How to format USB & CD-Rome

Dani_S 3,786

Hi,

I'm using net 8, I would like to format.

1.USB include bit locker.

2.CD-Rome

Can you supply full coe how to do it?

Thanks,

Hui Liu-MSFT 48,571 Microsoft Vendor

Hi,@Dani_S.Welcome to Microsoft Q&A. Formatting a USB drive and a CD-ROM using .NET 8 involves different approaches due to the different technologies and specifications involved.

To format a USB drive, you can use the System.Diagnostics namespace to execute command-line commands. For BitLocker, you could manage it using PowerShell commands.

using System;
using System.Diagnostics;
using System.IO;
class Program
{
    static void Main(string[] args)
    {
        string driveLetter = "E:"; // Change this to your USB drive letter
        try
        {
            FormatUSB(driveLetter);
            EnableBitLocker(driveLetter);
        }
        catch (Exception ex)
        {
            Console.WriteLine($"Error: {ex.Message}");
        }
    }

enter image description here

Formatting a CD-ROM is not typically supported directly in .NET because CD-ROMs are usually written with specific formats and are often used for one-time writing operations. Example Using Command Line Utility for CD-RWs.


var process = new Process
{
    StartInfo = new ProcessStartInfo
    {
        FileName = "cmd.exe",
        Arguments = "/c C:\\PathToYourCDFormattingTool.exe /format /driveletter E",
        RedirectStandardOutput = true,
        UseShellExecute = false,
        CreateNoWindow = true
    }
};

process.Start();
string result = process.StandardOutput.ReadToEnd();
process.WaitForExit();

Dani_S 3,786 Reputation points

2024-07-31T07:31:13.5166667+00:00

Format usb is not working
Dani_S 3,786 Reputation points

2024-07-31T07:42:35.0366667+00:00

Here is my code:
Dani_S 3,786 Reputation points

2024-07-31T07:43:08.7033333+00:00

Your quick answer will be appreciated.
Dani_S 3,786 Reputation points

2024-07-31T08:28:16.3766667+00:00

var x = process.ExitCode;

x=4
Dani_S 3,786 Reputation points

2024-07-31T09:10:23.31+00:00

.........................
Dani_S 3,786 Reputation points

2024-07-31T12:00:53.9333333+00:00

Your quick answer will be appreciated.

Hui Liu-MSFT 48,571 Microsoft Vendor

Hi,@Dani_S. You could try the following example and see if it helps you.
.NET doesn't provide direct methods for formatting drives, so you can try using interop services to call the necessary Windows API functions.

For formatting a USB drive, you can use the InvokeMethod from ManagementObject.


using System;
using System.Diagnostics;
using System.IO;
using System.Management;

   static void Main()
   {
       string driveLetter = "E:"; // Replace with your USB drive letter
       FormatDrive(driveLetter);
       FormatCDROM(driveLetter);
   }
   static void FormatDrive(string driveLetter)
   {
       string query = $"SELECT * FROM Win32_Volume WHERE DriveLetter = '{driveLetter}'";
       using (ManagementObjectSearcher searcher = new ManagementObjectSearcher(query))
       using (ManagementObjectCollection results = searcher.Get())
       {
           foreach (ManagementObject volume in results)
           {
               try
               {
                   volume.InvokeMethod("Format", new object[] { "NTFS", true, 4096, "New Volume", false });
                   Console.WriteLine($"Drive {driveLetter} formatted successfully.");
               }
               catch (Exception ex)
               {
                   Console.WriteLine($"Error formatting drive {driveLetter}: {ex.Message}");
               }
           }
       }
   }

Dani_S 3,786 Reputation points

2024-08-01T05:52:08.64+00:00

Is not working why ?

Please can you please fix it ?
Dani_S 3,786 Reputation points

2024-08-01T05:55:19.8733333+00:00

It show formatted successfully but is not.
Deleted

This comment has been deleted due to a violation of our Code of Conduct. The comment was manually reported or identified through automated detection before action was taken. Please refer to our Code of Conduct for more information.

