Share via

External USB device showing empty space red instead of blue.

Anonymous
2012-07-27T18:53:32+00:00

Original title: how to format red area in USB

When I try to delete the programme from a USB, the 'box' area displays a 'red' band instead of a blue for content or white for empty. I have tried allsorts to remedy it, if you can help, please drop me a line to: ******@gmail.com   Many thanks, Bryan S.

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Files, folders, and storage

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

  1. Anonymous
    2012-07-29T12:20:59+00:00

    Hi,

    1. What happens when you try to format the flash drive?
    2. Do you get any error message or error code?
    3. Have you tried to use the flash drive in another computer?

    You can delete an individual application or file from the flash drive by performing the step mentioned below:

    Steps:

    a. Right click on the file you want to delete.

    b. Select delete to delete the file.

    c. If prompted to click on Yes to delete, click on it.

    You can try the steps mentioned in the link below to try a force format on the flash drive.

    [Format or force format will wipe out all data inside the drive, suggest you to take a back up if necessary contents are there.]

    Format a external device:

    http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/Create-and-format-a-hard-disk-partition

    Or try the steps manually:

    Steps:

    1. Open the Start menu, type cmd in search box, right click on cmd.exe and select Run as adminstrator.
    2. Now run this command:

    format H: /FS:FAT32 /x

    Replace H: with your own USB flash drive letter (E:, F:, G:, etc.). You can also replace FAT32 with another file system such as NTFS, FAT, etc.

    Hope the information helps.

    0 comments

3 additional answers

Sort by: Most helpful
Most helpful Newest Oldest
  1. Anonymous
    2012-07-28T08:46:31+00:00

    Hi,

    1. Which program are you trying to delete?
    2. Is the issue related to the free space available on the USB?
    3. Is this an External flash drive or hard drive?
    4. What happens when you try to delete the program?

    If you find the external media device space in red color, it means the space in the specific drive or USB device is low.

    Try deleting unwanted application from the USB device to gain more space.

    Also check: How to Format a USB Drive in Windows

    Whether you’re running Windows XP, Windows Vista, or Windows 7, the steps are essentially the same.

    [Note: Formatting the partition will delete any data on the specific device. Be sure to back up any data you want to keep before you begin, data once lost cannot be recovered after a format.]

    1. Connect the USB drive.
    2. go to > Computer or > My Computer.
    3. Right-click the drive and select > Format
    4. To format your drive, Click Start, click > OK to confirm that you really want to erase all data and the drive will be formatted.

    Hope the information helps.

    1 person found this answer helpful.
    0 comments
  2. Anonymous
    2012-07-28T17:55:39+00:00

    Sorry Sooraj, it is an external usb meory stick and how do I delete the unwanted application to gain more space? Thanking you, Bryan S.

    0 comments
  3. Anonymous
    2012-07-28T17:53:40+00:00

    Hi Sooraj...When I display removable disk ready to try and format, it is reading 5.23 remaining with 926mb full capacity but there is a 'red band' in the box and even after trying to delete the USB, it will not format, it will not do anything

    0 comments