A program for deep formatting a flash drive. How to check the temperature of a video card: programs for checking
It is recommended to format the memory card before using it or if there are problems. You will learn how to format an SD card on your phone and PC, the advantages and disadvantages of each method in this article.
Important! Formatting deletes all information and most data cannot be restored. Therefore, save all important files before formatting.
Why format your drive?
Formatting is used to prepare the drive for operation or troubleshoot problems. If the SD card is new, then formatting will allow you to create a new file system table layout, sometimes selecting a suitable file system. For previously used drives, formatting will allow you to recreate the file system table, restore or hide unreadable damaged memory cells.
SD memory card formatting is also used:
- to completely delete information without the possibility of recovery;
- to configure the file system;
- recovery from failures or viruses when the drive does not allow reading or writing information;
- to create several local partitions, or combine partitions into one disk.
Ways to format an SD card
Three types of formatting are commonly used:
- Using standard means of a phone or tablet.
- Using a computer.
- Through third party programs.
Each method offers a different level of convenience and a specific set of capabilities. Next, we will consider each method in more detail.
Method 1: formatting using standard tools
The simplest and most accessible way to format an SD card. Does not require additional equipment or a PC. All actions are performed directly by a smartphone or tablet.
Instructions
- Open the settings section
- Select "memory" or "storage"
- Select a memory card
- Open the dropdown list
- Next is “memory”
- Then select the formatting function
- Confirm the action in the new window
Formatting a memory card is only possible if the mobile device recognizes the drive.
Starting with Android 6.0, after formatting, the system can offer two options for using the drive: as a removable disk or as a shared drive. In the first case, the SD card is used as a removable storage device. In the second, internal memory is combined with external memory, which makes it possible to compensate for the lack of internal space.
If the card needs to be formatted, the system will prompt you to perform this action immediately after detecting the drive. Usually when the card is “hot” inserted.
Advantages
The method is convenient because formatting does not require removing the card from the mobile device, and does not require a computer or card reader. And thanks to the simplicity of the method, even a novice user can easily handle formatting.
Flaws
The built-in formatting function is limited in its capabilities. You cannot select the file system type, or split or merge local disks. Often a failure occurs during the formatting process, which prevents the memory card from being cleared and restored.
Method 2: formatting using a computer
This method requires a computer, a card reader, and optionally a drive adapter.
Instructions
Install the SD drive into the card reader connected to the computer. If there is no suitable slot, use an adapter from MicroSD to SD.
In the “My Computer” section, right-click on the “Removable Disk” drive detected by the system and select the “Format” option.
The connected drive appears in Windows as “Removable Disk”
Formatting function in the context menu
To quickly clear data, select “Clear table of contents”. For complete formatting, uncheck the “Clear Table of Contents” checkbox.
Please note that full formatting takes longer.
Choose a formatting method
Specify the file system type or leave all settings as default.
Select the file system type. Or leave FAT as default.
Confirm to start formatting if you are sure that all important data from the memory card has been copied and saved.
Wait for it to finish; the process can last from a few minutes for a quick clean and up to several hours for a complete clean.
You can monitor the progress of the card cleaning process
When the process completes successfully, the following window will appear:
Advantages
Formatting an SD card via a computer allows you to select a file system. There is also less chance of errors occurring during the formatting process.
Flaws
Formatting requires a computer and a card reader. Additionally, there are some restrictions when working with the drive. For example, you cannot work with additional sections, delete or add an additional section.
Method 3: formatting with third-party programs
To format a memory card you will need a computer, a card reader and, optionally, an adapter for MicroSD. In this case, specialized programs are used to work with the drive: MiniTool Partition Wizard, SD Formatter, EzRecover, etc.
The operating principle of the programs is relatively the same, only the options for formatting and servicing the drive differ: complete deletion of data without the possibility of recovery, recovery from software failures, etc.
Advantages
The programs allow you to perform several types of formatting, restore data, or restore the drive's functionality. The utilities also offer to select and configure the file system type, set the drive size, etc.
Flaws
Some programs are limited in capabilities, are available for a fee, or only work with certain types of drives. Most programs only support English localization. Also, do not forget about the need for a computer and a high-quality card reader.
