Dec 03, 2020 • Filed to: Answer Hard Drive Problems • Proven solutions
METHOD 3: Using Eraser (third-party software) Download Eraser Install and run Right-click in the middle area and choose ‘New Task' Under ‘Task Type' choose ‘Run Immediately' Click on the ‘Add Data' button Under ‘Target Type' choose ‘Drive/Partition' Then from the list choose the drive you want to. If you want to clear up disk space the fastest way possible, the best problem solver to this is by formatting your USB flash drive directly. The advantages of doing this is that your flash drive is wiped completely clean, removing all files regardless of their attributes (including hidden files).
Pick the right drive — and notice that these flash drives generally have very little capacity (this one is an 8.02GB unit) — then click on 'Erase' along the top set of tabs so that you can see the options shown above. I generally recommend you format USB drives in 'MS-DOS (FAT)' format so that they'll work with both Mac and PC systems. If you want to remove a file from your flash drive, click and drag the file to the Recycle Bin. A dialog box will appear. A dialog box will appear. Click Yes to confirm that you want to permanently delete the file.
SanDisk Cruzer is one of the best USB flash drives available in the market today. It offers you the chance to transfer media, documents, and other files from one computer to another. It is a USB flash drive that can carry a lot of data. You need to erase SanDisk Cruzer if you don't need the data stored on it anymore and want to utilize it for storing something else. Formatting the SanDisk Cruzer is one way of erasing the files it contains but it isn't reliable. The other method is to use a third-party data erasure tool which can safely erase the data on the SanDisk Cruzer and make it unrecoverable. Erasing the data stored on it will ensure that the person you are giving the SanDisk drive won't be able to view your files.
- Part 1: How to Completely Erase Files from SanDisk Drive
- Part 2: How to Format SanDisk Drive and Erase Data
Part 1: How to Completely Erase Files from SanDisk Drive
SanDisk Cruzer is a useful memory storage device that can be used for transferring data between computers. Erasing data from the SanDisk drive only requires you to format it. While formatting can delete the files stored on the drive, it won't be able to completely erase them. Anyone determined to recover the deleted files on the SanDisk drive will be able to piece back the files using a data recovery tool. So, if you want to completely erase SanDisk Cruzer, you must use a data erasure tool. These tools are capable of permanently erasing all of the data stored on the drive and can ensure that it can't be recovered by any data recovery software. When it comes to permanently erasing data there is no software better than Stellar BitRaser for File.
- It is compatible with multiple versions of Windows including Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, and 10.
- It offers a search module that can help you in finding individual files that you need to erase from your system.
- It is capable of permanently erasing the data stored on any memory storage device as long as it is compatible with Windows.
- It can remove all trace of internet history from your computer and ensure that no one can find out the activities you have been doing on the internet.
How Do You Erase A Thumb Drive
The following is an instruction manual that explains in detail the steps that need to be followed to completely erase SanDisk Cruzer using Stellar BitRaser for File.
- Download Stellar BitRaser for File on your Windows computer, and connect your SanDisk Cruzer hard drive to PC.
- Select your SanDisk hard drive on the section of 'Erase Now'.
- Click the 'Erase Now' button to start to erase files from Sandisk Drive.
- After erased complete, you can reboot your system.
Stellar BitRaser for File doesn't need multiple passes for erasing files from SanDisk Cruzer. It can erase all of its data in a single pass. However, if you aren't satisfied that the files are erased forever, you can have two more passes. This would make sure that the data is erased from the SanDisk Cruzer and can't be recovered by any means.
Part 2: How to Format SanDisk Drive and Erase Data
These are the steps that you have to follow to format SanDisk drive and erase all of its data.
- Connect the SanDisk Cruzer to your PC and give time to the PC to recognize it.
- Click the Computer after clicking the Start button. Choose the Explore option after right-clicking the SanDisk Cruzer drive. If you hadn't renamed it, the USB flash drive would be listed as a Removable Disk. Go through the files stored on the Cruzer and save the important files.
