"You need to format the disk in drive J: before you can use it"

Anonymous
2009-11-27T14:36:21+00:00

The error message says "You need to format the disk in drive J: before you can use it" I have a removable USB storage drive that i always plugged in to my computer everytime I download movies save disk space on my computer.  Now it want me to format this storage disk.  Also,where it used to label this disk as "Removable Disk", it is not labeled as Local Disk J:. I don't want to format this disk because it will erase all my files and folders on this removable USB storage disk.  Please help me.

Windows for home | Windows 11 | Devices and drivers

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Anonymous
2011-01-12T20:05:12+00:00

I had same problem.

And I have an solution for you... The problem is that when you plug in your HD first time, Windows 7 install your HD and associate it to only this USB port (let it be USB port "4") than if you wanna to use it (HD) again, you need to plug it, in the same USB port (USB port "4") where it was installed first time. It is Stupid!!!! But that's how it worked with my HD.

Just try all USB ports that you have on your PC.

Good luck.

Hope it was helpful. :D

PS: the same problem is with all divices you plug in to your pc.

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  1. Anonymous
    2011-03-30T08:01:43+00:00

    My HDD is not being read, i just get te "USB Device not recognized" error, it recognized it earlier but now i don't know what happened.

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  2. Anonymous
    2011-03-29T20:05:45+00:00

    theres an error message that says "You need to format the disk in drive k: before you can use it, but its with all my USB ports and on other computers, i have valuable files on my USB, what do i do?

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  3. Anonymous
    2011-02-16T08:21:49+00:00

    how do you make them both the same? my removable drive is saying RAW and the computer is NTFS , how do you make them the same?

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  4. Anonymous
    2011-01-30T16:36:12+00:00

    Sorry - dont know what settings were changed !!

    Plug in any USB now get Autoplay menu - OK

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