"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
    2011-09-19T20:53:17+00:00

    I have precisely the same problem

    This clearly is a Win 7 problem!!! Not a drive problem...

    MS - please address this. It may cause ignorant people to format their back-drive...

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  2. Anonymous
    2011-08-30T20:25:03+00:00

    I too have this problem with an ext HD that is SATA via USB. Brand new drive.

    I can see the files that I placed on it after format (Win 7 disk manager). The drive seems to work fine, however, SyncToy and FolderCloner will not sync my backup files to it (it is a second, redundant backup). Once I launch the sync in either program, I see cycling "must format this drive..." and "Autoplay" selection menus, repeatedly, until the sync programs say they cannot accomplish the sync. I have not seen this previously (with the prior drive that died), and the problem is NOT corrected by changing the USB port.

    This is a major problem, and we need an official MS solution, please.

    G

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  3. Anonymous
    2011-08-18T00:52:09+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 works in all my puters.  But the PC with Windows 7 has developed a penchant to want to format every drive I try to use.  This just happened over the last month.  must have been a handy update that was installed and that now makes my computer just useless.  Thanks Microsoft.

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  4. Anonymous
    2011-08-10T09:39:09+00:00

    Go to run and type cmd then enter. Then u will get the command prompt window. Type chkdsk "drive letter" here. And run this command.

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