for Windows users to format SD card to FAT32. Without further ado, here is the page of tools directly from PNY that will help you basically reset your flash drive back to factory settings/configuration! Once you're on this page, click the downloads tab and download the appropriate tool.

Related topic:Should you format USB to FAT32 or NTFS?

What's FAT32? FAT32 is regarded as the default file system for external drives, especially the removable USB flash drives and SD memory cards. It's the most compatible file system that can be used on major devices and operating systems like Windows and macOS. So, the advantage of using FAT32 is portability.

However, FAT32 has some disadvantages, or let's say limitations as well. First and foremost, if you use a single file over 4GB in size, you'll need to convert FAT32 to NTFS or exFAT; What's more, due to the manufacturers' specifications, FAT32 can only be used to format drives between 2GB and 32GB, and that's why native tools on Windows have that limit, too. When you try to format a USB drive over 32GB in Windows Explorer, there is no 'FAT32' option at all.

Warning
Formatting the USB flash drive will delete all the content on the device. Please make sure that you have backed up everything on the drive you want to save before the operations.

How to Format USB to FAT32: Windows Tools or Third-party Formatter?

According to the previous FAT32 analysis, 32GB is the watershed when it comes to deciding how to format your USB flash drive to the FAT32 file system. In a word, when the USB drive is within 32GB, you can choose any tool mentioned on this page to make it. Otherwise, once the USB drive capacity exceeds the 32GB limit, you'll need to turn to more advanced solutions, including:

  1. 1. EaseUS FAT32 formatting software
  1. 2. Diskpart & PowerShell command

Next, we'll cover all free solutions to let you format 2GB, 8GB, 32GB, 64GB, 128GB, or 256GB USB flash drive to FAT32 with success.

#1. Format USB (Under 32GB) to FAT32 via Windows 7/8/10 File Explorer

Connect your USB drive to a Windows PC or laptop and let Windows recognize your drive and assign it a drive letter. Check it in Windows Explorer and follow the steps to format the drive to FAT32 as you want.

Step 1. Press Windows + E keys and open File Explorer.

Step 2. Right-click on your USB drive and choose Format.

How to make video game in sims 4. Step 3. Choose FAT32 as the target file system, tick Quick Format and click Start.

#2. Format USB (Under 32GB) to FAT32 via Windows 7/8/10 Disk Management

Disk management is a free Windows built-in utility that is designed to help users deal with common disk partition related jobs. It is ready to help whenever you want to format a small USB drive to FAT32.

Step 1. Right-click This PC in Windows 10/My Computer in Windows 7, and choose Manage.

Step 2. How do you open a rar file in windows 10. Choose Disk Management under Storage.

Step 3. Right-click on your USB drive and select Format.

Step 4. From the File system drop-down list, choose FAT32 and click OK.

#3. Format USB (32GB, 64GB, 128GB) to FAT32 with EaseUS FAT32 Formatter

Since the FAT32 option is not available in the regular Windows formatting tools when the USB size is over 32GB, you need other capable USB format tools to get around that. Here we recommend you try EaseUS Partition Master Free, a free partition manager that can help you format your hard drive and USB devices without size limitations. In addition, it also lets you easily resize, create, delete, merge, split, copy partitions, convert MBR to GPT drive and vice versa, and many other things you cannot realize in the default Windows programs.

Now you can download the program and follow the simple steps to format the USB flash drive in any size to FAT32.

Step 1: Launch EaseUS Partition Master, right-click the partition you intend to format and choose 'Format'.

Step 2: In the new window, enter the Partition label, choose the FAT32 file system, and set the cluster size according to your needs, then click 'OK'.

Step 3: Then you will see a warning window, click 'OK' in it to continue.

Step 4: Click the 'Execute Operation' button in the top-left corner to review the changes, then click 'Apply' to start formatting the partition to FAT32.

Smaller cluster size makes less waste of disk space. The smaller cluster size is, the bigger the file allocation table (FAT) will be. The bigger the FAT is, the slower the operating system works with the disk.

#4. Format USB to FAT32 Using CMD

Though Windows Command Prompt is the other attainable way that enables users to format a storage device to whatever file system, it's kind of higher-leveled and risker for average persons.

If you are with solid computer skills and familiar with the command lines, you can try the diskpart and powershell command to format your USB drive to FAT32 like the third-party EaseUS format tool does.

