You are reading the article How To Format External Hard Drive Or Usb Drive Using Windows Powershell updated in December 2023 on the website Achiashop.com. We hope that the information we have shared is helpful to you. If you find the content interesting and meaningful, please share it with your friends and continue to follow and support us for the latest updates. Suggested January 2024 How To Format External Hard Drive Or Usb Drive Using Windows Powershell
If you have an external hard drive or USB drive that you cannot format from File Explorer, you can check out this guide. It will help you to format the external hard drive or USB drive using Windows PowerShell. As you might already know that Windows PowerShell is an in-built tool, you do not need to install any third-party software.
Windows users can easily format an internal hard drive, external HDD or SSD, USB drive, etc. with the help of the in-built option. This option can be found in This PC or My Computer. Sometimes, this specific functionality can be a mess because of the corrupted hard drive or file, and you may not be able to format the drive. At such a moment, you have some other options. For example, you can use the Disk Management panel, Command Prompt, etc. to get the job done. Likewise, you can use Windows PowerShell to delete and create partitions, change the File system, etc. of your USB drive or hard drive.
Read: How to delete or format C drive using Command Prompt.
What can you do using Windows PowerShell?You can change the following things of an external hard drive or USB drive-
Format the hard drive
Change File system
Create partition
Change drive letter
Format External Hard Drive using PowerShellTo format the external hard drive or USB drive using Windows PowerShell, follow these steps-
Plugin the USB or external hard drive to your computer
Open Windows PowerShell with admin privilege
Recognize the drive that you want to delete
Enter the command.
First, you need to plug in your external hard drive or pen drive so that your computer can do the job. After that, you need to open the Windows PowerShell with administrator privilege. For that, press Win+X, and select Windows PowerShell (Admin).
Now you need to identify the disk that you want to format. For that, enter the following command-
Get-DiskYou should find the name of your external hard drive in the Friendly Name column. Also, you need to note down the number of the hard disk.
To initiate the process, enter this command-
Clear-Disk -Number 2 -RemoveDataYou need to replace the number 2 with the original number that is assigned to your drive. In this example, we want to format the Sony Storage Media (check the above screenshot), which is carrying the number 2. It might be different if your external hard drive is showing a different number.
Now you should get a confirmation message. Type Y and hit the Enter button.
It should take a couple of seconds to complete the process. Now, you need to enter the following command-
New-Partition -DiskNumber 2 -UseMaximumSize -IsActive -DriveLetter ZIt will help you create a partition. Also, there are two things you should know about this command. First, the number 2 represents the drive that you formatted earlier. Second, the Z represents the drive letter that will be assigned to the external hard drive or USB drive.
After entering that command, a popup will appear to format your disk. You can use that popup window option, or you can use the following command-
Format-Volume -DriveLetter Z -FileSystem FAT32 -NewFileSystemLabel USBHere is one crucial thing that you should know. If you want to format the drive in the FAT32 file system, you need to choose that in the command. However, if you’re going to use the NTFS file system, the same command should look like this-
Format-Volume -DriveLetter Z -FileSystem NTFS -NewFileSystemLabel USBIf you choose NTFS, it might take a couple of more seconds than FAT32.
After entering the last command, you will be able to use the external hard drive or USB drive regularly.
You can format USB Pen Drive using Command Prompt as well.
You're reading How To Format External Hard Drive Or Usb Drive Using Windows Powershell
How To Format A Hard Drive Or Disk In Windows 11/10
“Format” as a word in computers is very popular, and a well-known word among computer users. We all have done that, especially with USB drives. That said, what people are sometimes afraid of is when it comes to formatting the hard disk and partitions. After all, we have data on them, and we do not want to lose them. In this post, we will share how to format a Hard Drive or Disk. We will also look into types of Format, and tools that can help you delete files so they cannot be recovered.
Types of File System How to format a Hard Drive or DiskThese are some of the best ways to format a hard drive or disk. Make sure to take a backup before formatting anything. Once the formatting is complete, then it cannot be recovered easily.
Using File Explorer
Disk Management Tool
Diskpart
Disk Management Software (OEM and Third-Party)
Connect to another computer.
If you wish to format part of a hard drive or hard disk, then you can use the first two methods, but if you want to format a complete drive, you can use any of the last two methods.