Conclusion
The article describes three ways to format an SD card. Each method presented offers different advantages and disadvantages. The simplest and most limited in capabilities is formatting using standard means of a smartphone or tablet. There are fewer restrictions when formatting a memory card via a computer and when using third-party programs on a PC.
Formatting a memory card completely erases data from the media; this procedure also helps to get rid of errors associated with reading the card. SD media is used primarily in phones, but it can be inserted into cameras, music players, and any other place where there is a flat input for this type of memory card. An SD card is considered a storage device up to 2 GB; it often requires formatting, and in this article you will learn how to do it.
How to format SD from phone
If you use a microSD card, you can clear it directly from your phone. Go to your smartphone settings and do the following:
Find the “Storage” section. Enter it.
In some phones the algorithm looks different, for example, in Samsung. Open your device tray and select the gear icon.
Find the “Smart Manager” section. In it you can find the block with the SD card and click “Clear”. This will complete the formatting.
How to format an SD card via computer
Sometimes SD cards have problems when formatting through a phone, camera or other devices. Then you need to format it on your computer. Insert the flash drive into a special connector or adapter.
Go to “My Computer” to see the camera’s SD folder. As soon as it appears, right-click on it.
In the list that appears, find the “Format” section.
A window will open in front of you, configure it sequentially:
- The default speed is 121 MB. This is enough for the whole process to take a short time and not load the system;
- The file system depends on your operating system. NTFS only used on Windows FAT is universal, and you can read it on any OS, but it is limited to 32 GB. It's better to choose exFAT, since this format has no restrictions on size and types of operating systems;
- It is better not to change the cluster size;
- The “quick formatting” checkbox should only be checked if you have already performed a full formatting with the specified parameters.
Click “Start” and the cleaning will begin immediately.
How to format SD using RecoveRx
If the methods described above do not suit you, then there is only one tool left - special software for formatting SD cards. One such software is called RecoveRx. You can download the program from the link https://ru.transcend-info.com/Support/Software-4/
Go to the site and click on the “Download” button, after which you will have a choice of operating system.
Once the software has loaded, double-click on it. You can easily install the program: agree to the license agreement, select the language and installation directory. The whole procedure will last no longer than two minutes.
Open the program and go to the “Format” section. Please note that in this program you can try to recover flash drives that were previously broken or showed an error.
In the “Disk” column, put the letter of your flash drive, and below click on the “SD” picture. Formatting with this program will help correct some errors and completely clear the memory card.
If you need to change the type of file system, then simply click on the word “FAT”, you will see a small menu with a list of types.
As you can see, you have many options for cleaning your SD card, which can be either quick and easy or quite labor-intensive if the flash drive shows an error.
05.01.2016
In this article we will look at several programs for formatting flash drives. USB flash drive is a device that allows you to store and exchange information. If, for example, the device is infected with viruses or if you want to change the file system format to NTFS, FAT 32, exFAT, you can format it.
To format a flash drive you will need to use one of the following programs or utilities:
HP USB Disk Storage Format Tool
The utility was developed by Hewlett-Packard and is intended for formatting flash drives and memory cards in NTFS, FAT, FAT32. Works via USB 2.0 port. The utility allows you to create bootable DOS devices, this is useful if you need to install Windows, for example. The program interface is easy and intuitive. Formatting your device can be done in just a couple of steps. The utility is also completely free.
HDD Low Level Format Tool
HDD Low Level Format Tool The program can return the state of USB flash drives and hard drives to their original state (factory state), filling the device with zero bytes. This operation will completely remove all existing information on the media, including viruses. The program interface is quite simple. Here you can view all the information about the storage medium: file system, volume, serial number, buffer size and, of course, format it.
SDFormatter
Formatting an SD card SDFormatterThe program is designed for formatting SD cards that are used in phones, cameras, players. By using special formatting methods that include the appropriate SD card specifications, the utility can help in situations where other software tools are simply useless. The program interface is extremely simple, and to format the card you only need to complete a few steps.