Dani_S 3,786

this is my code:

#if WINDOWS

                WindowsIdentity.RunImpersonated(

                 ImpersonationHelper.Token,

                        () =>

                        {

                            string query = $"SELECT * FROM Win32_Volume WHERE DriveLetter = '{driveLetter}'";

                            using (ManagementObjectSearcher searcher = new ManagementObjectSearcher(query))

                            using (ManagementObjectCollection results = searcher.Get())

                            {

                                foreach (ManagementObject volume in results)

                                {

                                    try

                                    {

                                        volume.InvokeMethod("Format", new object[] { "NTFS", true, 4096, "New Volume", false });

                                        _logger.Info($"Drive {driveLetter} formatted successfully.");

                                    }

                                    catch (Exception ex)

                                    {

                                        _logger.Error($"Error formatting drive {driveLetter}", ex);

                                    }

                                }

                            }

                        

                        });

#endif

Dani_S 3,786 Reputation points

2024-08-01T06:17:59.3566667+00:00
I got

UnknownError = 18
Dani_S 3,786 Reputation points

2024-08-01T12:05:53.62+00:00

Can you please answer qiuckly.
Dani_S 3,786 Reputation points

2024-08-01T20:22:05.6+00:00

Can you please answer quickly?
Hui Liu-MSFT 48,571 Reputation points Microsoft Vendor

2024-08-02T09:53:50.0833333+00:00
Hi,@Dani_S. Could you share more complete error message? After seeing your error message, I can't confirm the cause of the problem.

By the way, the first solution I provided should work according to my research.

First, you could check the name of your USB drive through the following code

public static void CheckDisk() { DriveInfo[] s = DriveInfo.GetDrives(); var result = string.Empty; foreach (DriveInfo i in s) { Console.WriteLine(i.Name); } }

Then execute the following code. Code function: Open cmd.exe and enter the command to format the disk and then return the result of the command.

Note:
Dani_S 3,786 Reputation points

2024-08-02T11:42:36.2333333+00:00

I'm using Maui and impersonation.
Deleted

This comment has been deleted due to a violation of our Code of Conduct. The comment was manually reported or identified through automated detection before action was taken. Please refer to our Code of Conduct for more information.
Dani_S 3,786 Reputation points

2024-08-05T07:59:56.87+00:00

I got this error:

Access Denied as you do not have sufficient privileges or

the disk may be locked by another process.

You have to invoke this utility running in elevated mode

and make sure the disk is unlocked.

Cannot open volume for direct access
Dani_S 3,786 Reputation points

2024-08-05T09:04:03.72+00:00

Your quick answer will be appreciated.
Deleted

This comment has been deleted due to a violation of our Code of Conduct. The comment was manually reported or identified through automated detection before action was taken. Please refer to our Code of Conduct for more information.
Dani_S 3,786 Reputation points

2024-08-05T09:39:34.0533333+00:00

I opened.
Dani_S 3,786 Reputation points

2024-08-05T10:58:18.8933333+00:00

what is /C ?

$"/C format {driveLetter} /Y /FS:FAT32 /V:New_Volume /Q")
Jeanine Zhang-MSFT 9,786 Reputation points Microsoft Vendor

2024-08-06T08:12:54.1166667+00:00

According to your description, whether the USB encrypted with Bitlocker? If so, you need to unlock bitlocker first and then format the USB.

Whether have you tried to launch your program with administrator privileges?
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This comment has been deleted due to a violation of our Code of Conduct. The comment was manually reported or identified through automated detection before action was taken. Please refer to our Code of Conduct for more information.
Dani_S 3,786 Reputation points

2024-08-06T11:03:15.25+00:00

Yes.

From : https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/answers/questions/1855048/how-to-format-usb

I set :

proc.StartInfo.UseShellExecute = true; //required proc.StartInfo.Verb = "runas";

I got :

System.ComponentModel.Win32Exception: 'An error occurred trying to start process 'cmd.exe' with working directory 'C:\Windows\system32'. Unknown error (0xfffffffe)'
Dani_S 3,786 Reputation points

2024-08-06T11:08:58.1266667+00:00

Your quick answer will be appreciated.
Dani_S 3,786 Reputation points

2024-08-06T11:20:49.2466667+00:00

@Hui Liu-MSFT

I opened new ticket and ir closed so i continue discussion here.
Dani_S 3,786 Reputation points

2024-08-06T11:54:25.5366667+00:00

Need help?
Dani_S 3,786 Reputation points

2024-08-06T12:18:39.3233333+00:00

Here my code
Jeanine Zhang-MSFT 9,786 Reputation points Microsoft Vendor

2024-08-07T06:10:35.66+00:00

Whether the USB encrypted with Bitlocker? If so, you need to unlock bitlocker first and then format the USB. Have you unlocked the BitLocker?
Dani_S 3,786 Reputation points

2024-08-07T06:30:18.6566667+00:00

No is not bitlocker.It is simple usb.

