That won't work if your key/pen is stuck with a RAW file system.

Greeno did you try my example?

I had an RAW flash disk and it worked.

Yeah mate, It's just a defective unit I think

Can you please elaborate on the idea of rebooting XP from the CD ?
If I simply use the XP install CD then it will try to reinstall WinXP.
Thanks

Before the installation process copy the installation files to your harddrive you are asked where you want to install XP and then you can chose to delete and create new partitions. (Thats what you want to do)

So bascily you do what you want to do with your paritions and then reboot before the step of copying files to your harddrive.

Hope thats enugh for ya

Thanks for the clarification, it worked ! I was able to delete the partition. Unfortunatly this didn't solve my original problem, KillDisk and WinXP still allow me only to create a 119MB partition. At this point I give up I must assume the memory is damaged or else I have no other ideas.

Thanks

Have you tried to manually enter the amount of mbs to be used in the partition? (With the XP cd) For example 2 gb is 2048 mb and 1 gb is 1024 mb.

Yes I tried to create a 2048MB partition but it wouldn't allow me to go above 119MB.

hey mee too have the same prob. i was using a sony USB pen drive with mp3. It was having a 2 GB memory. I had to format the drive.. now it shows only a small 246MB memory, I am fed up. took it to many shops but to no avail.. now i am stuck up with 246 MB aftr paying a woopin amt for 2GB!!!
Pls help..
saw ur post on the same matter. wil be gr8ful if u would attach the driver u got, to my mail,

pls help.. thx

I have a ACP-EP PrivacyDrive (1GB) and I'm running WinXP. I ran into the same problem you were all having. i tried every trick. I did low-level formatting on it (unsuccessfully). Disk Management wouldnt let me repartition, not to mention reformat it. In the end I disabled my Norton Antivirus (temporarily) and it worked like a charm. **You might have to 'eject', unplug, and re-plug in your flash drive before being able to reformat it. For those using similar systems as me, I recommend using a FAT partition. I hope you all receive the good fortune I had =D

thanks so much

hey tried tat but to no avail. still stuck up with 246 MB

hey i wud be greatful if u wud attach n send me the driver which corrected your problem. my mail id is athul_007@rediffmail.com

Drivers were never an issue for me. At first it might seem like using new drivers would help, but that turned out not to be my problem. Before during and after my issue, I was always using the default WinXP drivers (that install automatically)

Hi All,

I'm new to this forum and got here trying to fix my USB flash drive that I had effectively killed by trying to format it.

Thanks MetroidFan2002 for your detailed post on how to fix it.

The free version of Killdisk is DOS based, but it works just fine once you have booted in DOS from the boot floppy and open killdisk.exe.

Regards,

Bani

try this free software

http://vaiosoft.com/products/recoverymanager.html


I have a 1gb Privacy Drive that was RAW and it kept showing write protection when i tried to format it through windows. I tried everything that was on this forum before, but nothing worked. With this software I formatted (quick erase) and it worked!!

Had the same problem. Followed your advice. And I'm happy to say it solved my problem. I'll try to explain others how to do it without logging customer care.
Thanks again!!

Formatting the built-in flash memory of the player.
(Not sure for all, but for Sony- E series)

Solution/Answer:

Please follow the steps below to format the built-in flash memory of the player.



Press and hold the /HOME button in stop mode until the HOME screen appears.
Press the / button to select (MENU) and press the button to confirm.
Press the / button to select Advanced Menu> and press the button to confirm.
Press the / button to select Intialize> and press the button to confirm.
Press the / button to select Format> and press the button to confirm.
Press the / button to select OK and press the button to confirm. "Formatting..." message appears and formatting starts. When formatting is complete, COMPLETE message appears.
To return to the previous menu. Press and hold the /HOME button until the display changes.

To cancel formatting. Select Cancel in step 6 and press the button to confirm.

Note:

Do not format the built-in flash memory of the player on the computer.
All data stored in the built-in flash memory will be erased when formatted.


-- Extracted from the Sony site...... Send your comments to me.

Hmm, thanks for all the wonderful tips to recovering a flash drive.

Have tried all of them but computer will still not allow me to access the damn thing. Says insert media but for all purposes, it shows up in my computer.

Have tried
1. Active Killdisk - unable to detect it (using floppy and cd)
2. PC Inspector Smart recovery - can read all the sectors with no problems but can recover the files
3. HP USB disk format tool - cannot detect disk
4. Disk management (WIN XP) - drive is unreadable

Hmm, only thing left to do is to use it as a door step I guess? But am hoping against hope that it will not be necessary.

Drive specs - Astone Swift 1GB

Anybody can offer help, I am more than willing to try. After all, what is the worst that can happen? It's 3/4 into the electronical grave anyway.

You didn't try a 98se or a live linux format of it. Format as FAT32.

Hmm, at the risk of sounding stupid, how do I get hold of a 98SE O/S. Use to have it in my laptop. But it's gone kaput! on me already.

Is there some way about it? I do have the 98SE installation disc still (Hoarder instinct pays off).