Here is the USB drive reformatting guide converted to Markdown:
# Guide for Reformatting USB Drives
# Guide for Reformatting USB Drives
This guide provides instructions for reformatting USB drives on Linux and Windows platforms.
This guide provides instructions for reformatting USB drives on Linux and Windows platforms.
## Table of Contents
## Table of Contents
- [Linux](#linux)
- [Linux](#linux)
- [Identify the USB Drive](#identify-the-usb-drive)
- [Identify the USB Drive](#identify-the-usb-drive)
- [Unmount the USB Drive](#unmount-the-usb-drive)
- [Unmount the USB Drive](#unmount-the-usb-drive)
@ -17,32 +20,32 @@ This guide provides instructions for reformatting USB drives on Linux and Window
First, you need to identify the drive you want to reformat. You can list all the storage devices in your computer with the following command:
First, you need to identify the drive you want to reformat. You can list all the storage devices in your computer with the following command:
\`\`\`bash
```bash
lsblk
lsblk
\`\`\`
```
This will give you a list of devices along with their mount points. Your USB drive will usually be something like `/dev/sdb` or `/dev/sdc`.
This will give you a list of devices along with their mount points. Your USB drive will usually be something like `/dev/sdb` or `/dev/sdc`.
### Unmount the USB Drive
### Unmount the USB Drive
Before reformatting, you should unmount the drive. This can be done with the following command:
Before reformatting, you should unmount the drive. This can be done with the following command:
\`\`\`bash
```bash
sudo umount /dev/sdX
sudo umount /dev/sdX
\`\`\`
```
### Format the USB Drive
### Format the USB Drive
Now you can start the process of reformatting. You can use `fdisk` to manage the partitions on your USB drive. Use the following command to start `fdisk` for your drive:
Now you can start the process of reformatting. You can use `fdisk` to manage the partitions on your USB drive. Use the following command to start `fdisk` for your drive:
\`\`\`bash
```bash
sudo fdisk /dev/sdX
sudo fdisk /dev/sdX
\`\`\`
```
Once you're in the `fdisk` utility, you can use the following commands:
Once you're in the `fdisk` utility, you can use the following commands:
- `p` - Display the partition table to confirm you're working with the correct drive.
- `p` - Display the partition table to confirm you're working with the correct drive.
- `d` - Delete a partition. If there are multiple partitions, it will ask you which one you want to delete. Repeat this step until all partitions are deleted.
- `d` - Delete a partition. If there are multiple partitions, it will ask you which one you want to delete. Repeat this step until all partitions are deleted.
- `n` - Create a new partition. Follow the prompts to accept the defaults.
- `n` - Create a new partition. Follow the prompts to accept the defaults.
- `t` - Change the partition type. If asked for a code, use `b` for FAT32 or `83` for Linux.
- `t` - Change the partition type. If asked for a code, use `b` for FAT32 or `83` for Linux.
- `w` - Write changes and exit.
- `w` - Write changes and exit.
@ -51,83 +54,84 @@ Once you're in the `fdisk` utility, you can use the following commands:
Now that you have a new partition, you can format it with a file system. If you want a FAT32 file system, you can use the following command:
Now that you have a new partition, you can format it with a file system. If you want a FAT32 file system, you can use the following command:
\`\`\`bash
```bash
sudo mkfs.vfat /dev/sdX1
sudo mkfs.vfat /dev/sdX1
\`\`\`
```
Or if you want an ext4 file system, use this command instead:
Or if you want an ext4 file system, use this command instead:
\`\`\`bash
```bash
sudo mkfs.ext4 /dev/sdX1
sudo mkfs.ext4 /dev/sdX1
\`\`\`
```
### Mount the USB Drive
### Mount the USB Drive
Now you can mount the drive again:
Now you can mount the drive again:
\`\`\`bash
```bash
sudo mount /dev/sdX1 /mnt
sudo mount /dev/sdX1 /mnt
\`\`\`
```
Now your USB drive is reformatted and ready to use!
Now your USB drive is reformatted and ready to use!
> **IMPORTANT:** Be very careful when using these commands, as choosing the wrong drive can result in data loss. Always double-check the drive name (`/dev/sdX`) before running these commands.
> **IMPORTANT:** Be very careful when using these commands, as choosing the wrong drive can result in data loss. Always double-check the drive name (`/dev/sdX`) before running these commands.
## Windows diskpart
## Windows diskpart
1. Open Windows PowerShell as an administrator.
1. Open Windows PowerShell as an administrator.
\`\`\`powershell
```powershell
diskpart
diskpart
\`\`\`
```
2. List all the connected storage devices.
2. List all the connected storage devices.
\`\`\`powershell
```powershell
list disk
list disk
\`\`\`
```
3. Identify your USB drive by its size and replace X with its disk number.
3. Identify your USB drive by its size and replace X with its disk number.
\`\`\`powershell
```powershell
select disk X
select disk X
\`\`\`
```
4. Delete all data and partitions on the drive.
4. Delete all data and partitions on the drive.
\`\`\`powershell
```powershell
clean
clean
\`\`\`
```
5. Create a new primary partition.
5. Create a new primary partition.
\`\`\`powershell
```powershell
create partition primary
create partition primary
\`\`\`
```
6. Select the newly created partition.
6. Select the newly created partition.
\`\`\`powershell
```powershell
select partition 1
select partition 1
\`\`\`
```
7. Format the partition to FAT32 or NTFS (replace "fs=fat32" with "fs=ntfs" if you want NTFS file system).
7. Format the partition to FAT32 or NTFS (replace "fs=fat32" with "fs=ntfs" if you want NTFS file system).
\`\`\`powershell
```powershell
format fs=fat32 quick
format fs=fat32 quick
\`\`\`
```
8. Assign a drive letter to the partition (replace "Y" with your desired drive letter).
8. Assign a drive letter to the partition (replace "Y" with your desired drive letter).
\`\`\`powershell
```powershell
assign letter=Y
assign letter=Y
\`\`\`
```
9. Exit DiskPart.
9. Exit DiskPart.
\`\`\`powershell
```powershell
exit
exit
\`\`\`
```
> This guide will completely erase all the data on your USB drive and prepare it for fresh use. Be sure to replace X with your disk number and Y with the desired letter for your drive.
> This guide will completely erase all the data on your USB drive and prepare it for fresh use. Be sure to replace X with your disk number and Y with the desired letter for your drive.