If the flash drive downloads, dumps, or opens files for a long time, this is a clear sign that its sectors and tracks are damaged. This problem is solved quite simply - low-level flash drive formatting is carried out.
Such formatting provides for a new markup on sectors and tracks with recording service information for the operation of the device. The principle of operation: deleting all files that were or are on the media, the values of the sectors acquire “zeros”, and as a result, the data cannot be subsequently restored, which is very important if you need to avoid leakage of confidential information when transferring the device to other people.
Why does the flash drive fail and how can this fix low-level formatting?
The fact is that while recording files through a computer or any other device, recording can be performed on damaged sectors. As a rule, modern flash drives skip this, but older manufacturers do not.
How it works?
Low-level formatting marks bad sectors, blocks them and optimizes flash drive performance. It should be noted that full formatting at home is impossible to do - this should happen at the factory. But the utility of low-level formatting of a flash drive imitates this process, which is quite enough if you need to block sectors and delete information free of charge for its confidentiality.
Low level flash drive formatting: a program suitable for this process
The simplest and most common solution is to use the HDD Low Level Format program. First you need to download it. After downloading, install in free mode (you can safely refuse to offer a paid version), the only difference is that there will be no updates. For those who do not know English, we clarify: you need to click "Continue for free" (from the English. "Continue for free").
After installation, a list with all models of flash drives that the program supports is displayed. You can select the desired one by setting the parameters in the "Capacity" and "Model" columns. Having selected the necessary model and volume, click on the “Continue” button. How to determine the model - below in the material.
A new window will display information on the selected storage device. From all the parameters you should select “Device details”, general and detailed information on the flash drive will be displayed, and among these parameters you need to select the tab: “Low-level format” (Low-level formatting of the flash drive). The formatting process will begin, and on the main screen of the program all the processes that the HDD Low Level Format program performs and the percentage of formatting will be displayed.
Remark
For high-level formatting, select “Perform quick wipe” (check this box). After selecting the action, a window appears stating that all data will be deleted without the possibility of repeated recovery. You need to click "OK".
After you start formatting the flash drive, the percentage of sectors passed will be displayed on the screen, at this time you do not need to try to open the flash drive, write or read files from it, and you should not remove the device from the slot. At the end of the operation, the installation bar will turn yellow: the low-level formatting of the flash drive is over. Now you need to carry out high-level formatting - this will record the file table, otherwise the flash drive will not work.
How to determine the device model
In order for the program to format the drive, you need to specify its volume and model. The volume can be indicated by the computer itself, but the situation with the definition of the model is somewhat more complicated. In this case, only a special utility can help the user.
A popular program is ChipGenius. It does not require installation, just download it and open it, but before that you need to insert the device into the USB port. In the program window, select the desired drive. The utility will provide a lot of unnecessary information, so you need to skip everything and pay attention to two fields:
• Controller Part-Number - device model;
• Flash ID code - shows the amount of flash memory, type and model of flash memory.
That's all, if you know these parameters, low-level flash drive formatting is not a problem.
The standard method did not help: other ways to format a flash drive
Having completed all of the above procedures and come to a standstill, do not get upset. Sometimes a device needs a special utility from the manufacturer or just created for it. For example, a low-level formatting of a Kingston flash drive can only be done after a high-level formatting through the HP USB Disk Storage Format Tool. In the Device field, select the desired drive, then at the bottom of the field click the "Start" button. Perform the formatting described at the beginning of the material.
Remark: do not forget to repeat the high-level formatting at the very end, otherwise the device will not work.
In this way, you can also perform low-level formatting of a Transcend flash drive or any other if the first method did not help.
Special use of low-level formatting: multiple partitions on the same flash drive
First, why is this needed?
1. The presence of several operating systems on one drive.
2. Actions and manipulations with one section do not affect another.
3. You can create several independent file systems.
4. Based on paragraph "3", fragmentation can be carried out within only one section, thereby reducing the time cost, because a file can only be in one file system, and it is easier for the program to "sort everything into shelves."
5. Regardless of the type of file system, information can be stored in partitions with different clusters. It is very convenient, for example, to store large video files separately from small ones. The cluster size, respectively, will be larger and smaller - this allows you to read files faster, upload and download.
Which program to choose?
BOOTICE is a universal utility that can both make low-level formatting of a flash drive and split it into several partitions, as well as manipulate them.
So, for example, we break the Kingston flash drive into 7.5 GB. Divide into two sections with the File System FAT 32 c Vol Label (1st: BOOT, 2nd: DATA) and with a capacity of 4000 and 3500 MB, respectively.
1. Open the program.
2. Find the line “Destination Disk” and select the desired drive in it.
3. Click the Parts Manage window.
4. A blank tab will appear, and at the bottom there will be a “Parts Manage” button - select and click.
5. In the new tab, select “ReFormat USB disk”.
6. In the window that appears, select USB-HDD Mode (Multi Partitions) and select Align to 1 MB below.
7. Click Next and in a new window set the previously mentioned data: Size: 4000 and 3500, FileSystem: FAT 32 for both, Vol Label: BOOT and DATA.
8. Press “Okey” and wait for the procedure to complete.
Kingston technology
In conclusion, let us say a few words about one of the industry leaders, Kingston Technology. This is an American private international corporation that develops, supports, sells and manufactures flash memory, as well as other computer devices that are associated with memory. The company is headquartered in California, USA. Interestingly, Kingston employs over 4,700 people worldwide. The company has manufacturing facilities and representative offices in the United States, China, Taiwan, Ireland and the United Kingdom.
Currently, it was Kingston that managed to become the second largest supplier of flash memory, as well as the first distributor of USB drives and the third - flash cards. Kingston Technology Corporation is one of the leading memory developers worldwide, so if it weren’t for this digging, we probably would not have asked the question posed at the beginning of the article. And what is the manufacturer of the flash drive that you decided to format?