Can't create bootable media on Sandisk Extreme USB 3.0 64GB
I can't get Acronis Media Builder to create bootable rescue media on a Sandisk Extreme USB 3.0 64GB drive, using Windows 7. It doesn't show the drive is the list of available ones.
I've formatted the drive as FAT32, using various utilities that allow that for more than 32GB, and I also have a 64GB Corsair USB 3.0 drive which is recognized by ATIH as being suitable as bootable media.
Any ideas what ATIH may not like about the Sandisk drive?
Thanks. I tried that utility but it says the disk is write protected, which no other utility had mentioned before. After that, the disk was left in an uninitialized state, so I had to re-initialize and create a volume with Windows. Then I did a full format with the HP utility, but ATIH would still not show the drive. I also tried CLEAN ALL with DISKPART.
I Googled and found a thread which suggested the Group Edit Policy may be the problem, so (since I only have Windows Home Premium (x64)) I had to download and install gpedit.msc. I ran this, and there is supposed to be an entry under: System Configuration (and User Configuration) > Administrative Templates > System > Removable Storage Access, however I don't have either entry showing.
So, I still can't get ATIH to list the drive in the Media Builder. However, in the meantime, I found a simple workaround, i.e. use Media Builder to write to another USB drive which it can find, then just copy all the files to the Sandisk drive.
Having done that, I can now boot into ATIH from the Sandisk drive, which is what I wanted to achieve.
I would still like to know what ATIH Media Builder is actually looking for, when it won't recognize the Sandisk, but that can go on the back burner for now.
At least you have a workaround. I have no answer to your question regarding why Sanddisk cannot be used by Acronis to create a bootable stick. I avoid Sandisk because of its uniqueness and not a standard usb stick.
I think I just realized what the problem is with the Sandisk. I hadn't noticed that it was showing up as a Fixed Disk, instead of a Removable Disk. Googling shows this to be an issue with many Sandisks (something to do with Windows 8 compatibility), and apparently there's no way to change it. This is almost certainly why ATIH doesn't list it.
Perhaps one of these days, I'll upgrade to Windows 8 and the issue will go away.
Damn annoying of Sandisk not to give us a way of changing it, as some manufacturers apparently do.
Actually, getting a usb pen to show as a fixed disk can be quite useful.
If it shows as a removable disk, windows only allows one primary partition.
If it shows as a fixed disk, windows allows multiple primary partition.
Windows 8 (PRO) will actually allow you to create a USB with windows fully installed on it i.e. you can go to a PC and load your version of OS from USB pen instead of PC OS. You can only do this on USB pens that allow multiple partitions (i.e. fool PC into thinking USB is a hard disk).
I know this works for EFI systems, not sure about older bios.
I solved the problem quite easily: using Easeus I was able to restore the drive to FAT32 with no problem.