Your qucick answer will be great.
Dani_S 3,786 Reputation points

2024-08-07T06:30:37.21+00:00

I'm using format NTFS usb with impersonation in MAUI.

Is it the right code?
Jeanine Zhang-MSFT 9,786 Reputation points Microsoft Vendor

2024-08-07T08:07:38.4466667+00:00

As this issue is complex, to resolve this issue as soon as possible, you can open an incident via Contact us tab at link below: https://developer.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/support/

Please choose the Technical Support - Coding/Debugging for Windows SDK for this issue. In-addition, if the support engineer determines that the issue is the result of a bug the service request will be a no-charge case and you won't be charged.
Dani_S 3,786 Reputation points

2024-08-07T08:27:21.6333333+00:00
The problem for usb is solved.

no need to warp the process with this code.

#if WINDOWS

WindowsIdentity.RunImpersonated( ImpersonationHelper.Token, () => {
Dani_S 3,786 Reputation points

2024-08-07T08:31:26.1033333+00:00

What is in Arguments = "/c C:\PathToYourCDFormattingTool.exe /format /driveletter E",

C:\PathToYourCDFormattingTool.exe?
Dani_S 3,786 Reputation points

2024-08-07T08:31:42.6766667+00:00

Your qiuck answer will be great.
Dani_S 3,786 Reputation points

2024-08-07T14:18:08.2433333+00:00

Your quick answer will be appreciated.The format Cdrome first solution not work.
Bruce (SqlWork.com) 66,706 Reputation points

2024-08-07T18:25:44.7266667+00:00

the /c tells the cmd shell to exit after executing the command. otherwise the shell window is still open, and the start process won't complete until the user closes the shell window.
Dani_S 3,786 Reputation points

2024-08-08T07:41:51.3466667+00:00

What is C:\PathToYourCDFormattingTool.exe? what i need to write.

in Arguments = "/c C:\PathToYourCDFormattingTool.exe /format /driveletter E",
Darran Rowe 1,041 Reputation points

2024-08-08T20:21:19.69+00:00

To add a little to this.

What is C:\PathToYourCDFormattingTool.exe? what i need to write.

This is a question that can only be answered by you.

To go into a little more detail, CD-ROMs are not things that can be formatted in the same way as hard disks or USB devices.

CDs, DVDs and BluRays are usually made out of metal, where the contents of the disk is pressed into the metal in a factory.

Writable medium, such as CD-Rs, CD-RWs, DVD-Rs, DVD-RWs and so on use ink to accomplish a compatible goal. Instead of the laser reflecting off of the metal, it reflects off of the ink instead. Even then, usually formatting isn't something that would be done.

For CD-Rs and DVD-Rs, writing to the disk is usually a two step process. The first step is to figure out the files that are going to be written to the disk and then works out the filesystem based upon this information. This normally outputs something like a .ISO file. The second step is to take this .ISO file and write it to the disk. There are tools to do this, but I do not believe that it is my responsibility to solve this problem.

However, since the initial question involved something unclear and, assuming CD-ROM was meant instead of CD-Rome, clearly impossible. I would like to suggest that the question and problem is revisited. Nobody on this forum is going to be willing to write all of the code and provide support if/when it goes wrong.
Dani_S 3,786 Reputation points

2024-08-11T06:37:17.4766667+00:00

Why this code is not working?

The drive letter to "E:"

i got this error: "The type of the file system is RAW.

The new file system is UDF.

Formatting 128.0 KB

0 percent completed.

Low level format of CD/DVD media failed..

Format failed."
Dani_S 3,786 Reputation points

2024-08-13T14:25:58.89+00:00

Sorry but it is not working , can you please help.
Dani_S 3,786 Reputation points

2024-08-13T14:26:31.3766667+00:00

................

1 answer

Castorix31 85,956 Reputation points

2024-09-16T19:01:48.2233333+00:00

To format a CD-RW, you can use IMAPI2 and MsftDiscFormat2Erase

There is an old but good sample at Code Project : https://www.codeproject.com/Articles/24544/Burning-and-Erasing-CD-DVD-Blu-ray-Media-with-C-an

(Download source, main code is in backgroundFormatWorker_DoWork)

I tested similar code in C#/Net 8 and the formatting worked with a DVD-RW drive and a CD-RW (I did not use events (for % of progression))
Please sign in to rate this answer.
Daniel Shitrit 0 Reputation points

2024-09-16T21:22:23.5733333+00:00

Im using net maui, net 8. Can you give a code for maui.

