How do I reformat the 64GB USB stick used by media creation tool ?

My usb sticks were either 8GB of less, and 64GB, so when using the media creation tool to upgrade Windows 10.240 to the November update which failed, I had used my 64GB disk.

However, I cannot use it for anything else. Worse, it is now 32GB.

If I 'open as Portable Device' it shows only 32GB, but with 21.1 GB free of 31.9GB.

No where have I read of any issues or suggestions that Media creation tool does this, or of people encountering problems.

In case someone asks whether I am sure it is 64GB

Please can anyone explain how to get my 64GB back?

hi

if you are sure its a 64GB flashdrive, and the media creation tool only partitioned it for 32GB it may be that Microsoft thinks that computers might have trouble booting from such a big drive. idk its their program.

However, if you want to resize the partition to its fullest size possible. you could use the Disk management built-in to windows.
To open it, right-click on the desktop icon of "my computer" and click manage in the context menu.

this should appear:

or you could use Minitool's Partition Wizard Free MiniTool Partition Wizard | Best partition magic alternative for Windows PC and Server

i think you're right Cereberus i hadn't considered that.

however, to asnwer Fellwalker, just use a 8Gb drive, windows will have plenty of room and you can add drivers after its done writing the files to the drive.

as for the speed of installs, it may vary, perso whether it takes 7 minutes with a 64gb faster drive than say 9 minutes with a slower 8gb drive, meh its just a longuer break with a cup of coffee right ?

smitty said:

hi

if you are sure its a 64GB flashdrive, and the media creation tool only partitioned it for 32GB it may be that Microsoft thinks that computers might have trouble booting from such a big drive. idk its their program.

However, if you want to resize the partition to its fullest size possible. you could use the Disk management built-in to windows.
To open it, right-click on the desktop icon of "my computer" and click manage in the context menu.

this should appear:

or you could use Minitool's Partition Wizard Free MiniTool Partition Wizard | Best partition magic alternative for Windows PC and Server

Sorry - I guessed that your first question would arise, so updated my post, only to find that you'd already asked it.

I'm now annoyed with myself becasue before I posted I pressed WINDOWS KEY and typed disk management - and the description was manage HARD DISKS in your computer. That is what I had used it for. I thought - oh, bother, as a usb stick is not a hard drive. BUT of course now I find that for this purpose it is.

Anyway, no matter. It does not work.

The menu option that I need of "Extend Volume..." is greyed out

What I did find is that when attempting to format, it shows a 32 kilobyte Allocation unit size , so I am first trying to format the partition using the Default allocation size which I am hoping from reading the Microsoft support page is 512 bytes, which requires a full rather than Quick format. That will take a long time (3/4 done after well over an hour), but might allow other options. Otherwise I'll reformat as NTFS
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/140365
Default cluster sizes for FAT32

The following table describes the default cluster sizes for FAT32.

Volume size	Windows NT 3.51	Windows NT 4.0	Windows 7, Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows Server 2008, Windows Vista, Windows Server 2003, Windows XP, Windows 2000
7 MB–16MB	Not supported	Not supported	Not supported
16 MB–32 MB	512 bytes	512 bytes	Not supported
32 MB–64 MB	512 bytes	512 bytes	512 bytes

BTW, I don't have a desktop icon for My Computer. Can't remember one on this laptop ever. Maybe year's ago I deleted it becasue I had never used it and it duplicated My Computer on the Windows 7 Start Menu. I long ago found the windows key and typing a few things was quicker than right clicking on the start menu. One of life's mysteries.

cereberus said:

windows only allows a maximum size partition of 32GB for a fat32 install, and mct creates a fat32 drive.


Open a command prompt with admin rights and type

diskpart

list disk

select disk n (where n is disk number of usb drive from above command)

list disk (check asterisk by usb disk to show you have selected right drive)

clean (warning wipes drive completely hence must be sure right drive)

create partition primary

select partition 1

format fs=ntfs quick

assign

exit

exit

You will now see all 64GB.

Thanks. I couldn't see further replies as I responding to smitty. If my attempt ever finishes but cannot proceed using Disk Manager I will try command prompt but that is easier to type a leter or space wrongly.Or did I mean letter?

smitty said:

i think you're right Cereberus i hadn't considered that.

however, to asnwer Fellwalker, just use a 8Gb drive, windows will have plenty of room and you can add drivers after its done writing the files to the drive.

as for the speed of installs, it may vary, perso whether it takes 7 minutes with a 64gb faster drive than say 9 minutes with a slower 8gb drive, meh its just a longuer break with a cup of coffee right ?

Sorry I don't understand. How would 8GB work? The ESD_USB created only has 21.1GB free out of 31.9GB. The difference is over 10GB.

I will look at this tomorrow after I am rested. I keep forgetting most response come from US, but here in UK it is midnight.

I assumed you wanted only windows 7, the win 7 iso is only 3.8 gigs. It fits fine on a 4gb but 8gb gives you more room for drivers. not all network cards will be working after installing windows. you may need these drivers to install windows updates and such.

if you use something else than the win7 iso then you should buy the key the size you need. Use what you think is best.

btw Cereberus is right about the fat32 thing, it can only go up to 32GB on a drive.

Night Hawk said:

For seeing the flash drive cleaned off entirely to be made usable again you would simply right click on the volume while in the Disk Management tool to select "delete" which would then leave the drive raw. You then simply create the new larger 64gb partition you see formatted to NTFS.

Doesn't work. delete is greyed out.


I am now going to try cerberus's Command promt method.