Diskpart Command Line:

list disk
select disk *
list volume
select volume *
format fs=ntfs quick

PowerShell Command Line:

format /FS:FAT32 X:

Are You Able to Format USB to FAT32 Now?

Regarding the topic 'how to format USB to FAT32', we analyzed the FAT32's advantage and disadvantage, and clearly know that the regular Windows File Explorer and Windows Disk Management can only deal with the USB drive under 32GB. If you're trying to format a large USB drive that is 64GB or 128GB, you'll need to download the third-party formatting software - EaseUS Partition Master Free, or challenge yourself to learn the Diskpart or PowerShell commands.

All in all, no matter how large your USB flash drive is, EaseUS FAT32 format software is the optimal choice to format your USB drive to FAT32. It doesn't require the USB storage size, and most of all, it's user-friendly that everyone can benefit from it.

Receive 'The Disk Is Write-Protected' Error While Formatting USB Pen Drive

Are you having a problem formatting a write-protected USB pen drive? Did you get 'The disk is write-protected' error message while trying to format a flash drive, pen drive or SD card?

Sometimes, users would like to lock their USB flash drives or a pen drive, making it write-protected, so as to prevent unexpected data loss due to deleting or formatting. However, a USB drive or pen drive may also become write-protected due to logical error, virus infection, or locked by third-party encryption software.

With the write-protection status on the USB pen drive, you can't format it and you'll get a 'The disk is write-protected' error message. You may wonder 'How do I remove write protection on a USB drive?' on your mind. Here, you can first follow solutions in Part 1 to remove write protection from USB, pen drive, SD card, external hard drive, etc., and then format the device with ease.

Part 1. Remove Protection from USB/Pen Drive, etc., Devices

Here in this part, there are six ways that you can try to remove the write protection from your USB, pen drive, etc., storage devices. After fixing this issue, you may follow tips in Part 2 to format the USB flash drive and pen drive with no hassle.

#1. Unlock Write-Protected USB/Pen Drive by Switching Its Lock

If you have previously locked your USB flash drive or pen drive by switching its Lock to ON, the device is locked and write-protected. It means that you cannot format the device nor make any changes to it. Here is how to unlock the write-protected USB:

Step 1. Find the physical switch on your USB or pen drive.

Step 2. Move the switch from ON to OFF.

Now, you can connect the USB to your PC and you can re-access or format the device again.

#2. Cleanup Virus that Cause USB or Pen Drive Write-Protected

Virus infection may also sometimes cause storage devices like USB flash drive write-protected or locked. The best way to fix this issue is to run professional virus cleaner software to fully remove the virus and unlock the device.

Here is a list of recommended virus removal programs for you to try:

  • Avast Antivirus
  • Norton AntiVirus
  • McAfee
  • BitDefender
  • AVG

All you need is to install one of the recommended virus cleaners, connect the problematic device to your PC, run and let the virus cleaner tool to scan and remove all write-protection virus from your USB or pen drive.

#3. Remove Write Protection from Device using CMD

Step 1. Type cmd in the search box, right-click 'Command Prompt' and select 'Run as Administrator'.

Step 2. Type the following command lines and hit Enter after each command line.

diskpart
list disk
select disk #
attributes disk clear readonly

Replace # with the number of your write-protected flash drive or memory card.

Let CMD command to remove the write protection from your device.

Step 3. Type exit when the process finishes.

#4. Unlock USB/Pen Drive with CMD Alternative

If you are not professional in computing management and not familiar with command lines, don't worry. EaseUS R&D team has promoted a fresh kit for helping you resolve the write-protection issue on your hard drive, external hard drive, USB or SD card, etc., devices.

EaseUS Tools M is a practical computer fixing tool that is safe and light-weighted. It's a perfect alternative to the command line.

Use this one-click tool to solve the write-protection issues on your own:

Step 1: DOWNLOAD and install EaseUS Tools M for free.

Step 2: Run EaseUS Tools M on your PC, choose the 'Write Protection' mode.

Step 3: Select the device which is now 'Write-Protected' and click 'Disable' to remove the protection.

#5. Remove Write Protection on USB Flash Drive/Pen Drive using Regedit.exe

When a device is locked or a disk is write-protected, you can using Registry Editor to change its key from 1 to 0 so as to unlock the device.