Dani_S 3,786 Reputation points

2024-09-16T21:30:50.73+00:00

Same using maui in net 8.please add full code here.

Dani_S 3,786 Reputation points

2024-09-16T21:54:05.53+00:00

@Castorix31 Can you please answer.

Castorix31 85,956 Reputation points

2024-09-16T22:59:25.54+00:00

I don't know MAUI but if you can use IMAPI2 (ChatGPT says you can...), copy/adapt the code from backgroundFormatWorker_DoWork

Dani_S 3,786 Reputation points

2024-09-17T07:02:45.2866667+00:00

I have problem in this row if you can help:

System.UnauthorizedAccessException: 'Access is denied. (0x80070005 (E_ACCESSDENIED))'

// Create and initialize the IDiscRecorder2

discRecorder = new MsftDiscRecorder2();

var activeDiscRecorder = driveLetter; //E:

discRecorder.InitializeDiscRecorder(activeDiscRecorder);

Castorix31 85,956 Reputation points

2024-09-17T07:36:54.1033333+00:00

activeDiscRecorder is not a drive letter but a drive ID

In my test, I did this at beginning to get drive ID :

string? sRecorderId = ""; MsftDiscMaster2 discMaster2 = new MsftDiscMaster2(); if (discMaster2.IsSupportedEnvironment) { IEnumerator recorderEnum = ((IEnumerable)discMaster2).GetEnumerator(); while (recorderEnum.MoveNext()) { sRecorderId = recorderEnum.Current as string; if (!string.IsNullOrEmpty(sRecorderId)) break; } } if (!string.IsNullOrEmpty(sRecorderId)) { // code... }

Dani_S 3,786 Reputation points

2024-09-17T08:01:57.2733333+00:00

OK.

I added your code but I got error:

The device associated with this recorder during the last operation has been exclusively locked, causing this operation to failed.

Dani_S 3,786 Reputation points

2024-09-17T08:03:24.68+00:00

This my code:

MsftDiscRecorder2 discRecorder = null; MsftDiscFormat2Erase discFormatErase = null; try { string? sRecorderId = ""; MsftDiscMaster2 discMaster2 = new MsftDiscMaster2(); if (discMaster2.IsSupportedEnvironment) { IEnumerator recorderEnum = ((IEnumerable)discMaster2).GetEnumerator(); while (recorderEnum.MoveNext()) { sRecorderId = recorderEnum.Current as string; if (!string.IsNullOrEmpty(sRecorderId)) break; } } if(string.IsNullOrEmpty(sRecorderId)) { // TODO return; } // // Create and initialize the IDiscRecorder2 // discRecorder = new MsftDiscRecorder2(); var activeDiscRecorder = sRecorderId; discRecorder.InitializeDiscRecorder(activeDiscRecorder); // // Create the IDiscFormat2Erase and set properties // discFormatErase = new MsftDiscFormat2Erase { Recorder = discRecorder, ClientName = "Foramt", FullErase = true }; // // Erase the media here // try { discFormatErase.EraseMedia(); } catch (COMException ex) { IsOpenPopup = true; PopupBorderColor = Color.FromRgb(255, 0, 0); ErrorMessage = "Format CD-ROM failed."; _logger.Error("IDiscFormat2.EraseMedia failed" , ex); } discRecorder.EjectMedia();

}

catch (COMException exception)

{

// // If anything happens during the format, show the message // IsOpenPopup = true; PopupBorderColor = Color.FromRgb(255, 0, 0); ErrorMessage = "Format CD-ROM failed."; _logger.Error("Format CD-ROM failed.", exception);

}

finally

{

if (discRecorder != null) { Marshal.ReleaseComObject(discRecorder); } if (discFormatErase != null) { Marshal.ReleaseComObject(discFormatErase); }

}

Dani_S 3,786 Reputation points

2024-09-17T08:11:15.6766667+00:00

Stack trace:

at IMAPI2.Interop.IDiscFormat2Erase.EraseMedia()

at GssdDesktopClient.Maui.ViewModels.ViewDevicesViewModel.<UDFFormatCommandExcute>b__119_0() in D:\Applications\GssdDesktopClient\GssdDesktopClient.Maui\ViewModels\ViewDevicesViewModel.cs:line 947

Castorix31 85,956 Reputation points

2024-09-17T08:48:57.0266667+00:00

The doc says :

E_IMAPI_RECORDER_LOCKED

If the device is already locked, you can call IDiscRecorder2::get_ExclusiveAccessOwner to retrieve the name of the client application that currently has exclusive access.