1] Using File ExplorerWindows 11/10 now offers NTFS for hard disk, but for external storage, you should other options such as exFAT and FAT 32. The first one is for Linux.
2] Disk Management ToolType Disk management in the start menu, and then select “Create and format hard disk partitions” listing. The disk management window will display a list of connected storage devices and partitions.
Select Format, and it will open the options window.
Once the process is complete, the drive will be ready to use. You can do it for any number of partitions except for the primary drive where Windows is installed.
3] Diskpart ToolDiskpart is a built-in system tool offered by Windows, which can easily format drives, but it has to be used with great care as there is no user interface. Open Run prompt (Win +R) and type cmd. Then use Shift + Enter to launch a command prompt with admin privileges. Execute the command in the same order as below.
Diskpart list disk select disk # format fs=ntfs quick label=backup exitWhere # is the partition number, the last command will format the partition, and then name the label as “backup.”
4] Disk Management Software (OEM and Third-Party)Most of the OEMs offer software for HDD and SSD. These software offer options to format drives along with other tools. For example, I am using a Samsung SSD tool that comes with Samsung Magician software. The software allows you to format the complete drive, and also create a bootable USB drive if you wish to reinstall Windows after the formatting is complete.
You can try other free disk & partition management software that can offer a better user interface and clear option. However, make sure to understand what you do with the software.
5] Connect to another computerProbably the best way to completely format a hard drive is by using another computer. Once you connect, use the disk management tool and first delete all partitions of your drive, and then if you need to recreate the partitions. If you do not create partitions, Windows Setup can help you do that when you install it.
Read: How to use Mac-formatted HFS+ Drive on Windows computer
How to format the System Drive?If you need to format the primary drive, then read our guide on how to format a computer. You can do it using Windows 10 Reset PC option or using a bootable USB drive and even through third-party software.
So these were the methods you can use to format the hard disk or hard drive. I hope the post was easy to follow, and you make sure to perform this carefully, especially after you take a backup.
Best Portable Hard Drive & Ssd 2023: External Storage Reviews
There are plenty of portable hard disk drives (HDD) as well as much-faster solid-state drives (SSD) to choose from and we’ve reviewed and ranked some of the best ones. We are focussing on SSDs here but hard drives like the WD Black P10 get an honourable mention.
Portable USB drives are powered by the connected computer, so you can use them on the move without the need to plug into the mains or use batteries. Some will even connect your phone or tablet and let you extend storage that way, or allow you to transfer or open files.
Best portable hard drives & SSDs 20231. Crucial X6 – Best Overall
Pros
Enhanced performance
Highly affordable
Easily transportable
Cons
Lacks hardware encryption
No activity light
500GB model slower
Best Prices Today:
SSD, Average Read/Write speed: 836MB/s
It might not be quite as fast as the Adata SE760 but a recent upgrade to the 1- and 2TB models makes the X6 unbeatable in terms of value for money with the 1TB model costing well under £100/$100.
Furthermore, it comes in an ever more portable form factor than its bigger brother, the X8, which is still drop tested to 2m and comes with the same three-year warranty.
As an all-rounder goes, it’s our top pick, even if it lacks things like hardware encryption and an activity light.
Read our full
2. Adata SE760 – Best Value
Pros
Cheap
Great performance
Type-A & Type-C cables
Cons
No encryption
Limited to 1TB
Best Prices Today:
SSD, Average Read/Write speed: 934MB/s
Adata has come up with an excellent rival to the Crucial X8 and importantly done so at a cheaper price.
Like the X8 there are no features like a rugged design or encryption but there are alternative options if you need those things.
Instead, the SE760 provides a hassle-free way of carrying around a large amount of speedy storage without breaking the bank. It even comes with Type-C and Type-A USB cables included.
A solid choice if you want between 250GB and 1TB of capacity.
Read our full
3. Kingston XS2000 – Affordable Performance
Pros
Reasonably priced
Headline performance
Small and lightweight
Cons
Needs USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 for full speed
Limited SLC cache size
No USB Type-A adapter
Best Prices Today:
SSD, Average Read/Write speed: 1986MB/s
If you want the top performance then the XS2000 is aptly named as it offers headline speeds with read peaking at 2092MB/s, though you will need a USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 port to access this level of performance.
