How to Completely Erase All Files on a Sandisk Cruzer

By Angela M. Wheeland

i Jeffrey Hamilton/Digital Vision/Getty Images

A Sandisk Cruzer is a USB flash drive used to transfer documents, music, pictures and other data from one computer to another. When your Cruzer becomes full or you wish to erase its contents, you must format the disk. Formatting erases all of the data on your Sandisk Cruzer, so it is best to check the drive's contents and copy important files before beginning the formatting process.

Step 1

Insert the SanDisk Cruzer in your computer's USB port and wait for your computer to recognize the device.

Step 2

Click the "Start" button and then click "Computer." Right-click the SanDisk Cruzer drive and select "Explore." The disk might be listed as "Removable Disk" if you did not rename your USB flash drive. Browse the contents of the Cruzer and save any important files to your computer's hard drive.

Step 3

Click the "Back" button at the top of your screen. Right click the SanDisk Cruzer drive and select "Format."

Step 4

Select "FAT 32" if the USB flash drive is 4GB or higher capacity. If your USB flash drive is less than 4GB capacity, select "FAT."

Step 5

Place a checkmark in the "Quick Format" box if you wish to perform a quick format. If you wish to do a thorough format, leave this box empty. If you perform a thorough format, your computer will remove the contents and also scan and repair any bad sectors on your Cruzer. If you have previously received errors when attempting to transfer data to your Cruzer, this is a reliable method to repair the flash drive. Performing a quick format will only remove the files.

Step 6

Click "Start" to begin the format. This process might take a few minutes, depending on the speed of your computer and the size of your Cruzer.

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