"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

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

0 comments
Answer accepted by question author
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.

Was this answer helpful?

200+ people found this answer helpful.
0 comments

82 additional answers

Sort by: Newest
Most helpful Newest Oldest
  1. Anonymous
    2011-12-04T04:23:58+00:00

    Hello,

    Due to the age of this issue, it would be best to create a new thread for this in the following forum:

    http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/hardware

    Doing so will avoid any confusion between your issue and that of the original poster.

    Best regards,

    Matthew_Ha

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  2. Anonymous
    2011-11-28T15:29:15+00:00

    how to use this?? it is asking for copying partition and remove partition?and change drive letter.

    if copying partition is the solution then i must have 465 gb free space for 465 HDD?

    plz help

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  3. Anonymous
    2011-11-22T08:20:13+00:00

    Thank you . It worked

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  4. Anonymous
    2011-11-13T19:30:22+00:00

    Ouch, this just happened to me. This problem can happen with any USB system device that changes its USB port. I've also had it happen with a mouse!

    You don't need to reformat your USB drive.

    The best way to fix it is to 'Safely remove and eject' the drive (click on the USB device icon in the taskbar drop-down)

    Go to the Device Manager in the Control Panel (or you can find it via Administrative Tools then Computer Management).

    Find the 'Universal Serial Bus controllers' entry, right click on it, and select 'Scan for hardware changes'. This will scan all the USB ports and refresh their status.

    When that has finished, reconnect your disk to the USB port to want it to run on. The system should then reload the device drivers and assign it to that USB port.

    Note: It may not be necessary to remove and eject the disk before scanning for hardware changes, but it seems like a sensible precaution.

    Thanks! This was driving me crazy because it came out of nowhere, and your solution fixed it completely.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments