USB Key Lost Space

[Pete]

My 256 MB USB key is only displaying 144 MB now after fully formatting.
Actually under Properties I get FAT32 Used Space: 2,048 bytes (2.00 KB)
and Free Space: 151,939,072 bytes (144 MB). I have performed several
reformats and the capacity under the Format dialogue box keeps
displaying as only 145 MB. I've checked for errors on the drive and done
a defrag just in case. I thought I was going crazy and even had to check
the USB Key, which clearly says 256 MB. Where did the 110+ MB go?

Thanks, Peter.

 

[JS]

Have you tried NTFS format?

JS

 

[Pete]

The options are FAT32 or FAT only. NTFS does not appear in the drop down
combo box.

 

[JS]

Create an Extended Partition for the entire drive space (should show 256MB
size), then create one or more logical fat32 drives.
See if you can get all the space using the above method.

JS

 

[Pete]

Thanks, but how do I do that? Create an Extended Partition I mean.

 

[Enkidu]

My 256 MB USB key is only displaying 144 MB now after fully formatting.
Actually under Properties I get FAT32 Used Space: 2,048 bytes (2.00 KB)
and Free Space: 151,939,072 bytes (144 MB). I have performed several
reformats and the capacity under the Format dialogue box keeps
displaying as only 145 MB. I've checked for errors on the drive and done
a defrag just in case. I thought I was going crazy and even had to check
the USB Key, which clearly says 256 MB. Where did the 110+ MB go?

Has it ever shown the full amount? It could be that it is on the way out.

Cheers,

Cliff

 

[Pete]

Yes it did until quite recently. I rarely use it but it's very handy
when I need to.

 

[Uwe Sieber]

My 256 MB USB key is only displaying 144 MB now after fully formatting.
Actually under Properties I get FAT32 Used Space: 2,048 bytes (2.00 KB)
and Free Space: 151,939,072 bytes (144 MB). I have performed several
reformats and the capacity under the Format dialogue box keeps
displaying as only 145 MB. I've checked for errors on the drive and done
a defrag just in case. I thought I was going crazy and even had to check
the USB Key, which clearly says 256 MB. Where did the 110+ MB go?

Maybe one of my tips helps:

http://www.uwe-sieber.de/usbtrouble_e.html#format


Uwe

 

[JS]

To format a drive go to Disk Management on your Windows PC, (right click on
the My Computer
icon, then select the Manage option, then in the Computer Management window
select Disk Management).

For more details on formatting see:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/309000/en-us

However I'm beginning to think as one of the other posts pointed out, the
device may be failing and is not long for this world.

JS

 

[Yves Leclerc]

What make / model of USB flash key? Could you have installed a security
encryption utility which creates a hidden/encrypted/protected partition?

 

[Pete]

It is a Kingston Data Traveler II 256 MB. Perhaps there *is* something
taking up the space. I will have a look at one of the utilities linked
through Ewe's website (message above): HP USB Disk Storage Format Tool
to see if I can resolve this.

 

[Pete]

Thanks, I will give HP USB Disk Storage Format Tool at try.