Welcome to a comprehensive guide on resolving the frustrating issue of Windows being unable to complete format. If you’re tired of encountering this roadblock while trying to format your storage devices, fear not! We have gathered effective solutions to help you overcome this hurdle and regain full control over your formatting endeavors. So, let’s dive in and bid farewell to this annoyance once and for all!

Causes of the “Windows Was Unable to Complete the Format” Error

There are several potential causes for the “Windows Was Unable to Complete the Format” error. One common reason is the presence of disk errors or bad sectors on the drive. Another possible cause is write-protection, which prevents formatting. Malware or other software issues can also interfere with the formatting process.

To fix this error, there are several solutions you can try. First, you can use the Command Prompt to format the drive. Open Command Prompt as an administrator, type “format /FS:NTFS” followed by the drive letter, and press Enter. Another method is to use Disk Management, which allows you to format the drive through the Windows interface. You can access Disk Management by right-clicking on the Start menu and selecting “Disk Management.”

If these methods don’t work, you can also try using third-party software such as Partition Wizard to format the drive. Remember to back up any important data before attempting to format the drive.

Solutions for the “Windows Was Unable to Complete the Format” Error

If you encounter the “Windows Was Unable to Complete the Format” error, there are a few solutions you can try to resolve the issue.

One method is to use the Command Prompt to format the drive. Open the Command Prompt by pressing Windows Key + R, typing “cmd”, and pressing Enter. Then, type “format /fs:ntfs X:” (replace X with the drive letter of the disk you want to format) and press Enter.

Another solution is to use a third-party program like Partition Wizard to format the drive. Download and install the program, open it, select the drive you want to format, and click on the “Format Partition” option.

If none of these methods work, the drive may be experiencing physical issues. In this case, it is recommended to consult a professional for further assistance.

Updated: December 2024

Fortect is a comprehensive software that addresses a range of Windows issues. While it does not explicitly claim to fix the “Windows is unable to complete the format USB” error, it can help with related issues. For example, if the error is caused by damaged system files or faulty settings, Fortect can repair them.

It can also address freezing or slowdowns caused by missing files or a damaged registry. Additionally, it can automatically fix damaged DLL files, which may be contributing to the error.

Download Fortect

Scan for Malware and Check for Disk Errors

To fix the “Windows Unable to Complete Format” error, it is important to scan for malware and check for disk errors. Malware can sometimes interfere with the formatting process, causing errors to occur. Use a trusted antivirus program to scan your computer for any malware and remove it if found.

Additionally, disk errors can also be a reason for the formatting issue. To check for disk errors, follow these steps:

1. Press the Windows key + E to open File Explorer.
2. Right-click on the drive or disk that you want to format and select “Properties.”
3. In the Properties window, go to the “Tools” tab.
4. Under the “Error-checking” section, click on “Check” to start the disk error checking process.
5. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the process.

By scanning for malware and checking for disk errors, you can ensure that there are no obstacles preventing you from formatting your drives properly.

Use Command Prompt and Disk Management

To fix the “Windows unable to complete format” error, you can use Command Prompt and Disk Management. These tools can help you resolve formatting issues with your computer’s hard drive or removable drives like SD cards, USB sticks, or memory cards. Here’s a quick guide on how to use them:

1. Open Command Prompt by pressing the Windows key + R, typing “cmd,” and hitting Enter.
2. Type “diskpart” and hit Enter to open the DiskPart utility.
3. Type “list disk” to see a list of available disks on your computer.
4. Identify the disk you want to format and note its corresponding number.
5. Type “select disk [disk number]” to select the desired disk.
6. Type “clean” to remove any existing partitions on the disk.
7. Open Disk Management by right-clicking the Start menu and selecting “Disk Management.”
8. Locate the disk you cleaned and right-click on it.
9. Select “New Simple Volume” and follow the on-screen instructions to format the disk with your preferred file system.

Using these steps, you should be able to fix the “Windows unable to complete format” error and format your drives without any obstacles.

Disable Write-Protection and Remove Virus

• Step 1: Check for write-protection on the storage device
• Step 2: Disable write-protection using Command Prompt or Registry Editor
  
• Step 3: Run a full system scan to detect and remove any viruses or malware
• Step 4: Use trusted antivirus software to thoroughly clean the infected storage device
• Step 5: Update your operating system and all security patches to prevent future virus infections
• Step 6: Enable write access to the storage device by modifying the device properties
  
• Step 7: Format the storage device using Disk Management or File Explorer
• Step 8: Recover any important data from the storage device before formatting
• Step 9: Restore the backed-up data to the formatted storage device
• Step 10: Test the storage device to ensure it is functioning properly after removing write-protection and viruses
  

Fix Disk Errors and Repair Bad Sectors

How to Fix Windows Unable to Complete Format

If you are encountering the “Windows Unable to Complete Format” error while formatting a disk, it could be due to disk errors or bad sectors. Below, we outline the steps to fix disk errors and repair bad sectors to resolve this issue.

Fix Disk Errors and Repair Bad Sectors

By following these steps, you should be able to fix disk errors and repair bad sectors, allowing you to successfully format your disk without encountering the “Windows Unable to Complete Format” error.

Andrew Walker