Drive Health Test
Step 2
Test the drive with a FULL format
A full format works the whole drive, not just the index. Stress test and clean slate in one.
This wipes everything still on the drive. Only what you already copied off survives. If anything on it is irreplaceable and not yet copied, stop and go back.
- Confirm the disk name and size before you format. A full format takes the whole drive, and at home there is usually more than one disk in the list. Picking the wrong one is unrecoverable.
- Format the USB: FAT32 · MBR · uncheck Quick Format.
- A full pass on a big stick takes time. That is the test working.
Did the full format complete with no errors?
You follow these steps at your own risk. Formatting or erasing a drive can permanently destroy data. Full disclaimer.