USB capacity incorrect in Win10 Explorer-Correct in Device Manager


  1. Posts : 6
    Windows 10
       #1

    USB capacity incorrect in Win10 Explorer-Correct in Device Manager


    Hi-

    Got a weird issue...8GB usb drive shows 7.8 GB free in Device Manager, but only 45mb available to write to in Explorer.

    I have tried every formatting/reformatting option available in Paragon Partition manager with zee-ro luck.

    I work in a school so I'm traversing Mac/Win10 work/home so I'm wondering if that's contributing to this problem.

    Cheers and thanks,
    Mark
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 13,896
    Win10 Version 22H2 Pro and Home, Win11 Pro and Home
       #2

    Right-click the USB drive and check Properties, should give the formatting type used which may not be the FAT32 they usually come as. It is possible your Mac has contributed to the issue and Windows does have issues with some of its formatting. Mac OS X can work with FAT32-formatted drives but usually not natively with NTFS, requires a program to do so and I've not found a good one for mine. If needing to save data to a USB drive from my Mac I use a 250GB USB drive formatted as FAT32 [done using GPARTED LiveCD, Windows has a limit of 32GB for formatting drives as FAT32]. Windows, Mac OS X and Linux can use the drive.
      My Computers


  3. Posts : 6
    Windows 10
    Thread Starter
       #3

    Hey Berton-

    On my Win10 machine in Explorer, it states; New Volume 12.2 of 45.9 available
    Same machine, Paragon Partition Manager: New Volume 7.8 GB FAT32

    Go figure...
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 13,896
    Win10 Version 22H2 Pro and Home, Win11 Pro and Home
       #4

    It does appear WIndows has a problem with that drive. I'd download FreeCommander and install it, check what it says.
    http://freecommander.com/en/summary/
    Downloads
    An alternate file manager I use is Total Commander, not free.
    Total Commander - home
      My Computers


  5. Posts : 6
    Windows 10
    Thread Starter
       #5

    Berton said:
    It does appear WIndows has a problem with that drive. I'd download FreeCommander and install it, check what it says.
    http://freecommander.com/en/summary/
    Downloads
    An alternate file manager I use is Total Commander, not free.
    Total Commander - home

    Will do.
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 6
    Windows 10
    Thread Starter
       #6

    Berton said:
    It does appear WIndows has a problem with that drive. I'd download FreeCommander and install it, check what it says.
    http://freecommander.com/en/summary/
    Downloads
    An alternate file manager I use is Total Commander, not free.
    Total Commander - home
    Hi Berton-

    This is what it turned out to be.

    There was a 50mb partition in front of the 7.8GB partition I spoke about. I found on the internet (so I know it has to be true :>) that Windows will only display the first partition on a USB drive.

    I deleted that partition, merged it with the larger one, assigned it a letter and I'm good to go.

    BTW, this was a used drive I found in the computer lab so I don't know who used this or for what. I'll check out your recommendations above and thanks for the help.
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 13,896
    Win10 Version 22H2 Pro and Home, Win11 Pro and Home
       #7

    newtie said:
    Hi Berton-

    This is what it turned out to be.

    There was a 50mb partition in front of the 7.8GB partition I spoke about. I found on the internet (so I know it has to be true :>) that Windows will only display the first partition on a USB drive.

    I deleted that partition, merged it with the larger one, assigned it a letter and I'm good to go.

    BTW, this was a used drive I found in the computer lab so I don't know who used this or for what. I'll check out your recommendations above and thanks for the help.
    The "first partition" bit may also be tied into the 32GB limit for FAT32 formatting. I ran into to that when using the only large Thumb drive I had at hand which was 64GB and doing one of Microsoft's backup things during install where it formatted only 32GB and the remainder could not be used by anything Windows had. I had to use GPARTED to redo the full drive as FAT32.

    Good you were able to put it fully in use.
      My Computers


  8. Posts : 31,466
    10 Home x64 (22H2) (10 Pro on 2nd pc)
       #8

    newtie said:
    This is what it turned out to be.

    There was a 50mb partition in front of the 7.8GB partition I spoke about. I found on the internet (so I know it has to be true :>) that Windows will only display the first partition on a USB drive.
    Glad you found the fix (a new one on me). If you mark the thread as solved it will let everyone else know to look here for it.
      My Computers


 

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