Quick Navigation:
- Why does my external drive say it needs to be formatted?
- Recover Data from the Drive “You Need to Format Disk in Drive” Error
- How to fix the error “You need to format the disk in drive before you can use it”?
Why does my external drive say it needs to be formatted?
The error “You need to format the disk in drive before using it” is a common error encountered when external drives are connected. This article is a complete guide if you are looking for solutions to fix the error or to access data from the drive without formatting. Read the article completely and try the DIY solutions to fix the issue.
When you encounter such an error prompt requesting you to format, avoid opting for the formatting option.
Formatting is not the recommended way to fix the error as the format function erases the complete data present on the drive, instead recover them using backup or data recovery tools.
Recover Data from the Drive “You Need to Format Disk in Drive” Error
It is not possible to access the drive when the file system is corrupted. You need to troubleshoot the problem. However, a few troubleshooting methods might lead to permanent data loss from the drive. It is always recommended to recover data from the drive using safe and secure data recovery software before trying any fixing methods.
We recommend you try using the SFWare Data Recovery tool to recover data from corrupt hard drives and other storage devices where you see you need to format the disk in drive d before using it error.
It is designed with advanced data recovery algorithms that efficiently recover inaccessible data from the drive. The deep scan feature of the software goes through each and every sector of your drive to find lost or inaccessible files. Click on the download button now and restore all your important data from the drive.
Steps to Recover Data from The Drive with “You Have to Format the Drive before Using it” Error
Download and install the SFWare Data Drive Recovery software on your computer and follow the steps below:
Step 1: Launch the tool, select the drive, and click on Start Scan
Step 2: After the completion of QuickScan, The tool displays all the recovered files from the drive in the Lost and Found Files or Deleted Files folders.
Step 3: Locate all the files you wish to Recover
(Make use of Advanced Filter and Search to ease the process)
Step 4; Double-click on the file to preview it. Click on Save to store the files on your device.
NOTE: Save the recovered files on a different drive to prevent losing the data again.
Once the Recorded data is kept in a safe place, Now go ahead and
How to fix the error “You need to format the disk in drive before you can use it”?
There are several methods to fix the error you need to format the disk before using it. A few of the easy and best worked DIY methods are explained below.
Verify the Basics:
Before moving further to any of the methods to fix the error try these basic verification steps:
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- Connect your drive to a different USB port of your PC. Open File Explorer and verify if you can access the drive.
- If connecting the drive to other USB port doesn’t fix the error, connect the drive to different PC and try accessing the data in it.
- If the error is due to viruses, scan the drive using antivirus and remove any potential or existing threats.
- If you are using an external hard drive, try to connect the drive directly via the SATA connector. SATA is a simple cable keyed to fit on the drive and motherboard. Connect one end of the SATA cable to the hard drive and the other end to an available SATA port on your motherboard.
After performing the above basic verifying steps, if the error still appears on your screen, move forward to the advanced methods to fix the error “You need to format the disk in drive: before using it“.
- Update or Reinstall the Device Driver
- Use an Error Checking Tool
- Check for Malware or Virus
- Run CHKDSK
Method 1: Update or Reinstall the Device Driver
Updating or reinstalling of the device driver helps you to establish the connection between the hard drive and the system software.
Step 1: Right-click on Start and select Device Manager
Step 2: Expand the Disk drives and right-click on the disk you need to fix the error
Step 3: Choose the option of Uninstall Device and then restart the system
Step 4: You can also, select the option to update the driver to fix the error
You may also download an updated disk driver from the drive manufacturer’s support site and install it manually.
Method 2: Use an Error Checking Tool
This tool helps you to check the drive for system file errors. Follow the steps to verify and fix the error You need to format the disk before you can use it.
Step 1: Open File Explorer, right-click on the drive you need to check for the error
Step 2: Select Properties and go to the Tools tab
Step 3: Click on the Check button and then Scan the drive
Note: In case you see an error or a prompt to format the disk again, click ‘Cancel’. DO NOT FORMAT the disk. As explained earlier formatting will clear the data saved on the drive. However, unknowingly if you have formatted the drive, do not worry! you can easily recover the data from the formatted drive and can try the next method to fix the error.
Method 3: Check for Malware or Virus
Use an antivirus tool, like Windows Defender or any other reliable third-party software, to scan your drive for viruses and malware. If the scan fails, move on to the next solution
Method 4: Run CHKDSK to Scan the drive
CHKDSK is the system tool the fixes most of the file system errors. It works for both internal and external drives.
Note: While executing the chkdsk command, if you encounter an error “The type of the file system is RAW. CHKDSK is not available for RAW drives”, it indicates that the drives are inaccessible and your important data will be at risk. In such cases, it is recommended to recover data from the RAW drive and next perform the CHKDSK.
Step 1: Open Command Prompt and Run as Administrator
Step 2: Type the following command chkdsk D: /r /f. (Replcae D with your drive letter).
Step 3: Windows will initiate to check and repair disk errors and damaged files. Wait for the process to finish.
Step 4: Wait until the process completes and verify whether the drive still prompts the error when you connect the external drive to your computer.
The above-mentioned are some of the methods to fix the error “You need to format the disk in the drive before using it”.
Conclusion
Errors like you need to format the disk in drive before using it are unavoidable. However, you can avoid missing out on your important data by keeping a backup of it. Having no backup can be risky, especially at times when the disk is formatted unintentionally. You can still recover your data with the help of the SFWare data recovery tool.
The methods mentioned above should help you to fix the errors. Do share your feedback on the overall troubleshooting experience error in the comment section below.
Frequently Asked Questions
1: Does changing the format type of a drive cause issues?
No, changing the format type of a drive typically doesn’t affect its lifespan or performance. However, it’s essential to back up your data and choose a compatible file system before formatting.
2: Why is Windows Disk Management unable to choose a format other than NTFS?
Windows Disk Management may be unable to choose a format other than NTFS due to bad sectors, write protection on the drive or Drive Size.
3: Can I recover data from a formatted drive?
Yes, you can recover data from a formatted drive. First, stop using the drive, and then use an effective data recovery tool to recover your data