That’s around double many rivals if you do and the price here is surprisingly affordable, plus this is a very portable drive.
On the downside, the limited cache means you won’t get sustained performance for larger files and Kingston doesn’t provide a USB adapter to use the XS2000 with older Type-A ports.
Read our full
4. Seagate One Touch (2023) – Best Backup Software
Pros
High performance
Up to 2TB
Free Sync Plus software
Cons
Short cables
Could be more robust
Best Prices Today:
SSD, Average Read/Write speed: 1,007MB/s
As long as you don’t need hardware encryption then the latest version of the One Touch SSD is an excellent choice.
Plug it into the right USB port and you’ll get double the speed of the previous version, matching many rivals. Capacity goes up to 2TB and Seagate provides useful and free, Sync Plus software to make backing up files easy.
It’s also highly portable and although it’s not as rugged as some alternatives, it’s hardly fragile. The main pain point here is the ridiculously short cables, but that’s not uncommon either.
Read our full
5. CalDigit Tuff nano – Best Speed and Durability Combo
Pros
Super fast
Super tough
Super small
Cons
Not the cheapest
SSD, Average Read/Write speed: 891MB/s
The CalDigit Tuff nano blew us away with its super-fast speeds, which are twice as fast as comparable portable SSDs. using NVMe technology, the 512GB drive we tested achieved Read and Write speeds close to 1,000MB/s!
It’s also robust, being IP67 certified – meaning that it can be immersed in water and is dust-tight. It can also withstand drops up to 3M.
It is compatible with most computers (it comes with USB-C and USB-A cables), and, being USB-C, can also work with Apple’s iPad Pro.
While it might be a little pricy for the casual user, professionals such as photographers and filmmakers will appreciate its blistering speed and tough travel credentials.
Read our full
6. Crucial X8 – Good Value Performance
Pros
Top performance
Affordable
Cons
Short cable
Plain design
Best Prices Today:
SSD, Average Read/Write speed: 1,015MB/s
The Crucial X8 is a great option for those looking for reliable portable SSD.
It’s well-made, compact and offers excellent speeds via USB 3.2 Gen 2 and offers great value for money, too.
There might not be any encryption but for many users, this won’t be an issue. If it is, then there are plenty of other options such as the Samsung T7 Touch and SanDisk Extreme.
Read our full
7. Samsung T7 Touch – Best Encryption
Pros
Excellent speeds
Fingerprint scanner
Compact
Cons
No admin backdoor
Best Prices Today:
SSD, Average Read/Write speed: 929MB/s
Samsung has improved on the popular T5 with a portable SSD that’s both faster and is more secure.
The fingerprint scanner works well but the drive is lacking in a simple way to reset it should you not have the registered finger so just be careful. You’ll also need to be using the right port to get the most out of the T7’s potential speed.
Those are just caveats for an excellent drive which has a lot to like. If you won’t make use of these new features then you may as well grab the cheaper T5.
Read our full
8. SanDisk Extreme Portable SDD V2 – Most Portable
Pros
Faster than SATA SSDs
USB-A + USB-C
Lightweight
Cons
Costly
Confusing naming
Best Prices Today:
SSD, Average Read/Write speed: 930MB/s
SanDisk has done a great job of improving its rugged portable SSD with this new model, although the naming is a little too similar with just ‘V2’ at the end which isn’t even on the box.
If you make sure you’re buying this new model, you’ll benefit from double the speed as well as built-in encryption. The Extreme Portable is also one of the lightest drives we’ve ever seen if that’s important and also has an IP55 water and dust rating.
The drive offers both USB-A and USB-C, just note that you’ll need a USB 3.2 Gen 2 port on the device you plug this SSD into to benefit from the fastest speeds.
Read our full
9. WD Black D10 – Best Gaming Storage
Pros
Lightweight
Reasonably fast
Military styling
Cons
Short USB cable
Can’t run all console titles
Expensive
Best Prices Today:
HDD, Average Read/Write speed: 625MB/s
If you’re lacking in space for your console or PC games then the WD Black D30 is a decent option to gain a lot of storage in a small and stylish package.
The metal container style shell is really the only gaming element of this drive, but it is highly portable and ready to use out the box. You’ll get decent speeds from the USB 3.2 standard.
