Fix Windows was unable to complete the format

If you are trying to format SD card or USB drive then it’s possible you may face the error “Windows was unable to complete the format.” There are many possible explanations as to why you’re facing this error such as bad sectors, storage device damage, disk write protection, virus or malware infection, etc. Another major issue regarding formatting USB drive or SD card seems to be because Windows cannot read the FAT partition table. The problem may occur when the following conditions are true:

• The file system on the disk uses 2048 bytes per sector.
• The disk which you’re trying to format is already using a FAT file system.
• You have used another Operating system (other than Microsoft such as Linux) to format the SD card or USB drive.

In this case, there are various solutions to fiThereessage; what may work for one user doesn’t necessary. What will work for another as these fixes depend on user system configuration and environment. So without wasting any time let’s see how to actually Fix Windows was unable to complete the format error message with the below-listed troubleshooting steps.

Fix Windows was unable to complete the format

Dèan cinnteach gun cruthaich thu puing ath-nuadhachaidh dìreach air eagal ‘s gun tèid rudeigin ceàrr.

Method 1: Check if your SD card or USB drive has physical damage

Try to use the SD card or USB drive with another PC and see if you’re able to. Next, insert another working SD card or USB drive into the same slot in order to verify that the slot is not damaged. Now once you have removed this possible explanation for the error message we can continue with our troubleshooting.

Method 2: Make sure the USB drive or SD card is not Write Protected

If your USB drive or SD card is write protected then you won’t be able to delete files or folder on the drive, not only this but you also won’t able to format it. In order to fix this issue, you need to switch Tourity lock to Unlock position on the disk in order to remove write protection.

Method 3: todrive using Windows Disk Management

1. Brùth Windows Key + R an uairsin dèan seòrsa Diskmgmt.msc agus bhuail Enter gus fosgladh Riaghladh diosc.

2. If you’re not able to access disk management via above method then press Windows Key + X then select Pannal Smachd.

3. Seòrsa Rianachd in the Control Panel search and select Innealan rianachd.

4. Once inside Administrative Tools, double click on Stiùireadh coimpiutair.

5. Now from the left-hand menu, select Riaghladh diosc.

6. Find your SD card or USB drive then right-click on it and select Cruth.

7. Follow-on-screen option and make sure to uncheck the Quick Format roghainn.

This should help you to resolve Windows was unable to complete the fat issue but if to not able to format the drive then continue with the next method.

Method 4: Disable Write Protection in Registry

1. Brùth Windows Key + R an uairsin dèan seòrsa s an Iar- agus bhuail Enter.

2. Seòl chun iuchair chlàraidh a leanas:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESYSTEMCurrentControlSetControlStoireanTaisicean

Note: If you can’t locate the Stòrasan Stòraidh key then you need select Control key then right-click on it and select Ùr> Iuchair. Name the key as StorageDevicePolicies.

3. Find the registry key Sgrìobhadh under storageManagement.

Note: If you are not able to find the above DWORD then you need to create one. Select StorageDevicePolicies key then right-click on it and select Luach ùr> DWORD (32-bit).. Name the key as WriteProtect.

4. Dèan dà bhriog air an WriteProtect key agus set it’s value to 0 in order to disable Write Protection.

5. Ath-thòisich am PC agad gus atharrachaidhean a shàbhaladh.

6. Again try to format your device and see if you’re able to Fix Windows was unable to complete the format error.

Method 5: Format using Command Prompt

1. Brùth Windows Key + X an uair sin tagh Command Prompt (Rianachd).

2. Now type the following command and hit Enter after each one:

diskpart
dios liosta

3. Select your disk from the list and then type the command:

select disk (disk number)

Note: For example, if you have disk 2 as your SD card or USB drive then the command will be: select disk 2

4. Again type the following command and hit Enter after each one:

glan
cruthaich bun-sgoil deisealachaidh
cruth fs = FAT32
fàgail

Note: You may receive the following message:

The format cannot run because the volume is in use by another process. The format may run if this volume is dismounted first. ALL OPENED HANDLES TO THIS VOLUME WOULD THEN BE INVALID.
Would you like to force a dismount on this volume? (Y/N)

Type Y and hit Enter, this would format the drive and fix the error “Windows was unable to complete the format.”

5. Your SD card or USB drive has been formatted, and it is ready to use.

Method 6: Use SD Formatter

 

Nota: It deletes all the data, so make sure you backup your SD card or USB drive before continuing.

1. Download SD Formatter from here.

2. Double-click the download file to install the application.

3. Open the application from desktop shortcut then selects your litir draibhidh from the Drive drop-down menu.

4. Now, under Formatting options, select Overwrite format roghainn.

5. Click Yes to confirm pop up message which says “Formatting will erase all data on this card. Do you want to continue?”

6. You will see the SD Card Formatter window, which will show you the status of Formatting your SD card.

8. Completely formatting a USB drive or SD card can take some type, so be patient while the above process continues.

9.After the format is complete, remove your SD card and re-insert it.

Air a mholadh:

Sin agad e gu soirbheachail Fix Windows was unable to complete the format error ach ma tha ceist sam bith agad fhathast mun stiùireadh seo faodaidh tu faighneachd dhaibh anns an earrann bheachdan.