Fix You need to format the disk in drive before you can use it

You need to format the disk before you can use it fix: When you plug in your USB device do you consider the option of ‘Safely‘ removing the device? If not then you might reconsider it because the error “You need to format the disk in drive before you can use it” is caused by not removing your device safely and as a result, you cannot access your data.

The above error occurs when you remove your external USB drive without using the Safely Remove Option which results in the USB drive Partition Table to become corrupted and unreadable.

To avoid losing your data or corrupting the storage drive’s partition table always make sure that you use the safely remove option before unplugging your drive. And in case you receive a warning message ‘This device is currently in use. Close any programs or windows that might be using the device and then try again’, then restart your computer.

Fix You need to format the disk in drive before you can use it

Method 1: Using Check Disk Utility

1. Note the driver letter in the error, for example, “You need to format the disk in drive H: in drive before you can use it.” In this example the drive letter is H.

2. Right click on the Windows button (Start Menu) and select “Command Prompt(Admin).”

Fix You need to format the disk in drive before you can use it

3. Type the command in cmd: chkdsk (driveletter:) /r (Change drive letter with your own). Example: The drive letter is our example is “H:” hence the command should be chkdsk H: /r

Fix You need to format the disk in drive before you can use it

4. If you are asked to recover files select Yes.

5. If the above command doesn’t work try: chkdsk (driveletter:) /f

In many cases, the windows check disk utility seems to fix You need to format the disk in drive before you can use it error but if it didn’t work don’t worry just continue to the next method.

Method 2: Use TestDisk utility

1. Download TestDisk utility to your computer from here: https://www.cgsecurity.org/wiki/TestDisk_Download

2. Extract the TestDisk utility from the downloaded file.

3. Now in the extracted folder double click on “testdisk_win.exe” to open the TestDisk utility.

Fix You need to format the disk in drive before you can use it

4. At the TestDisk utility first screen, Select Create then press Enter.

Fix You need to format the disk in drive before you can use it

5. Wait until TestDisk scans your computer for connected disks.

6. Carefully select the unrecognized external USB hard drive like WD Ultra and press Enter to Proceed to disk analysis.

Fix You need to format the disk in drive before you can use it

7. Now select the partition table type and press Enter.

Fix You need to format the disk in drive before you can use it

8. Select Analyze option and press Enter to let TestDisk utility to analyze your hard disk drive and find the lost partition table structure.

Fix You need to format the disk in drive before you can use it

9. Now TestDisk should display the current partition structure. Select Quick Search and press Enter.

Fix You need to format the disk in drive before you can use it

10. If TestDisk locates the lost partition’s then press “P” to ensure that your files are in this partition.

Fix You need to format the disk in drive before you can use it

11. At this point two different things can happen:

12. If you can see a list of your lost files on your screen then press “Q” to return to the previous menu and continue to “Write Partition Structure back to disk.”

Fix You need to format the disk in drive before you can use it

13. If you don’t see your files or the files are damaged, then you need to perform a Deeper search:

14. Press “Q” to quit and return to the previous screen.

Fix You need to format the disk in drive before you can use it

15. At the previous screen, press Enter.

Fix You need to format the disk in drive before you can use it

16. Press Enter one more time to perform a Deeper Search.

Fix You need to format the disk in drive before you can use it

17. Let TestDisk analyzes your disk as this operation may take some time.

Fix You need to format the disk in drive before you can use it

18. After the Deeper search is completed, again press “P” to see if your files are listed.

Fix You need to format the disk in drive before you can use it

19. If your files are listed, then press “Q” to return to the previous menu and then continue to the next step.

Fix You need to format the disk in drive before you can use it

Write Partition Structure back to disk.

1. After successful recognition of your files, press Enter again to restore the files.

Fix You need to format the disk in drive before you can use it

2. Finally, select the Write option and press Enter to write the found partition data to the hard disk’s MBR (Master Boot Record).

Fix You need to format the disk in drive before you can use it

3. Press “Y” when asked to confirm your decision.

Fix You need to format the disk in drive before you can use it

4. After that quit TestDisk utility by pressing “Q” and then restart your PC.

Fix You need to format the disk in drive before you can use it

5. If during Startup, Windows Disk check utility shows up DO NOT INTERRUPT.

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That’s it if you have followed the above procedure correctly then the error message “You need to format the disk in drive before you can use it” is fixed and you should see your hard disk content again. If you still have any questions regarding this post feel free to ask them in the comment section.