As usual, we’d like the cable to be longer. If you need more space than 2TB and can cope with slower speeds, the Black P10 goes to 5TB.
Read our full
10. SanDisk Professional PRO-G40 – Best Performance
Pros
Headline performance on Thunderbolt
USB connectable
Ultra-resilient design
Cons
Expensive
Limited capacities
No USB Type-A adapter included
Best Prices Today:
SSD, Average Read/Write speed: 2682MB/s
Those looking for serious speeds in an ultra-rugged casing that will survive the likes of water, drops and more have just found it.
The PRO-G40 gets close to 3000MB/s in read speeds if you use it over Thunderbolt. With USB 3.2 Gen 2 speeds significantly slower, it’s not worth the high cost of this drive compared to rivals.
That’s the main issue here, with seemingly most of the cost going on the casing, while the drive inside only comes in 1- or 2TB sizes at launch. At this price, a longer cable and some kind of carry pouch would be nice. The G40 will be a better buy once it starts getting discounted.
Read our full SanDisk Professional PRO-G40 review
How to choose a portable SSDEven the smallest portable drives are likely to be 128GB in size, which is enough to space thousands of CD albums in lossless FLAC format, or even more in lower quality MP3 or AAC formats. Off-loading your music collection alone from a computer to a portable drive can be a godsend in freeing valuable space if your laptop has limited storage.
Another popular application of portable storage is for keeping critical backups of your data held on a PC or laptop. You may be able to keep a perfect clone of your entire computer’s internal drive, on standby and ready in the event that the computer is lost or its drive should malfunction.
Alternatively, you may choose just to back up the most important files and documents from your user libraries, such as text documents, photos, films, music and stored email. Some portable drives include software that can help automate this process, keeping your selected directories in sync whenever you plug in the drive or by a daily schedule.
PerformanceNow that USB 2.0 has been banished from all self-respecting storage, we find USB 3 as the standard for connection, letting these portable drives perform as quickly as the little disks inside will allow.
USB 3 is confusing, as USB 3.0 was retrospectively renamed to USB 3.1 Gen 1. There’s also a newer version, USB 3.1 Gen 2. This doubles the potential throughput from Gen 1’s 5Gb/s to 10Gb/s. In megabytes per second, these equate to 625 and 1,250 respectively. Pretty fast, then.
In reality, most SSDs top out at around 1000MB/s (although you can get faster), and this speed is highly dependent on the device you’re connecting it to so don’t automatically blame the drive if you experience slower speeds. Note that USB-C Gen 2 won’t go any faster when USB 4.0 arrives.
Check out the average speeds in the summaries above, and go to the full review for more detailed benchmark results.
ProtectionA rugged exterior will be handy if you want the freedom of being able to throw around the unplugged drive with less worry that it will damage the unit, and more importantly, lose your data.
Look out for shock-resistance ratings such as the US military MIL-STD-810F 516.5 (Transit Drop Test). This means that it should withstand being dropped 26 times onto a hard floor, once on to each face, edge and corner, from a height of 1.22m.
Flash storage – more commonly known as SSDs – can survive more brutal treatment, and some portable drives are even water-resistant. If you were to accidentally drop a portable SSD drive in water, then as long as the port covers are firmly closed, it will work fine to use it after it has been fully dried.
Some drives have an IP waterproof rating like phones.
ReliabilityIt’s tough to say definitively which manufacturer makes the most reliable hard drives. While there’s a big difference between the technology used in traditional hard drives and SSDs, both have a limited lifespan, and this is why warranties are relatively short – typically two or three years.
What’s important is that you have a well-thought-out backup process and you don’t rely on any single drive to store precious files. Ideally, you should have three copies: one on a PC, phone or tablet, one on a backup drive and one in the cloud.
ValueFor many users, a portable storage drive may be an unavoidable commodity, and price will be the deciding factor.
Often an older drive will be cheaper thanks to a drop in price so you might get a bargain, but make sure you’re not missing out on new tech you’d benefit from.
Professionals will be willing to pay more for the faster and tougher SSDs out there.
SecurityThe larger the drive, the more you can store – and the more you stand to lose in the event of losing the drive or having it stolen. This is where it pays to lock down that drive.