Format a flash drive using the Windows system utility
Also, do not forget that full formatting can be performed using standard Windows tools. To do this, simply insert the media into the USB port and in the “My Computer” window, right-click on it and select the “Format” line. Next, select the required file system format and format the flash drive. To format a flash drive using this method, you do not need to download anything.
Format a flash drive using standard Windows tools Convert.exe utility, which can be used via the command line
To change the file system it is not necessary to erase all data from the flash drive. To format a flash drive without losing data, you can use the Convert.exe utility and the command line. To format a flash drive you do not need to download any programs.
To do this, open the command line and enter the following command:
convert<буква_флешки>: /fs:ntfs /nosecurity /x
in my case it will be: convert F: /fs:ntfs /nosecurity /x
Format a flash drive without deleting data Typical reasons why a user may turn to programs for low-level formatting of a flash drive or memory card are system messages that the disk is write-protected, the inability to format a USB drive by any means, and other similar problems.
In these cases, low-level formatting is an extreme measure that can help correct the performance of the drive; before using it, it is better to try other recovery methods described in the materials:,.
The popular low-level formatting utility Formatter Silicon Power or Low Level Formatter is specifically designed for Silicon Power flash drives, but it also works with other USB drives (the program will automatically determine if there are supported drives when launched).
Among the flash drives for which it was possible to restore functionality using Formatter Silicon Power (however, this does not guarantee that your exactly the same flash drive will be fixed; the opposite result is also possible - use the program at your own peril and risk):
- Kingston DataTraveler and HyperX USB 2.0 and USB 3.0
- Silicon Power drives, of course (but even with them there are problems)
- Some flash drives from SmartBuy, Kingston, Apacer and others.
If Formatter Silicon Power does not detect drives with a supported controller, then after starting the program you will see the message “Device Not Found” and other actions in the program will not correct the situation.
If the flash drive is supposedly supported, you will be notified that all data from it will be deleted and after clicking the “Format” button, you will only have to wait for the formatting process to complete and follow the instructions in the program (in English). You can download the program from here flashboot.ru/files/file/383/(it is not on the official Silicon Power website).
Additional Information
Not all utilities for low-level formatting of USB flash drives are described above: there are separate utilities from different manufacturers for specific devices that allow you to perform such formatting. You can find these utilities, if available, for your specific device by using the last part of the mentioned review about.
Sooner or later, every user of additional memory cards needs to format a microSD card.
There are several ways to do this efficiently and efficiently. But first you need to figure it out what is microSD and how is formatting done??
What is microSD?
Read also: TOP 12 Best memory cards for smartphones, cameras and DVRs | Review of popular models + Reviews
MicroSD is a small flash drive designed for portable equipment (digital cameras, MP3 players, etc.).
There is a type of equipment to which you can only connect an SD card. Often in this case, together or separately, special adapter sold, allowing you to make the transition from microSD to SD.
There are now four generations of cards:
- SD0 – from 8Mb to 2 Gb;
- SD 1.1 – up to 4 Gb;
- SDHC – up to 32 Gb;
- SDXC – up to 2 Tb.
History of MicroSD development
Read also: TOP 12 Best USB flash drives for all occasions: for music, movies and backup data storage
This memory card format was developed in 1999 by a joint effort of companies such as Panasonic, SanDisk and Toshiba.
Later, in order to “promote the idea,” a separate company was created to develop and improve this card format – SD Association.
Despite this early appearance, microSD cards only came into use in 2004. It was then that the company SanDisk introduced a standard for such cards, which was originally called TransFlash.
A year later, the name TransFlash was officially changed to MicroSD.
The device was initially doomed to great popularity, and they were right, especially now that it has very compact dimensions (20 * 21.5 * 14 mm and weighs 1 gram) and can store up to 128 GB of data inclusive, while having excellent data processing speed.
Areas of use
Read also: TOP 11 Best Hard Drives (HDD) for your Computer, Laptop or Network Attached Storage (NAS) | Review of current models in 2019
As mentioned above, cards of this format are used mainly for portable equipment. There are only three types of SD cards: microSD, miniSD and regular format SD cards.
Regular and miniSD cards Most often used in photo and video cameras. They store the footage.
