Don from New Mexico writes:
How do I delete all the information off a flash drive, so that I can put new information on it?
Answer:
Formatting a flash drive will wipe all the information off of the drive. Start by inserting the flash drive into your computer. Click on Computer (Windows 7) or My Computer (Windows XP) and right click on your flash drive and click format.
In the format screen, you’ll see the capacity of the drive and various technical information. The only piece of information you should need to change is the Volume Label, which is the name that will appear next to the drive letter for your flash drive. I like to name my flash drives something short but descriptive like mp3files or workdocs. Uncheck the Quick Format box click Start to format your flash drive.
The formatting process should take a few minutes and you will see a green progress bar. Once it is complete, your flash drive will be completely wiped of all information it contained.
-Tim
Tags: flash drive, format flash drive, format usb, secure erase, wipe flash drive, wipe usb
I have read many times that you should never format a flash drive. Open explorer and simply delete everything.
Why wouldn’t you simply plug the flash drive in, right click on it and click delete? Am I doing the wrong thing doing this?
1st, let me say, formatting the drive will not remove the contents securely, but for general use its fine. 2nd, to answer Jill’s question, you can right click and delete a file,(after you open the drive) but if you have hundreds of files you want to delete, format or select all then delete are faster options.
Excuse me if I am mistaken – but in the past hasnt Worldstart recommended to never format a flashdrive due to the constant read/writes which could end up desrtoying the drive ????