There are two ways to ensure the data is unreadable by other users. You can scramble the contents through hardware encryption. Or you can use a software application to encrypt either parts or all of the drive.
Ps Now Vs. External Hard Drive: Which Is Best For You?
If you own a PS4 and love downloading games, there’s a good chance you know the pain of uninstalling and reinstalling games to manage your 500GB storage better. There are two solutions for this problem: PS Now and external hard drive. The question is, which one is best for you?
Let’s explore what you can do and which one is better for your storage space problems.
PS Now vs. External Hard DriveIf you’re running out of space, you can do one of two things: get a PS Now subscription or purchase an external hard drive. PS Now lets you stream games without downloading them, while an external hard drive extends the amount of space you have at your disposal.
While getting both of them is an ideal situation, it’s not realistic for someone who’s tight on funds. As such, let’s break down where each one shines so you can better decide which is best for you.
Cost: PS Now in the Short Term, External HDD in the Long TermWhen it comes to cost, the problem gets a little complicated. PS Now is $9.99 a month with a free 30-day trial, while a 1TB hard drive goes for around $50 on Amazon.
PS Now is cheaper in the short term, but after you use up your one month trial and then stay subscribed for five more, you’ve paid the same amount as the hard drive.
As such, while a hard drive has a higher updrive cost, it will last you a few years and be a better investment overall than PS Now.
External Hard Drive Best for Existing LibrariesIf you’re stuffing your PS4 full of games you have already bought, an external HDD is your best choice. PS Now lets you stream games, but not every game is on the service. As such, you may subscribe to play your favorite games on PS Now only to find they’re not on there.
An external hard drive, however, is compatible with every PS4 game. As such, you can happily load one up with all your games without needing to juggle them.
But PS Now Is Best for ExplorersHowever, if your PS4 is lacking space because you love exploring new games, PS Now may be the better option. This is because when you subscribe, you unlock the entire PS Now catalogue at no extra cost past the subscription fee.
As such, if you enjoy exploring the games PS4 has to offer, PS Now will give you a smorgasbord to sample, unlike an external hard drive, which doesn’t come with any additional games.
Poor Internet? Go with the Hard DrivePS Now is great, but it depends on you having a good enough Internet connection to stream the games. If your Internet cuts out often, you’ll find PS Now to be a frustrating experience. Even if your Internet is only so-so, PS Now may force you off if it’s not good enough.
Which Is Best for You?If your storage woes are due to your love of games, a PS Now subscription is the best option for you, especially if you love to play games from different regions. Not only do you get a whole new collection of games to play, but they can all be streamed, taking up no space on your PS4.
However, if you have a bad internet connection or already have a library of games you want to play, an external hard drive is a good idea. A terabyte hard drive doesn’t cost much these days, so it’s a cheap upgrade to give you more breathing room.
Simon Batt
Simon Batt is a Computer Science graduate with a passion for cybersecurity.
Subscribe to our newsletter!
Our latest tutorials delivered straight to your inbox
Sign up for all newsletters.
By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy and European users agree to the data transfer policy. We will not share your data and you can unsubscribe at any time.
How To Format External Hard Disk To Exfat Filesystem In Ubuntu
If you are using multiple OSes and wish to transfer files from one computer to another via an external hard disk, you will want to format the hard disk to exFAT format since it is widely supported by most OS and doesn’t come with the 4GB per file restriction. We have previously shown you how you can mount and access exFAT partition in Ubuntu. Here is how you can format it to exFAT filesystem in Ubuntu.
Assuming that you have already installed the fuse-exfat and exfat-utils packages that are necessary to access exFAT in Linux:
1. Plug in your external hard disk. Open a terminal and type
sudo
fdisk
-l
This will list down all the hard disks and partitions in your computer. Record down the id that correspond to the partition in your external hard disk.
2. Next, run the command:
sudo
mkfs.exfat-n
LABEL/
dev/
sdXnReplace “LABEL” with the label for your external hard disk and “/dev/sdXn” with the partition id that you recorded earlier.
That’s it. Optionally, you can run a “fsck” check to make sure the formatting is done properly.
Damien
Damien Oh started writing tech articles since 2007 and has over 10 years of experience in the tech industry. He is proficient in Windows, Linux, Mac, Android and iOS, and worked as a part time WordPress Developer. He is currently the owner and Editor-in-Chief of Make Tech Easier.