ChatGPT :

Previous Operation Not Released:

If a previous operation (such as formatting or burning) was not properly completed or the recorder wasn't released, it can remain locked.

You may need to explicitly release the recorder by calling the IDiscRecorder2::ReleaseExclusiveAccess method or ensure that the previous process has fully terminated.

Ensure you're calling IDiscRecorder2::AcquireExclusiveAccess before trying to perform actions like erasing or burning a disc.

Dani_S 3,786 Reputation points

2024-09-17T09:12:52.8866667+00:00

I used this code and get same error.

//

// Create the IDiscFormat2Erase and set properties

//

discFormatErase = new MsftDiscFormat2Erase

{ Recorder = discRecorder, **ClientName = "BurnMedia",** FullErase = true };

discRecorder.AcquireExclusiveAccess(true, discFormatErase.ClientName);

Dani_S 3,786 Reputation points

2024-09-17T09:35:06.84+00:00

Can you please help?

Dani_S 3,786 Reputation points

2024-09-17T10:39:11.6033333+00:00

@Castorix31

can you please help?

Castorix31 85,956 Reputation points

2024-09-17T11:15:21.83+00:00

When is it locked, what does this return ?

string sOwner = discRecorder.ExclusiveAccessOwner;

to check if is blocked by yourself or another process

Dani_S 3,786 Reputation points

2024-09-17T11:21:47.1033333+00:00

It return null.

I wrapped the code with impersonation is it possible to work?.

When I used this code I got the client name but same error.

// // Create and initialize the IDiscRecorder2 // discRecorder = new MsftDiscRecorder2(); ```discRecorder.InitializeDiscRecorder(sRecorderId); discRecorder.AcquireExclusiveAccess(true, "Format"); string clientName = discRecorder.ExclusiveAccessOwner; // Got Format // // Create the IDiscFormat2Erase and set properties // discFormatErase = new MsftDiscFormat2Erase

{ Recorder = discRecorder, ClientName = clientName, FullErase = true };

Dani_S 3,786 Reputation points

2024-09-17T11:21:55.59+00:00

@Castorix31

can you please help?

Castorix31 85,956 Reputation points

2024-09-17T12:13:53.8233333+00:00

I cannot reproduce your problem, my device is never locked...

Does the full CodeProject sample also have this problem ?

Castorix31 85,956 Reputation points

2024-09-17T15:49:37.5366667+00:00

Otherwise, there are other methods to format drives; a simple one is with SHFormatDrive, by displaying the Shell DialogBox

Declarations :

[DllImport("Shell32.dll", SetLastError = true, CharSet = CharSet.Unicode)] public static extern uint SHFormatDrive(IntPtr hwnd, uint drive, uint fmtID, uint options); public int SHFMT_ID_DEFAULT = 0xFFFF; public int SHFMT_OPT_FULL = 0x0001; public int SHFMT_OPT_SYSONLY = 0x0002;

Dani_S 3,786 Reputation points

2024-09-17T16:22:57.18+00:00

Which kind of cd-rom i need to test the former code ? Cd-rome rw

Dani_S 3,786 Reputation points

2024-09-17T16:38:54.87+00:00

Can you list the cdrom to test?

Castorix31 85,956 Reputation points

2024-09-17T17:26:04.7766667+00:00

You can use DriveInfo :

string? sDriveLetter = ""; DriveInfo[] allDrives = DriveInfo.GetDrives(); foreach (DriveInfo drive in allDrives) { if (drive.DriveType == DriveType.CDRom) { sDriveLetter = drive.Name; } } char cLetter = sDriveLetter.ToUpper()[0]; int nDriveNumber = cLetter - 'A'; SHFormatDrive(this.Handle, (uint)nDriveNumber, (uint)SHFMT_ID_DEFAULT, (uint)0);

Dani_S 3,786 Reputation points

2024-09-17T17:33:56.43+00:00

Which kind of dvds does the format will work ? Dvd-r ,dvd-rw .....?

Castorix31 85,956 Reputation points

2024-09-18T02:17:40.6133333+00:00

Everything that is ReWritable. I tested with CD-RW on a DVD RW drive

Dani_S 3,786 Reputation points

2024-09-19T10:45:58.54+00:00

OK.

Did you check the foramt with impersonarion with smple from CodeProject?
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