Fix: Corrupted USB Drive Not Working in Windows 11

Introduction

Bootable USB drives are essential tools for installing or repairing operating systems Windows 11 iso. However, you might face problems like we are unable to copy your files it can be frustrating when your USB drive does not work this is due to a corrupted USB drive, then here are two main reasons and solutions that you can try to fix a corrupted USB drive for Windows.

Two Main Reasons

1. why a bootable USB drive may not work is that it is not formatted correctly. Make sure that your USB drive is formatted to the correct file system. For example, if you are installing Windows, then the USB drive should be formatted to NTFS. If you are installing a Linux distribution, then the USB drive should be formatted to FAT32.
   
   
2. Another reason your Bootable USB Not Working in Windows may be because of the Corrupted USB Drive. To check if the drive is corrupted, try plugging it into another computer and see if it works. If it does not work on another computer, then the drive is most likely corrupted. You can try formatting the USB drive and creating a new bootable USB drive.

Understanding the Issue: Corrupted USB Drive

A corrupted USB drive can lead to various complications, and one of the most frustrating outcomes is a bootable USB drive not working in Windows. When this happens, you might encounter errors during the boot process or find that your computer fails to recognize the bootable USB drive altogether.

Fixing the Corrupted USB Drive: Step-by-Step Guide

Once you have confirmed that your bootable USB drive is indeed corrupted, it’s time to follow the steps below to fix the issue and create a new bootable USB drive:

Now, let’s get into the details of how to fix a corrupted bootable USB drive on Windows. Please follow these steps carefully:

Step 1: Identify the USB Drive

First, connect the problematic USB drive to your computer and make a note of the drive letter and its size. This information will be useful during the repair process.

Step 2: Access Command Prompt

Click on the “Start” menu and type “cmd” in the search bar. Right-click on “Command Prompt” and select “Run as Administrator.”

Step 3: Launch Diskpart

In the Command Prompt, type “diskpart” and press Enter. This will launch the Diskpart utility, which allows you to manage disks, partitions, and volumes.

Step 4: List Available Disks

Type “list disk” in the Diskpart window and press Enter. This command will display a list of all the disks connected to your computer. In this case, my corrupted drive is Disk 3.

Step 5: Select the Problematic Disk

Identify your USB drive from the list based on its size and select it by typing "select disk [disk number]" Replace "[disk number]" with the appropriate disk number of your USB drive. Be cautious not to choose the wrong disk to avoid data loss.
In this case, my corrupted drive is Disk 3.

Step 6: Clean the Disk

To wipe the USB drive and remove any existing partitions, type “clean” and press Enter. This will erase all data on the disk, so ensure you have a backup if necessary.

Step 7: Create a New Partition

With the disk now cleaned, you can create a new partition. Type "create partition primary” and press Enter. This will set up a primary partition on the USB drive.

Step 8: Select the New Partition

Select the newly created partition by typing “select partition 1” and press Enter.

Step 9: Set the Partition as Active

Make the partition active by entering “active” and pressing Enter. This step is crucial for the USB drive to be bootable.

Step 10: Format the Partition

To format the partition as NTFS (New Technology File System), which is commonly used for Windows bootable drives, type “format fs=ntfs quick” and press Enter. The “quick” option will speed up the formatting process.

Step 11: Exit Diskpart

Once the formatting is complete, type “exit” and press Enter to close the Diskpart utility.

Now your drive again ready to make Windows 11 Bootable USB

Commands used

1. diskpart: Launches the Diskpart utility to manage disks, partitions, and volumes.
2. list disk: Displays a list of all connected disks.
3. select disk [disk number]: Selects the specified disk based on its number.
4. clean: Wipes the selected disk, removing all partitions and data.
5. create partition primary: Creates a new primary partition on the selected disk.
6. select partition 1: Selects the newly created partition.
7. active: Sets the selected partition as active, making it bootable.
8. format fs=ntfs quick: Formats the selected partition with the NTFS file system quickly.
9. exit: Exits the Diskpart utility.

Conclusion

By following these detailed steps, you should be able to fix your corrupted bootable USB drive and make it work again on Windows. Remember that handling Diskpart commands requires caution, as they can lead to data loss if used incorrectly. Always double-check the disk number before performing any action.

You can watch a video tutorial of this Corrupted USB Drive: Step-by-Step Guide