usb flash drive - 8GB memory stick only showing 49MB - Super User

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http://superuser.com/questions/878108/8gb-memory-stick-only-showing-49mb

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8GB memory stick only showing 49MB

I have an 8GB Sony USB memory stick and only 49 MB are being detected. I've tried on multiple USB ports and tried formatting it several
times.

I checked it for errors and it said none are found. I want to use it to install Windows 8 off of but 49MB is way too small.
By the way, what's the most universally accepted name: thumbdrive, usb memory stick, jump drive, flash drive (I thought flash memory was for
digital cameras)?

edited Feb 15 '15 at 3:22

asked Feb 15 '15 at 3:03

Celeritas
3,334

13

52

91

I wonder if you have two partitions on it (which windows won't pick up). The alternative is the disk could be
faulty. Journeyman Geek Feb 15 '15 at 3:55
@JourneymanGeek Luu Vinh Phuc was right, I copied a bootable ISO to it and the new partition is only
49MB. The trouble is in diskmgmt.msc the option to extend the partition is greyed out. Celeritas Feb 16
'15 at 3:52

3 Answers

Probably you have flashed some boot USB or ISO image which have size of only 49MB. Open
diskmgmt.msc and check if there is only 1 49MB partition, delete it and recreate the partition.

9/13/2016 6:03 PM

usb flash drive - 8GB memory stick only showing 49MB - Super User

2 of 2

http://superuser.com/questions/878108/8gb-memory-stick-only-showing-49mb

Or use some partitioning tools like EaseUS Partition Master or MiniTool Partition Wizard to
extend/recreate the partition
answered Feb 15 '15 at 3:34

Lu Vnh Phc
3,626

13

32

Yes I did flash memtest. So that screwed it up? Extend and shrink volume are greyed out in diskmgmt.msc
Celeritas Feb 15 '15 at 3:35
Yes, flashing a disk image clears the whole MBR and partition table and overwrite it with the new partition
table of that image. Since the table has only 1 49MB partition, you only see this. Sometimes it's worse
when you use some ISO image, because in that case Windows only recognizes it as a CD and you can't
repartition it anymore unless you use some external partitioning tools Lu Vnh Phc Feb 15 '15 at 3:39

You don't need to use external partition software. I had the same exact issue and for the same
exact reason:
1. Start command prompt
2. Type

diskpart

In the new window:

1. type

list disk

2. type select
command)

disk x

(replace x with your disk number as determined by the previous

3. type

clean

4. type

create partition primary

You can now go to disk management and format the disk.

answered Mar 1 '15 at 22:41

frezq
61

Did you try using a different computer to see if that solves the problem?
Usually, flash drives are detected based on the amount of available space that can be used for
reading/writing to the disk. You could try a full format once (not quick format), and then try
formatting again to see if more space is available.
Flash drive is the most generally accepted term, I think, but they all are pretty much the same
thing. Thumb drive and memory stick are kind of 2000s though.
answered Feb 15 '15 at 3:17

MicrosoftMan
44

protected by Community May 8 at 18:16

Thank you for your interest in this question. Because it has attracted low-quality or spam answers that had to be removed, posting an answer now requires 10 reputation
on this site (the association bonus does not count).
Would you like to answer one of these unanswered questions instead?

9/13/2016 6:03 PM