Member Avatar for skdkarthick

hello friends ,

i bought a new pen drive with 4GB size, but i format it convert as 256MB i lost nearly 3.7 gb it is possible to identify the lost memory in it


plz!! help me !

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Dani AI

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Adding to the earlier suggestions from and , here is a short, practical diagnostic path to follow when a USB stick shows far less capacity after a format. The goal is: identify the device, try a clean wipe and repartition with Windows tools, verify the real capacity, and only then attempt controller-specific recovery or an RMA.

First, identify the exact device that Windows sees. In Device Manager look under the disk/USB device, open Properties → Details → Hardware Ids and copy the VID/PID string (the vendor/product IDs). Use that to search for the model or the controller vendor — that points to any manufacturer restore utilities or the correct recovery tool ().

If identification is fine but Disk Management still shows less space, use DiskPart to remove partitions and recreate a full-size partition (this erases everything on the drive). From an elevated cmd run:

diskpart
list disk
select disk <n>   <-- very important to pick the correct disk
clean
create partition primary
format fs=fat32 quick
assign
exit

See Microsoft’s DiskPart documentation for details (). Take extreme care selecting the disk number.

After repartitioning, verify the actual usable capacity with a write/read test (H2testw or the method in this guide) — that will reveal fake or remapped capacity: . If the drive still reports reduced size, the issue is usually controller firmware or a counterfeit device; controller-specific tools (found by VID/PID) may restore it, otherwise the safest option is manufacturer support/RMA. For background on how flash controllers map capacity, see the Flash translation layer overview (Flash translation layer).

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Member Avatar for dcc

Did you try reformatting it?

Member Avatar for skdkarthick

ya i tried but it is showing 256 MB only even i am not able to identify the other memory area , it is there are not , is there any way to find it ??:rolleyes:

Member Avatar for dcc

Did you use the software application that came bundled with the drive or XP to format the drive?

Member Avatar for gerbil

interesting. what do you see if you use disk management console in computer mgnt [control panel > admin tools...] to see if you can repartition it?

Member Avatar for skdkarthick

even in disk Management of XP its shows only 256 MB , i format it out using XP , they haven't provide any special drivers with the pen drive , if some one have it plz give it to me

Member Avatar for dcc

What make and model is yours?

Member Avatar for skdkarthick

it is sony make i donot know the model of it exactly

Member Avatar for dcc

it is sony make i donot know the model of it exactly

That is the important part of the information, without that I won't be able to find any information for you.

The only thing I can tell you is that by reading through information that I've googled it appears that there are some modules that you need to format using the manufacturers Disc and that using the XP to format can produce problems like yours.

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