Formatting USB stick back to its full size after installing LE

shiro · November 18, 2016 at 8:26 AM

Hello,
I was struggle with this before with OpenELEC, but this is the same thing.
What are possible solutions when USB stick refuses to return to its previous working state?
I mean formatting USB stick back to its full size after installing LE.

Shortly, my previous Pretec REX100 usb3.0 stick was passed out, after I write install image of OpenELEC to it. And nothing can restore it back into its full size again. I tried various ways, apps, even SDFormatter mentioned here on forums.

Now, after install of LE, I was afraid of my second USB stick (sandisk ultra fit 16GB, usb3.0) will behave the same, as the process of making usb install stick is nearly identical. LE just use its own image write utility.
On usb stick, there was three partitions:
- 512MB with installer
- 32MB system
- 13.8GB unallocated free space
...only that 32MB system partition was manageable in windows disk management and I can delete it.
Other ones have all option greyed out. Why?

As I found here on forum, there is possibility with SDFormatter to restore one big partition back on usb stick.
With my Sandisk stick, it works, and I have it back. That is good.

But what with other usb sticks? How to tell if they are compatible, or they will work? I read also that some can and some can't work....I dont wanna to stupidly buy usb sticks in the future because of this. Or, can be the install image somehow modified to create partitions on usb sticks, that are manageable and I can delete them freely even through windows disk management? Idk why they are not manageable there. It will be much better without the use of any special tools like SDFormatter = even more risk, because nobody knows what that utility is doing in background, how exactly it works. Why to use them, if it can be done from windows disk management if possible?

**vpeter** · November 18, 2016 at 8:42 AM

Write this image to usb stick, remove the stick from computer, attach again and format it. And should be full sized again

trent · November 19, 2016 at 9:23 PM

Open Command Prompt, then type

Code

diskpart
list disk
select disk X
clean
exit

Where X is the USB stick you wish to resize. Be very careful to select the correct disk. Now the partition table is wiped and the disk can be formatted in Windows GUI.

shiro · November 20, 2016 at 8:20 AM

Thanks for the advices, will try them when I ran in trouble with usb stick

**vpeter** · November 20, 2016 at 10:33 AM

Yes, be very, very careful with using diskpart - easy to trash the disk. Safer solution was proposed by me.

trent · November 21, 2016 at 11:40 AM

Quote from vpeter

Yes, be very, very careful with using diskpart - easy to trash the disk. Safer solution was proposed by me.

The risk with diskpart is that you select the wrong disk (in the case where you have multiple disks). Then of course you will wipe the wrong disk.

The same risk exists with your solution. If you write image to wrong disk...then you wipe the wrong disk. Same risk.

The reason I give alternative solution is that OP specifically asked for solution that does not involve third party tools.

**vpeter** · November 21, 2016 at 3:09 PM

Quote from trent

The risk with diskpart is that you select the wrong disk (in the case where you have multiple disks). Then of course you will wipe the wrong disk.

The same risk exists with your solution. If you write image to wrong disk...then you wipe the wrong disk. Same risk.

Not true: usb creator app writes only to removable drives and you can't overwrite system disk.

trent · November 21, 2016 at 4:32 PM

Quote from vpeter

Not true: usb creator app writes only to removable drives and you can't overwrite system disk.

Diskpart 'clean' command also cannot operate on the system disk.

**vpeter** · November 21, 2016 at 5:31 PM

Are you saying that with diskpart you can't destroy system disk? Good to know that

moggy · November 27, 2016 at 4:32 PM

Quote from vpeter

Are you saying that with diskpart you can't destroy system disk? Good to know that

You can use rufus to reformat the thumb drive

just uncheck create bootable disk

also uncheck Create extended label and icon files

Cow · December 13, 2016 at 8:59 AM

Same issue here for me. Tried with rufus & also the image provided here but the sd is still on 31MB

trent · December 13, 2016 at 12:04 PM

Quote from Cow

Same issue here for me. Tried with rufus & also the image provided here but the sd is still on 31MB

Personally I would suggest SDCard formatter. In options you say Format Size Adjustment = Yes
SD Card Formatter - SD Association

If you don't like to use this, then try the dispart instructions in my post #3 above.

Illuminator · December 13, 2016 at 12:40 PM

This one "rescued" my usb-sticks: HP USB Disk Storage Format Tool

trogggy · December 13, 2016 at 12:47 PM

In windows I've used mini tool partition wizard for years - it's free and it's always worked for me.

9800pro · December 13, 2016 at 1:20 PM

Run Rufus but without selecting any image, just press start. It worked for me numerous times.

sent from my G2

Cow · December 13, 2016 at 2:19 PM

Quote from 9800pro

Run Rufus but without selecting any image, just press start. It worked for me numerous times.

sent from my G2

Will try
[hr]
SD format didn't work Rufus also failed to work. also did the diskpart & sadly it wont. i got 2 micro sd cards both brand new from Sandisk. both are "dead"

**vpeter** · December 13, 2016 at 2:44 PM

If they are dead they are dead - you can't repair them.

Cow · December 13, 2016 at 3:19 PM

Quote from vpeter

If they are dead they are dead - you can't repair them.

1 of them became 30MB the other one is not recognized by anything.