A program for correctly cleaning storage devices and restoring flash drives after failures. Suitable for all Kingston brand drives.
What you need to know about Kingston Format Utility:
This is a tiny utility for formatting devices based on Flash memory (memory cards, flash drives, etc.). The application was originally created for Kingston HyperX XXGB/DTHX30 series storage devices, but it is compatible with all flash drives from the manufacturer. Clearing data (re-flashing) flash drives using Kingston Format Utility tools is suitable for various cases - if the system incorrectly considers the disk write-protected and displays the message “Format fail” when removed, or there is a need to restore Kingston DataTraveler or other series flash drives if An error occurs when reading data.
The utility interface consists of one window. It contains two drop-down menus. In the first block “Device” you can select the device that you want to clean. If the field is not filled in, it means that Kingston flash drives are not connected to the computer. In the second field, “File System,” you can select the file placement system that will be used after formatting. To begin the process of eliminating all files, click the “Format” button. Thanks to this operating algorithm, Kingston Format Utility is very convenient to use when you need to format several devices.
Briefly and clearly:
- formatting devices;
- file system selection – NTFS/FAT32/FAT/exFAT;
- support for Kingston components;
- compatibility with media of different sizes.
Kingston Format Utility is a proprietary utility that is designed to format Kingston USB drives. In general, the program was released specifically for flash drives of the HyperX DTHX30/XXGB series, but, nevertheless, it supports any other drives from this manufacturer. Compared to standard means Windows formatting, this program demonstrates much higher operating speed. It does not have any other significant advantages.
Kingston Format Utility can convert the media file system to FAT32 and NTFS. Both of these file systems has its advantages and disadvantages. We will not go into them now, but will only note that FAT32 is better suited for storing files small size, and NTFS is large. Moreover, drives in the FAT32 format have a limitation that does not allow files larger than 4 GB to be written to them, which must be taken into account when choosing a file system before starting the formatting process.
All the necessary utility controls are concentrated in one small window, where you can select the required media (if several are connected) and specify the source file system. Formatting will begin immediately after pressing the "Format" key. The program works with media of any size and does not require installation. The only thing you need to do before starting it is to unpack the downloaded archive.
Key Features and Functions
- quick formatting of USB drives from the manufacturer Kingston;
- support for NTFS and FAT32 file systems;
- work in portable mode;
- a minimum of controls in the main application window;
- faster performance than the standard Windows formatting tool.
Almost every person who is in one way or another connected with computers has at least once encountered the problem of a flash card malfunction. It can be expressed in different ways: Windows does not see the flash drive, refuses to format it, failures occur when copying and moving files, or the wrong amount of memory is determined.
You can restore a Kingston drive using special software
Most simple cases can be cured by simply formatting the flash drive using operating room tools Windows systems. To do this, you need to insert it into your computer and after identifying it, go to My Computer, click right click on the drive and select Format. After successful formatting, the system will notify you about this.
If after formatting the problems remain or it ends in failure, for example, operating system gives an error - “Windows cannot complete formatting”, then you need to try another method. For example, Kingston provides special tools for its drives to restore their functionality. Recovery program Kingston flash drives can be easily downloaded from the company’s official website, in the support section. After downloading, you need to unpack it and run it. In the window that opens, select the desired drive and click Format. After formatting in a special way, the flash drive should work.
Another method worth trying is to use a low-level formatting program. Such a program, for example, D-Soft Flash Doctor or similar. It is not targeted at any specific drive or manufacturer, so it can format any flash drives and memory cards.
If all these actions lead to nothing, then there are serious problems with the controller.
Restoring a Kingston flash drive using firmware
You can restore a flash drive by using a special utility for low-level firmware of its controller. But there are situations when the device really cannot be helped by anything other than physical intervention, such as soldering or connecting to special devices.
If the drive has the following viability criteria, then there is still a chance to restore it:
- Windows detects the flash drive when it is plugged into the computer port;
- after inserting the flash drive into the connector, the system automatically asks for formatting;
- the drive identifies itself, is visible in the system, and when accessed, the message “Insert disk...” is displayed;
- systematic errors when copying or moving files to a flash drive;
- Slow speed of the drive as a whole.
Before you restore the Kingston flash drive, you need to find out the controller identifiers. You need two of them, the first - VID, contains the manufacturer's identifier. The second is PID, which stands for product code. You need to determine them with a utility like Flash Drive Information Extractor. Once you receive them, you can write them down somewhere.
