Deleting Rescue Media Builder data from USB Flash Drive
Hi
I used Rescue Media Builder to make a recovery media with which I recovered the data on my failed Hard Drive to a new one.
I then tried to format the USB Drive to re-use it as a normal flash drive but now find it won't work. It shows up in Computer Management as a RAW data drive and I get an error message in Event Log that the encripted volume check cannot be read.
I assume this is to do with the data that is on the drive from using the rescue media builder facility. Is there any way that I can "clean" this drive for re-use?
No, it doesn't show up in the Add Discs Option. I have tried to use Diskpart to clean the drive but it won't let me and refers me to the Event Log which tells me "cannor zero sectors on disk".
Does the flash drive have a write-protect switch?
Is this the process you're using on the flash drive (DISKPART clean)?
Otherwise, you could use a disk editor to wipe (zero-out) the first few sectors of the drive or use the Linux 'dd' command to wipe the drive (this could be cone from a Live Linux CD).
Does the flash drive have a write-protect switch?
NO
Is this the process you're using on the flash drive (DISKPART clean)?
YES
Otherwise, you could use a disk editor to wipe (zero-out) the first few sectors of the drive or use the Linux 'dd' command to wipe the drive (this could be cone from a Live Linux CD).
I think I may have cured the problem to some degree by using a Windows XP machine and a non-Microsoft Computer Disc Management Application to format the drive and then I used DISKPART>Clean in Safe Mode to clean the disc. I then formatted it again, this time with Windows Computer Management and so far it seems to be recognised and working. However, I notice that when viewed in this non-MS application there is apparently a small section of the drive at the beginning and end of the drive that shows up as unallocated space but which I cannot incorporate into the main single partition.
At least for the time being it seems to be usable and the small area of unallocated space not a problem.
I shall see how it goes.
However, when I view it in the non-MS Disc Manager it
Different disk managers often have different "minimum" values of size to display. This is normal. Usually, the small spaces are not usable anyway due to alignment or are retained as part of a standard for some other purpose.
It's strange that my other same make flash drives don't show spare unallocated space in this app. However, if it works I wont lose any sleep over it!
As Acronis 2012 has the ability to create the Rescue Media it's a shame that there isn't the facility within it to remove it and reinstate the drive back to normal.
I don't think I've ever had Media Builder cause that type of problem with a flash drive. Usually, if something doesn't work it's that it doesn't boot correctly (the drive is still usable normally).
Is this one of those USB flash drives that is not a standard volume? e.g. does it contain something that runs automatically when the flash drive is inserted, as many of the SanDisc drives do?
No, just a Standard USB 2.0 8Gb Drive. It is a MEDION brand (Aldi Supermarket) and one of four I purchased over a period of a year or so.
Although they are all in similar cases I do know that the actual electronics are outsourced and not all from the same manufacturer which may account for them behaving differently.
MudCrab - you mention the boot may not be functioning correctly - it does seem to take longer than it should to appear when I plug it in.