Flash Drive Lost Capacity... What to Do?

[chazdraves]

I'm not sure what happened. I have a 4GB flash drive that I turned into a bootable drive for the Linux interface on my EEEPC. After the format/making it bootable, the drive only reads as 2GB... I've reformated dozens of times, but it's gone. Any ideas?

Thanks!
- Chaz

 

[Yellowbeard]

Try this: http://www.houseofhelp.com/for...showthread.php?t=62742

 

[taltamir]

ooh, this reminds me that time when my 700MB CDRW because a 650MB CDRW after erasing it...
Call the manufacturer's customer support, they might be able to help.

 

[Drsignguy]

Originally posted by: Yellowbeard
Try this: http://www.houseofhelp.com/for...showthread.php?t=62742

I did this same thing but only with windows Xp. Booted up with the disk and went as far as partitioning and then I re-partitioned it. When completed, I did a format to FAT. I use it for a Bios flsh if ever needed. Worked very well.....

 

[Zap]

Originally posted by: chazdraves
After the format/making it bootable, the drive only reads as 2GB... I've reformated dozens of times, but it's gone. Any ideas?

What is the file system you used? If you used normal FAT, then you are limited to 2GB.

 

[RebateMonger]

Originally posted by: Zap
What is the file system you used? If you used normal FAT, then you are limited to 2GB.

Yeah. Maximum volume size: FAT12 = 32 MB, FAT16 = 2 GB, FAT32 = 2 TB.

It's been common to see FAT16 formatting of flash drives.

 

[chazdraves]

I was hoping when you said that that maybe it was FAT, but it says FAT32...

Well, maybe FDisk is the only way to go. I've haven't had to use Fdisk for years... Is that on the XP disk as well? I don't have a floppy drive and don't feel like making a Win 98SE disk again if I can avoid it.

Thanks, all!
- Chaz

 

[Blain]

How often do you add or delete files on your flash drive?

 

[gdextreme]

I have experienced this once when my 8GB flash Drive reduced to 2GB MB after Format. I used tis program. I don't remember which options in the program I used, but it should'nt be hard to figure out:
http://panasonic.jp/support/gl...load/sd_formatter.html

 

[Yellowbeard]

I had the best luck with FDisk as more current tools did not want to work with partition info on a USB drive. Essentially, all you need to do is find a way to remove the partition info on your drive, and build a new one to the full capacity.

 

[chazdraves]

Bizzare that it happened in the first place, but so it goes, I guess.

Well, I'll have to dig into these ideas this weekend.

Thanks to everyone for all the help!
- Chaz

 

[muzzammilmmm]

Hey, use the EaseUS partition manager and just extend your pendrive's memory by merging with the unallocated space.