The third kind used in more compact technology– , communicators, MP3 players and others.
Such devices are equipped with a special connector that supports this format. In this case, the memory card stores photos and video files, music and even many applications.
SD cards are used not only for use in portable equipment, but also in PCs as a storage medium. In the modern world, more and more laptops have a connector for connecting regular SD cards.
You can connect the device to desktop computers via a card reader. In this case, a special adapter is used for a microSD card, which is exactly the same size as a regular SD card.
Why formatting should be done
Read also: TOP 10 Best Network Attached Storage (NAS) for Home and Work | Rating of current models in 2019
First of all, formatting allows you to completely free the memory card from the files on it. The second reason is the presence of viruses.
It is impossible to completely get rid of viruses by simply deleting virus files, so you will need to format the microSD.
And finally, the third reason is the slow operation of the card. By completely cleaning the drive, you can speed up its operation..
Formatting using standard Windows tools
Read also: TOP 10 Best SSD drives for your laptop or computer. Choosing which one is better: SATAIII, M.2 or PCIe in 2018
You can format the card using standard means, but will this give the desired effect? After all, microSD cards often have write protection.
Therefore, it will be impossible to delete files. To check this, you can try formatting the flash drive without using programs.
To do this, insert the card into the card reader and wait for the computer to “see” it.
Then go to “My Computer”, find the required removable disk and right-click on it.
In the context menu that opens, select the item "Format".
In the window that opens change the file system to FAT. If it is the default, then we do not change it. Then click the “Start” button.
Once the process is complete, your card remains empty. But not always completely.
After uploading new files and safely removing the removable drive, when you reconnect, it may turn out that the old files that were on the microSD before formatting and the new ones overlap each other.
In this case, independent formatting without third-party software will no longer help you. You will have to turn to various types of programs for help.
Let's look below at what programs can help us free up our SD card.
AutoFormat Tool
Read also: Transferring the system to an SSD drive: transferring data and the Windows 7/10 operating system
This program is very easy to use. It has a very small volume and is absolutely free. To use it you need to download the download archive.
You can do this on any site where you have it. You just need to enter its name in the search bar of your browser.
After downloading and installing, click on the shortcut using the right mouse button, and in the context menu that opens, select the item "Run as administrator"».
After the program itself opens, in the utility window, select the arrow in the Disk Drive line and find the letter of your device.
Then put the marker on the SD item and press the “Format” button to start formatting.
After clicking the formatting button, another window will appear asking you to confirm the deletion of all files. Click “Yes” and start the formatting process.
Once completed, your card will be fully formatted and ready to use. If you can’t format the card using other means, then this program will 100% help you.
Read also:
This program is just as easy to use as the previous one. With her help You can format not only SD cards, but also USB drives and even RW drives.
The program is capable of performing low-level formatting, so it is used to clean any removable media.
This program also has a disadvantage - Once formatted using it, the data can no longer be restored.
The program can be downloaded for free on any website that has a similar one.
After downloading the program easy to install and does not take up a lot of hard disk space, which is also a big plus. To format, proceed to the following steps:
1 Run the program as an administrator by right-clicking on the shortcut. In the window that opens, select the media that needs cleaning and click the “Continue” button.
2 In the next window, open the “LOW-LEVEL FORMAT” section and complete the action by pressing the “FORMAT THIS DEVISE” button. After this, we wait for the formatting to finish. This program has a slight delay in the cleaning process, so you will have to wait a bit.
SDFormatter utility
DownloadWith this program you can perform better cleaning of the microSD card or any other removable media. It is more effective than standard Windows tools.
The developers of this utility are confident that this is the best formatting program.
To get started with this program, you should download and install it. You can download it from any site where it is available.
The program also absolutely free and does not take up much memory on your hard drive. After downloading, the program should be installed as usual and run as administrator.
After starting the program, a window opens in front of you, in which, in the “Drive” field, select the desired device to format.
After we have completed all the steps described above, just click the “Format” button and wait for the formatting to complete.
This method is quite simple, the program is easy to use and does not take up much space. It also doesn't use much RAM. Therefore, this method is very well suited for such purposes.