Subscribe to our newsletter!
Our latest tutorials delivered straight to your inbox
Sign up for all newsletters.
By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy and European users agree to the data transfer policy. We will not share your data and you can unsubscribe at any time.
How To Choose A Filesystem For Your Usb Drive
When you get a new USB drive and are about to format it before its first use, you may be wondering which of the available options, a.k.a. file systems, is the best.
While there isn’t a single best file system for USB drives in general, depending on what you use the USB drive for, one file system could be better than the rest. Here are some of the most important considerations before choosing a filesystem for a USB drive.
1. What Is a File System?First, before we go any further, let’s clarify what a file system is. A file system is a piece of software that controls how data on a media is stored and retrieved. A file system manages operations such as copying, moving, and deleting files on a drive.
A file system is different from an operating system – in a sense, a file system runs atop an operating system and depends on it for many operations with the underlying hardware. Each of the major operating systems (e.g. Windows, MacOS, Linux) can work with various file systems (natively or through third-party tools).
2. How Do You Plan to Use Your USB Drive?Basically, the most important considerations regarding your choice of a file system for your USB drive are which operating systems you plan to use it with and how large the files you will most likely transfer are.
If you will be using your USB media mostly on Windows devices, you can go with FAT32, exFAT, or NTFS. FAT32 and NTFS run with Linux, too, but exFAT requires additional tools. If you will be using the drive on Linux devices only, you can add its native EXT 2, 3, or 4 to the mix. As for MacOS, it can natively run FAT 32, works with exFAT, too, but you will need additional tools for NTFS, and its native file system is HFS+ (and the latest APFS), not EXT.
As you see, FAT 32 and to some extent NTFS, are present on all major OSes. They are not interchangeable and have their differences, as I will explain next – the main point here is the file size of the files you will be transferring because FAT 32 is limited to 4GB per file.
3. FAT32 vs. exFAT vs. NTFS vs. HFS vs. EXT 2, 3, and 4There are really many file systems out there, and if you are curious, you can try a few of them before you land on the familiar ones.
However, your choices for a USB file system basically boil down to these:
FAT32. FAT32, or File Allocation Table 32, is the file system that typically comes preinstalled on a USB drive. It was the Windows standard before NTFS. FAT32 is slower than NTFS, less secure, and has a 4GB limit per file, but it is widely recognized by all major operating systems. If you will be using the USB drive in a highly heterogeneous environment, and portability is your main concern, FAT32 is your option.
exFAT. exFAT, or extended File Allocation Table, is the newer version of FAT32. It’s lightweight but doesn’t have journaling. It’s compatible with Microsoft and MacOS but needs additional tools with Linux. It doesn’t have the 4GB limit per file restriction like FAT32.
HFS+. The Hierarchical File System (HFS+) is the default file system in the macOS world. If you are going to use your USB drive on Mac devices mainly, choose this file system. HFS+ can be used with Windows and Linux, but if you need a multi-OS file system, you definitely have better choices.
EXT 2, 3, and 4. The extended file system is the native for Linux. Similarly to HFS+, you can use it with the other operating systems but it’s not your best option. Use this file system if you are using the USB device on Linux computers mainly.
Most of these USB file systems run with multiple operating systems – e.g. Windows, macOS, Linux, etc., – so usually your choice isn’t limited to just one USB file system. If you don’t have large files to deal with, you have even more options. If speed of transfer isn’t a top priority either, there are even more choices. And if it turns out your first choice of a USB file system wasn’t the best, you can always reformat the drive, provided there is no valuable data on it, of course.
Ada Ivanova
I am a fulltime freelancer who loves technology. Linux and Web technologies are my main interests and two of the topics I most frequently write about.
Subscribe to our newsletter!
Our latest tutorials delivered straight to your inbox
Sign up for all newsletters.
By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy and European users agree to the data transfer policy. We will not share your data and you can unsubscribe at any time.
Update the detailed information about How To Format External Hard Drive Or Usb Drive Using Windows Powershell on the Achiashop.com website. We hope the article's content will meet your needs, and we will regularly update the information to provide you with the fastest and most accurate information. Have a great day!