Table of Contents
The symptom: SSD drive won’t format
In Microsoft Community, a user said "I can'tdelete/wipe/format my SSD with a blue screen with the error INACCESSIBLE_BOOT_DEVICE and SYSTEM_SERVICE_EXCEPTION, so what should I do?" If you are stuck in the same situation and want to know all about SSD won't format, this passage will give you a comprehensive guide.
SSD, short for solid-state drive, is a type of data storage device, produced by many manufactures like Samsung, Kingston, and so on. Compared with traditional hard disk drive, it performs better in many aspects: faster running speed, lower power consumption, less noise, and so on. Thus, there are more and more users who want to use SSD and need to format or reformat SSD. However, it is possible that SSD won’t format, with the error message – Windows was unable to complete the format or something else when you try to format it in Windows File Explorer.
Why SSD won’t let me format?
As mentioned in the first paragraph, there are chances that you will be bothered by SSD formatting failure. "Why is my SSD not formatting?" Generally speaking, SSD not formatting mainly caused by the factors as follows:
▪ The SSD is infected with virus.
▪ The SSD has bad sectors.
▪ The file system of the SSD is corrupted.
▪ The SSD is write-protected.
▪ The SSD is physically damaged.
▪ …
How to fix SSD unable to format problem?
When you are unable to format SSD in Windows File Explorer, firstly, you should ensure that your SSD is not physically damaged. If so, you need to replace it with a new one. If not, you can try one or more of the solutions presented in the next context.
Solution 1. Remove write protection from SSD
Solution 2. Format RAW SSD via Diskpart
Solution 3. Format SSD via free third party format tool
Solution 4. Format SSD with OS on it via bootable media
Solution 1. Remove write protection from SSD
When your SSD is write-protected, you will not be allowed write to it. If you try to format it, you’ll be prompted that the disk is write-protected. In such condition, you can clear read only via Diskpart utility:
1. Press Windows + R simultaneously to open “Run” dialogue.
2. Input “diskpart” and hit Enter to run Diskpart as administrator.
3. In the Diskpart interface, type the following commands and hit Enter after every command.
▪ list disk
▪ select disk n
▪ attributes disk clear readonly
PS.: “ n” is the disk number of your SSD that is write-protected.
Then, you can see the message Disk attributes cleared successfully; type “exit” and hit Enter to leave from this window.
After that, you can format your SSD with a desirable file system.
Solution 2. Format RAW SSD via Diskpart
If you have disabled write protection from your SSD but still can’t format SSD in success, you can open Disk Management to check the status of the SSD. When it shows as RAW in Disk Management, you can format the RAW SSD by following the steps below:
1. Run Diskpart as administrator.
2. Run the commands presented below:
▪ list disk
▪ select disk n
▪ clean
▪ create partition primary
▪ format fs=ntfs quick
▪ assign letter=m
Then, you can close this window.
Notes:
▪ If you need to format SSD to FAT32 or exFAT, you can replace ntfs with fat32 or exfat.
▪ “f” refers the letter assigned to your SSD and it can be replaced.
Solution 3. Format SSD via a third-party format tool
To complete the format in an easy way, you can choose a powerful partition manager like AOMEI Partition Assistant. It enables you to format SSD, HDD, USB flash drive, pen drive, or SD card to NTFS, exFAT, FAT32, Ext2, Ext3, or Ext4 even when your disk is shown as RAW in Disk Management. It can also format drive beyond 32GB in capacity to FAT32. See the following steps to see how to format Kingston SSD in Windows 10 using AOMEI Partition Assistant.
Free DownloadWin 11/10/8.1/8/7
Secure Download
Step 1. Download this format tool, install, and run it. In the main interface, right-click RAW SSD (it will present as Unformatted in AOMEI) and choose “Format Partition”.
Step 2. Here are five file systems for you to select. Pick one based on your demand. Then, click“OK”.
Step 3. Return to the main interface. Click “Apply” and “Proceed” to commit operation.
⚠️Note:
If you successfully fix SSD won't format in Windows 10 and 11 issue,but realize you forgot to back up important data, you can use AOMEI Partition Assistant as well. It helps you easily recover lost data from the formatted hard disk.
Solution 4. Format SSD with OS on it via bootable media
If the SSD that you want to format is with OS running, you won’t be able to format it and will get the error “You cannot format this volume. It contains the version of Windows that …”
If you need to format the SSD that operating system is running, you can disconnect the SSD from the computer and connect it to another working computer to format it. If you are without another computer, you can create bootable media via AOMEI Partition Assistant to format the SSD. Here are the detailed steps:
Step 1. Insert a USB drive to your computer and run AOMEI Partition Assistant. In the top toolbar, click “Tools”> “Make Bootable Media”.
Step 2. In this window, select a way to create a bootable media (Here USB Boot Device is selected) and click “Proceed”.
Step 3. You’ll be prompted that all data on the USB drive will be erased, click “Yes” and wait for the process to complete.
Step 4. After creating a bootable USB drive via AOMEI Partition Assistant, enter BIOS to boot from this USB drive.
Step 5. Now, you’ll be in the main interface of AOMEI Partition Assistant. Right-click the SSD that you want to format and do the following prompts to perform formatting.
Notes:
▪ Be cautious to format the SSD that OS installed on as it is not available to boot computer from this SSD anymore after you format it.
▪ You can enjoy more advanced features like aligning SSD partitions.
Conclusion
To deal with SSD won’t format issue, it is unnecessary to try every method aforementioned. Based on a specific situation, get the most possible reason for SSD not formatting and you can take corresponding measures to fix this issue quickly and effectively.
All in all, AOMEI Partition Assistantis a great tool to help manage disk partitions well in Windows 11/10/8/7. For Windows Server 2019/2016/2012/2008/2003 users, AOMEI Partition Assistant Server is a popular recommendation.
