Diskpart problems?

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  1. Posts : 985
    Windows 10 Home 21H1
       #1

    Diskpart problems?


    I used the following method to create a bootable USB flash drive and got the following error straight after the "Active" command was typed. "Diskpart has encountered an error. The system cannot find the file specified. See the system event log for more information". At the time of the error there are no errors shown in the system event log. All the other commands were successful.
    diskpart
    select disk <X>, where X is the drive number or drive letter of the USB flash drive
    clean
    create partition primary
    select partition 1
    format fs=fat32 quick
    active

    I did a couple of things slightly differently.
    1. I added Convert MBR after the Clean command to ensure that the flash drive was converted back to MBR partitioning from GPT partitioning.
    2. I removed "quick" and did a full format instead so that the flash drive would be checked for errors as well.

    I have tried this method on two different flash drives and get the same error each time.
    I ran an SFC scan on my laptop to see if anything was wrong and checked for malware. Everything is fine. Can anybody tell me what Im doing wrong?
    As regards the Active command..what should I do? I'm concerned now that because of this error my flash drive might be corrupted so I'm going to have to do all the commands again to be sure that everything has been done correctly
    Last edited by sportsfan148; 07 May 2018 at 11:52.
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  2. Posts : 30,119
    Windows 11 Pro x64 Version 23H2
       #2

    Try using the full word partition in both commands, think comma is just a typo but if not lose it as well on all commands. I would also spell out primary.
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  3. Posts : 985
    Windows 10 Home 21H1
    Thread Starter
       #3

    Caledon Ken said:
    Try using the full word partition in both commands, think comma is just a typo but if not lose it as well on all commands. I would also spell out primary.
    Hi Ken. Ive edited the post now for clarity. I did type in all the full commands....so that definitely isn't the issue. All the commands were successful except "active"
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  4. Posts : 18,424
    Windows 11 Pro
       #4

    First make sure the flash drive is plugged into a black USB port (if available), not a blue one. Also preferable that the USB port be on back of the computer (if a desktop) directly off the motherboard. Then run the following commands exactly:

    diskpart
    list disk
    select disk # <-replace # with the actual number for the USB flash drive
    clean
    create part pri
    format fs=fat32 quick
    active
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 985
    Windows 10 Home 21H1
    Thread Starter
       #5

    NavyLCDR said:
    First make sure the flash drive is plugged into a black USB port (if available), not a blue one. Also preferable that the USB port be on back of the computer (if a desktop) directly off the motherboard. Then run the following commands exactly:

    diskpart
    list disk
    select disk # <-replace # with the actual number for the USB flash drive
    clean
    create part pri
    format fs=fat32 quick
    active
    Hi Navy. I was using a blue port. My system is a laptop. Would it be possible to do the following method as another alternative :-
    diskpart
    list disk
    select disk # <-replace # with the actual number for the USB flash drive
    clean
    convert mbr (I'm making sure that GPT partitioning is removed)
    Then exit Diskpart and finish the rest of the procedure using Disk Management creating a New Simple Volume?
    I'm not even sure if the Active command is necessary as I have a UEFI boot system. If I did require Active as well though I think there is an option for that too in Disk Management.
    Is the Full Format in Disk Management identical to the Diskpart Full Format? Do they do exactly the same thing? Id like to use Full Format instead of Quick as I'm in no rush and it checks for errors etc
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  6. Posts : 985
    Windows 10 Home 21H1
    Thread Starter
       #6

    NavyLCDR said:
    First make sure the flash drive is plugged into a black USB port (if available), not a blue one. Also preferable that the USB port be on back of the computer (if a desktop) directly off the motherboard. Then run the following commands exactly:

    diskpart
    list disk
    select disk # <-replace # with the actual number for the USB flash drive
    clean
    create part pri
    format fs=fat32 quick
    active
    Hi again, I tried what you suggested and got the same error message as before. I spoke to a guy on another forum and he suggested typing the "Active" command before doing the Format.
    diskpart
    list disk
    select disk # <-replace # with the actual number for the USB flash drive
    clean
    create partition primary
    select partition 1
    active
    format fs=fat32 quick
    He tried it on a Windows 7 PC with the Active command straight after format and he was told to select a partition again...but when selecting Active first before format it was fine.
    Im thinking that might be the case on my Windows 10 laptop too but instead of getting a reminder to select a partition I get an error. After the error message If I select a partition and Type Active everything is OK. It seems a bit strange I know!!

    Can I ask you though. Is it OK to type the Active command before the Format command or should Active only be typed into Diskpart after the Format has been done?
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  7. Posts : 18,424
    Windows 11 Pro
       #7

    sportsfan148 said:
    Can I ask you though. Is it OK to type the Active command before the Format command or should Active only be typed into Diskpart after the Format has been done?
    As long as the partition ends up marked as active at the end, that is all that matters. Formatting the partition should not affect its status as active or not.
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 79
    Windows 10 Pro 1709 16299.192
       #8

    Macrium Reflect instructions to make a boot usb have the Active prior to the Format. I've used these instructions and they worked.
      My Computers


  9. Posts : 985
    Windows 10 Home 21H1
    Thread Starter
       #9

    NavyLCDR said:
    As long as the partition ends up marked as active at the end, that is all that matters. Formatting the partition should not affect its status as active or not.
    Thanks for confirming that the Format command does not affect the USB flash drives Active status in any way.
    For future reference regarding the Diskpart procedure. Am I correct in thinking that if you have a flash drive that is Active and you then use the "Clean" command on that flash drive the "Clean" command removes the drives "Active" status completely?
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  10. Posts : 15,441
    Windows10
       #10

    sportsfan148 said:
    Thanks for confirming that the Format command does not affect the USB flash drives Active status in any way.
    For future reference regarding the Diskpart procedure. Am I correct in thinking that if you have a flash drive that is Active and you then use the "Clean" command on that flash drive the "Clean" command removes the drives "Active" status completely?
    For reference, you only need to set partition active if you intend to boot flash drive in legacy bios mode. It is not needed for uefi based installations as most are these days.
      My Computer


 

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