Formatting a new flash drive?

[sigstroker]

I got a new flash drive for backing up. It's pretty ggod sized (500 gigs), tje ones I've been usimg arebetween 32 and 256 gigs. They're all "thumb" drives, whereas this new one seems to be heavier duty. At any ratde it wasn't formatted, so I said ok, format, when it asked.

My computer is ancient and so is my usb. It's been running for over a day and the task manager doesn't seem to show anything. Is this normal for ir to take so long?

[ibanezfoo]

That is not normal. Are you doing a full format or quick format? Right click on it and format but use quick format. Should take like 30 seconds even on old computers.

[Notpc]

I got a new flash drive for backing up. It's pretty ggod sized (500 gigs), tje ones I've been usimg arebetween 32 and 256 gigs. They're all "thumb" drives, whereas this new one seems to be heavier duty. At any ratde it wasn't formatted, so I said ok, format, when it asked.

My computer is ancient and so is my usb. It's been running for over a day and the task manager doesn't seem to show anything. Is this normal for ir to take so long?

ETA: Beat by ibanezfoo, but what he said...............

Most that I have used came formatted. The fact that it told you that you need to format the drive suggests that your computer was having problems with the drive from the start. Did you choose "Quick format" or "Full format"? Formatting should have only taken a minute or less for a quick format, maybe 3 hours for a full.

[C.G.]

For 500 gig I would use the NTFS file system when formatting.

[sigstroker]

I said full format because didn't know the difference.

It's still running. The progress bar has advanced one pixel, lol. Can I cancel it and start over and quick format it?

I did use NTFS.

I didn't even think about, but I do have a semi-modern laptop. If I cancel now and then reformat using the laptop, do you think the drive would be usable on the ancient computer?

[Big Chudungus]

AFAIK no harm in pulling it out of old PC and try on newer one. I seem to remember those NTFS letters from way back.

[ibanezfoo]

I said full format because didn't know the difference.

It's still running. The progress bar has advanced one pixel, lol. Can I cancel it and start over and quick format it?

I did use NTFS.

I didn't even think about, but I do have a semi-modern laptop. If I cancel now and then reformat using the laptop, do you think the drive would be usable on the ancient computer?

yes all that is fine. You can pull it out and format it on a different computer but that shouldnt be necessary. NTFS is readable by anything in the last 20 years so its fine. exFAT is also fine. If you want to be secure you can enable Bitlocker but it will require you to put in a password when you place it into another computer.

[sigstroker]

yes all that is fine. You can pull it out and format it on a different computer but that shouldnt be necessary. NTFS is readable by anything in the last 20 years so its fine. exFAT is also fine. If you want to be secure you can enable Bitlocker but it will require you to put in a password when you place it into another computer.

My laptop is 50 times faster theoretically, and when it's running at night and Windoze isn't doing much, it should be a lot faster. It's also got a much newer usb, although still no -c port.

[sigstroker]

My laptop is 50 times faster theoretically, and when it's running at night and Windoze isn't doing much, it should be a lot faster. It's also got a much newer usb, although still no -c port.

It took about a second for a quick format on my laptop. On the old computer it says 466 gb available, so far so good.

Thanks, all.