When Do you should probably Clean a USB Flash Drive?
However, it’s crucial that you clean your flash drive in the following scenarios.
Scenario 1
If your flash drive is old or corrupted, what will you do?
Have you ever considered wiping all your personal data permanently before throwing it away?
In this case, you must clean your USB drive to prevent any unexpected information disclosure.
How to Clean USB Flash Drive?
There are two options for you:quick format and full format.
Quick format can finish within seconds while full format allows you to clean your data for good.
Lets start to clean the flash drive by performing a full format via File Explorer.
Connect your USB flash drive to your machine.
OpenFile Explorerand click onThis PCfrom the left pane.
UnderDevices and drives, do a right-punch your flash drive and chooseFormatin the drop-down menu.
SelectFile systemandAllocation unit sizerespectively from the drop-down menu.
Uncheck theQuick Formatbox and click onStartto start a full format of your flash drive.
Let me show you how to clean flash drive using CMD.
Plug in your USB flash drive to your PC.
PressWin + Sat the same time to evoke the search bar.
Typecmdto locateCommand Promptand right-choose it to chooseRun as administratorin the drop-down menu.
Youll see all the disk connected to the computer.
In the disk list, determine your target flash drive according to the size of the disk.
Typeselect disk xand hitEnter.
Thexmust be replaced with the disk number you identify in the last step.
Typeclean allin the command window and hitEnter.
This process will take a lot of time, so c’mon wait patiently.
Exit the command window until you seeDiskpart succeeded in cleaning the disk.
Diskpart clean vs clean all: which one to select?
To make a wise choice, learn the difference first.
When they fail, try using MiniTool Partition Wizard.
After the process is done, all the partitions on the flash drive will be wiped out.
If you want to reuse it, you’re free to initialize the disk.
Method 3: Clean a USB Flash Drive via Windows PowerShell
How to clean USB flash drive?
The third method is to format it withWindows PowerShellcommands.
Windows PowerShell is a Windows command-line shell and scripting language tailored for system administrators.
It combines the old CMD function with a new instruction set with inbuilt system administration.
What is Windows PowerShell?
What are the differences between PowerShell and CMD?
This post shows you the answers.
Connect your USB drive to your gear.
Right-choose theWindowsicon and highlightWindows PowerShellto launch it.
TypeGet-Diskand pressEnterto browse your target flash drive.
CopyFormat-Volume -DriveLetter G -FileSystem FILE-SYSTEM -NewFileSystemLabel DRIVE-NAMEand pressEnterto start a quick format on the flash drive.
The fourth method is to clean it via Windows Disk Management.
Heres how to clean a USB drive with it.
Plug in your flash drive to your rig.
Do a right-punch theWindowsicon and hitDisk Managementto launch it.
Right-punch your removable drive and choose theDelete Volumeoption.
HitYesto confirm this action.
Right-punch theUnallocated spaceand chooseNew Simple Volume.
ClickNext >Nextto choose to use all the available space.
TickAssign the following drive letterand assign a letter manually.
It is noted that you had better grab the letter in reverse order.
How to change drive letter in CMD in Windows 10?
Check the detailed guides for how to change/assign drive letter in Command Prompt Windows 10.
Tap onNextto continue and chooseFormat this volume with the following controls.
If you set it toexFAT, you should probably use corresponding commands inCommand PromptorWindows PowerShell.
In theAllocation unit sizedrop-down menu, chooseDefault.
InVolume label, punch in a label to help identify your flash drive inFile Explorermore conveniently.
UntickPerform a quick formatand checkEnable file and folder compressionto start making a full format.
PressNextandFinishto complete this action.
You cant be too careful in every step.
On top of that, you had better back up your important data to avoid any unexpected data loss.
When it comes to backup, I strongly recommend you a piece ofprofessional backup software, MiniTool ShadowMaker.
It supports backing up files/folders, selected partitions, and even the whole disk in Windows 11/10/8/7.
Without any chit-chat, lets dive right into creating a file backup with this useful tool.
Download & install MiniTool ShadowMaker Trial Edition from MiniTool Store.
Then, you could enjoy its service for free within 30 days.
Go to theBackupfunctional page, and tap onSourcein the right pane.
There are two options for you:Disk and Partitions&Folders and Files.
Choose the latter one as the source jot down.
Now, you might select files/folders and ticking multiple files or folders at one time is permitted.
After making your decision, hitOKto return to theBackupfunctional page.
Click onDestinationto select a destination path to keep your backup image.
ClickOKagain and choose to start the backup task at once by hittingBack up Now.
Whats more, never ignore the importance of backup and creating a backup with a reliable backup tool.
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