- Close the SanDisk Cruzer window by clicking the ‘Back' button. Choose the Format option after right-clicking the SanDisk Cruzer drive.
- Choose ‘FAT' if the storage capacity of your USB flash drive is lower than 4GB. For USB flash drives with 4GB or higher storage capacity, choose ‘FAT 32'.
- For initiating a quick format, check the box in front of the ‘Quick Format' option. This will simply erase the files. Don't put a checkmark in this box if you plan on doing an extensive format. An extensive format will not only erase the files from SanDisk Cruzer but will also try to find and repair bad sectors present on it. You can use this method to reliably repair your flash drive.
- Start the format by clicking the ‘Start' button. The storage capacity of the Cruzer and the system's speed will determine how quickly the format process is completed.
So, SanDisk Cruzer is a great USB flash drive which can help you in transferring various types of data from one PC to another. If you are sharing the drive with another person, you need to erase it after every use. This will ensure that the other person doesn't get to see your data. To erase SanDisk Cruzer, you can either use the format option or make use of a third-party data erasing tool like Stellar BitRaser for File. While formatting can erase files from SanDisk Cruzer, Stellar BitRaser for File can make the files unrecoverable.
Video Tutorial on How to Format an External Hard Drive
What's Wrong with Drive
- Recover Your Drive
- Fix Your Drive
- Format/Wipe Drive
- Know Your Drive
USB flash drives are small data storage devices that many users have been using for a really long time now. Their ability to store large amounts of data combined with the tiny space they occupy in your pocket or bag makes the device all the more desirable. Of course, not to mention their quick data transfer rates adds all the more to its desirability.
However, despite the advantages USB flash drives have to offer, it is not surprising to find issues with it. Data corruption and data loss are of course some of the most common, but other simple issues like the accumulation of duplicate files on your USB also exist.
This can be annoying as the duplicates can cause a ton of precious space to be wasted on your USB's. So, let's find out how you can avoid this problem and remove duplicates on your USB flash drive.
Solution 1: Use the Search feature
This is a manual process that can be very time consuming and tedious, but if you have only a few duplicates, then this method may be helpful. The trick is to search files by the file extension, so Windows will display all files with that extension. Once, the files are listed, you can go through them and delete the duplicates.
How Do You Erase A Thumb Drive
- For example, open File Explorer and select your flash drive
- In the Search bar, type the file extension of the files you are trying to find duplicates for
- Then click View menu > Layout Details under Layout
- In the adjacent section, you will find ‘Current View'. Under Current View, Click Group by > Name
- Now, you can easily delete the duplicates from the search results manually
- Switch OFF ReadyBoost
For the uninformed, ReadyBoost is a program that is used with USB's to increase the performance and responsiveness of your system. Basically, how it works is it stores the application files and libraries of frequently used files on the USB stick, thus freeing up space on the system memory. And as a result, the system can read files from the USB much faster than from the hard drive. Although this feature is useful, it may increase duplicates in your USB.
This issue can be resolved by disabling ReadyBoost on your system. To disable Ready Boost, just follow the steps below:
- Go to This PC and right click on your USB drive
- Select Properties and click on the Ready Boost tab
- Then select ‘Do Not Use this Device' and save changes
How Do I Erase A Thumb Drive On A Mac
- Use a third party duplicate remover
If you find the above methods tedious or if it doesn't work for some reason, you can always use a third party duplicate remover for USB flash drives. Just make sure that the software is reliable and comes from a trusted source.
Recover data using Yodot data recovery software
Certain third-party tools can sometimes cause more damage than it does good. For instance, some third party tools may delete original files along with duplicates. If you don't have a backup, this can be very problematic. But with Yodot data recovery, data loss is no more a problem. Just install the software and follow the on-screen procedure to recover your files. It is designed with a simple interface, so you should not find any difficulty in the recovery process hard. If you want to get a basic idea of the process, please refer recover files from USB.
Using Yodot, all files on your USB will be recovered with original names and structure, so you have no reason to worry. Also, as far as compatibility is concerned, it is compatible with multiple devices like external hard drives and SD cards and works with all versions of Windows OS.