Warning
Note that you need to be very careful while using Registry Editor - Regedit.exe to remove write protection on a device. Any false operation or typo error will cause serious problem.
If you are a beginner, try the former solutions.

Step 1. Type: Regedit in the search box, click 'Regedit.exe' to open the Registry editor.

PNY Ufix-I Format Tool - Flash Drive Repair

Step 2. Navigate to: ComputerHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESYSTEMCurrentControlSetControlStorageDevicePolicies

Step 3. Double-click on the 'WriteProtect' value in the right-hand pane of Regedit.exe.

Step 4. Change the 'Value' data from '1' to '0' and click 'OK' to save the change.

Step 5. Close Regedit and restart your computer.

After this, you can reconnect your USB flash drive or pen drive to your PC again, and you should find the write protection is removed and the device is no longer write-protected.

#6. Change Read-Only Status on Write-Protected USB/Pen Drive

Sometimes, your drive may also get locked or write-protected if you set it as read-only. And you can simply change the read-only state to remove the device write protection.

Note that this method can also be applied to remove the read-only state on your files.

Step 1. Connect your USB or pen drive to PC.

Step 2. Open Windows File Explorer, locate and right-click on the USB which is write-protected, and select 'Property'.

Step 3. Go to the General tab, uncheck 'Read Only', click 'Apply' and 'OK' to finish.

After removing write protection on your USB or pen drive, you can directly access the device with ease. However, if the USB or pen drive still contains some logical or internal error, you may need to format the device to recognizable again.

Cached

Part 2. Format Write-Protected USB or Pen Drive after Fixing the Error

Usually, Disk Management or Windows File Explorer can format a device that is in a normal state. But if the storage device is in a special state, such as displaying as I/O device error, Windows was unable to complete the format, USB cannot be formatted, etc., you will need a professional all-in-one formatting tool.

EaseUS Partition Master is capable of formatting your USB or pen drive, etc., from any the above logical errors. Besides USB flash drive, the program also allows you to format a write-protected SD card with the write protection error removed.

Here is the detailed guide:

Step 1. Launch EaseUS Partition Master, right-click the partition on your external hard drive/USB/SD card which you want to format and choose the 'Format' option.

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

Step 3. In the Warning window, click 'OK' to continue.

Step 4. Click the 'Execute Operation' button in the top-left corner to review the changes, then click 'Apply' to start formatting your external hard drive/USB/SD card.

When the formatting process finishes, you've finished the process of formatting a write-protected USB/pen drive on your own. And now, your device is in a good state for you to save and store data again.

FAQs about USB, Pen Drive, SD Write Protection

This page answers the questions of 'How do I remove write protection on a USB drive' and 'How can I format a write-protected pen drive'. With the provided solutions in Part 1 and Part 2, you can easily resolve 'The disk is write-protected' error and successfully format your USB flash drive, pen drive, SD card, external hard drive, and even internal hard drive after removing the write protection.

However, some of you may have more concerns that are related to the write protection issue. Here, we have found some top FAQs asked in Google searching result and left a brief answer below each question. If you have the same doubts, check and find your answers here immediately.

1. How do I format write-protected USB in Windows 10? How much does terraria cost.

As introduced on this page, to format a write-protected USB in Windows 10, you need first remove the write protection by following methods in Part 1.

Pny 128gb Flash Drive Problems

Then you can apply EaseUS Partition Master or Windows built-in formatting tool - Disk Management, Windows File Explorer, CMD to format the USB in Windows 10.

2. What is the best write-protected USB format tool?

As you search online, you may find that there is no one professional write-protected USB format tool available for free download. The reason is that write protection error is complex and most formatting tips don't even work.

So the best solution toward this issue is that you should first remove the USB write protection and then apply the best USB formatting tool for help.

3. How to format read-only USB?

When a USB displays as read-only on your computer, you cannot directly format the device either. You should first remove or fix the 'Read Only' error on USB. Then apply Windows Disk Management, File Explorer or EaseUS formatting software - EaseUS Partition Master to format your USB to FAT32 (usable) again.

How To Format A Pny Flash Drive

4. Can you recover data after formatting a write-protected SD card?

How To Format A Pny Flash Drive

How To Repair Corrupted PNY USB Flash Drive

When you removed the write protection and formatted your SD card, it's safe for you to save the data on the card again. As for the lost data, you can recover data from SD card with powerful data recovery software. If you need a reliable one, EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard is available to help.





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