Windows Was Unable to Complete the Format SD Memory Card USB Flash Crashes - iCare Recovery How to Guide

Last updated on 1/23/2018

Windows was unable to complete the format on SD memory card, USB flash drive or other removable disk like external HDD, pen stick, what should you do under such circumstances?

Free download iCare Data Recovery Pro and start data recovery for RAW memory card, microSD, XD, CF, memory stick, portable hard drive, thumb drive when Windows was not able to complete the format on Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8, 10.

 

Ddownload iCare Data Recovery for Free

"I have an 8GB SanDisk memory card which is not readable on my digital camera it says that memory card needs to be formatted. Then, I try to format it, but the memory card cannot be formatted successfully in my camera. Therefore, I connect the memory card to my computer and it says the same error message card needs to be formatted. When I attempt to format the card, it shows another message saying 'Windows was unable to complete the format'. Please help me fix the error and recover pictures off memory card."

Windows Cannot Format RAW SD Memory Card External Hard Drive

Windows usually reports it was unable to complete the format on your SD memory card in following situations:

>> When you format an SD memory card that has RAW file system

>> When you format a memory card which requires formatting by Windows PC

In conclusion, when problems occur and system requested for format in order to fix the problem. However, the format might not be able to proceed when the memory card is corrupted.

==>> Windows was unable to complete the format solution >

==>>Solutions for memory card RAW request for format error >

Video Tutorial: How to use iCare Data Recovery for file rescuing

Data Recovery When Windows Cannot Format Memory Card

You can follow the steps below to get back files from memory card when it cannot be formatted:

Step1. Run the data recovery software and select a recovery mode.

Step2.  Select the drive of memory card and click scan for lost files.

Step3. Preview the found pictures and save files found on memory card.

Why Windows Reports It Cannot Format My Memory Card?

1. Memory card is attacked by virus

Truth is, virus attack might corrupt the file system of your memory card which led to ＂memory card not formatted＂ error or ＂cannot be formatted＂ problem. If memory card is infected with virus, run antivirus software to fix the problem　by removing all the virus instead of formatting the card.

2. Memory card contains bad sectors

When memory card has been used for a long time or you often remove your memory card in an improper manner, bad sectors occurs due to such factors. Sometimes, you will receive ＂ unable to format＂ message when memory card contains bad sectors. In this case, you can run Windows Error-checking tool to check and repair possible bad sectors.

==>> Visit this page to learn how to fix bad sectors

3. Memory card is read-only

Sometimes, when you format your memory card, you may get the message like "Windows was unable to complete the format＂. Check to see if the disk and computer are connected properly, make sure that the disk is not read-only and then try again." If the memory card is read-only, you can slide the read-only switch to "off" side.

Solutions for “Windows Unable to Complete Format” Error on MicroSD Memory Card

1. Format the microSD memory card with Disk Management

If you receive the "Windows was unable to complete the format" message when you try to format the memory card from options provided by “My Computer", go to "Disk Management" to format it.

2. Format micro SD memory card using professional tool

You can use professional format tool to format the memory card. Do notice that format tool might cause damages to your memory card, be cautious while using it.

==>> To learn more about Windows error messages and to get detailed solutions, you can visit Windows was unable to complete the format.

Windows Was Unable to Format Memory Stick

Memory stick is a type of memory card launched by Sony. You probably encounter the similar issues such as “cannot format problem” on your memory stick sometimes. iCare Data Recovery allows you to recover files from unformatted memory stick when Windows cannot complete the format.

Windows Failed to Format Error on Various Memory Cards

There are various memory cards with different brands name such as SanDisk, Samsung, Transcend, PNY, Sony, Toshiba, Lexar, Kingston, etc.
SanDisk memory card – Memory cards by SanDisk such as SanDisk Ultra are utterly popular, only SanDisk memory card sometimes might be not be formatted.
==> Visit our page about how to fix Windows failed to format SanDisk Ultra memory card
Samsung memory card – Samsung memory card is released by Samsung Electronic. You will receive Windows unable to format error when formatting Samsung due to RAW system.
==> Get solution for Samsung memory card recovery
Other memory card brands
==> If you have any problem for fixing problems occurred on memory card when “Windows cannot complete the format”, you can visit our page – Windows was unable to format solution

Windows Is Not Able to Format SD Card, CF, XD Memory Card

A memory card varies from SD, micro SD, SDHC, SDXC, XD card to CF card or other varieties. You may use different types of memory card on various devices, all can be recognized by Windows for data storage, backup, transferring, etc. “Windows unable to complete format” error happens sometimes on various memory cards.
SD card – It is a type of memory card widely used on digital cameras, PDAs, mobile phones, etc. SD card includes SDHC, SDXC and micro SD card.
==> Solution for Windows cannot format SD card
CF card – It is widely used on digital camera and PDAs
XD card – It is widely used on some digital cameras like Olympus and Fujifilm
==> Windows is not able to format error reports repairing information for SD, XD, CF, etc when it cannot be formatted by Windows PC.

---

Related Articles

• lexar 32 gb memory stick cannot be formatted - Freeware for lexar memory stick when 32GB card cannot be formatted.
• sandisk 8gb pen drive can not be formatted - If an 8GB sandisk pen stick cannot be formatted, get help from our site.
• CF card says cannot be formatted – Formation is not necessary if you just want to recover files when it reports “unable to complete the format”.
• Samsung phone SD card changes to raw cannot perform format - Solution for RAW SD card when Samsung reports format to the card is failed.
• Panasonic digital camera reports SD card raw unable to format – Solution for RAW SD card on panasonic digital camera when PC was not able to complete format.

Hot Articles

• Seagate external hdd data recovery guide - Guide to recover deleted files from Seagate external hard drive for deleted / lost photos recovery.
• Kingston USB drive is unreadable - You would not lose all data even when a Kingston flash drive is inaccessible.
• Photo recovery software for memory card - Read this page to get a photo recovery tool for memory card.
• Repair sd card using Windows XP - This article provides solution for repairing corrupted sd card problems in Windows XP OS.
• HTC phone recovery tool - Free mobile recovery tool for HTC file recovery when you run into terrible data loss.