Finding a recovery utility
Directly for the firmware you will need special utility, capable of flashing a flash drive controller at a low level. Such special programs Usually available only from equipment manufacturers. With their help, they carry out initial firmware, repair and testing of devices. Sometimes these utilities end up online by accident, and sometimes manufacturers share them. But the whole problem is that each manufacturer has its own utility, which can be different depending on the controller model and the amount of memory.
For search the desired program It is for the model being reanimated that SID and PID will be needed. There is one service on the network called Flashboot.ru, which stores thousands of utilities for flashing various devices and gadgets.
You must substitute the received numbers in the SID and PID fields and click search. The service can display several program options at once. You need to choose the one whose description indicates the corresponding volume of the drive being restored. The list may also contain utilities for other manufacturers. You need to remember that you need to restore the Kingston flash drive, so select the most suitable configuration from the list. The Utils field describes the name of the program. After finding the desired line in the list, you need to copy the name of the utility and go to the files section of the flashboot.ru website. You need to paste the copied name into the search bar and click find.
After finding the utility, you need to download it to your computer and unpack it. Sometimes a situation arises when the program you are looking for is not in the files. Then you can simply search for her by name in any search engine.
Using a program to recover a Kingston flash drive
Using the utility is the simplest part of the operation. You just need to insert the USB flash drive, launch the program and click on the Start button in the program. Of course, the design, localization and operating methods of different utilities for different flash drives may be different, but the essence is the same, and it is intuitive. After successful flashing of the controller, the operating system may immediately offer to format the revived flash drive.
If all else fails
If nothing helped or the utility was never found, this means that, most likely, one of the modules of the drive’s electrical circuit is physically damaged. In such a situation, only a service center can help. Specialists will be able to physically connect to the contacts of the flash drive and analyze or scan for damage. If the flash drive can be repaired, then it will be repaired, but if not, then nothing will help it.
This article is intended to help with software recovery of USB Flash Drives based on the SK6211 microcontroller manufactured by Skymedi. This controller is found in flash drives from various manufacturers, for example: Kingston, Kingmax, A-data, etc. The utility was chosen as an example. It, like many others, is designed to work in the OS environment - MS Win XP. The Kingston DT100/1GB flash drive was chosen as the “test subject”.
The utility kit includes:
1) SK6211_20090828.exe – the actual main module.
2) SK6211_User_Manual.pdf – instructions for the program in English
3) SK6211BA_Skymedi Flash Support List _20090828.xls – “Flashlist” - a list of memory modules that are supported by this version of the utility. (Useful for determining “CodeBankVer” by date)
4) SK6211BA R-W Performance_Capacity List_20090828.xls – Summary table of speed tests of various memory modules in single-channel and dual-channel modes in Win XP sp2 & Win 2k sp4 OS.
5) SK62XX_FAT_20090505.exe & SK62XX_FATool_UserGuideV1.pdf – auxiliary utility for flash testing.
6) ErrorCodes.txt – list of error codes.
7) DrvSwitch.exe – factory driver.
8) Driver_Using_manual.pdf – instructions for using the driver.
1. Preparation
We connect the flash drive and find out the VID/PID, for example using ChipGenius 3.0. The test subject has VID = 0951 PID = 1607.
Run the utility “SK6211_20090828.exe” and select default in “Configuration Selection”.
We see that in the first window (DUT1) the flash drive has been identified (SAMPLE – No Match), but it is not ready for firmware yet! SAMPLE = example, No Mach = No Match. This means that the current settings (default) do not correspond to the internals of the flash drive. The utility has already determined that the flash drive is built on a controller that responds to its requests and has already read information from its firmware.
This information can be viewed by double-clicking on SAMPLE.
Here we see the contents of the firmware:
1) SK6211 controller
2) Memory FID (AD D3 14 A5 34) and its name (HY27UT088G2A)
3) CodeBank version: C080512A_F080516A
4) Firmware version: CodeSwap-0512
5) The rest is not so important (date of manufacture / utility version / configuration name = “engraving on the USB connector” / VID&PID codes, etc.)
6) Channel: Byte Mode (Single channel mode. May be useful in settings!)
Everything is fine here! But what to do when the firmware crashes so that most of this information is missing!?
Controller Version: SK6211BA
Flash Part No.: No matched Flash Part No.
Flash ID 01: 0x89 0x95 0x94 0x1E 0x74
Flash ID 02: 0x00 0x00 0x00 0x00 0x00
Flash ID 03: 0x89 0x95 0x94 0x1E 0x74
Here the utility read the FID from the flash drive, but could not use it to select the memory from its list!
Conclusion: try another utility or check your contacts. Sometimes restoring contacts on the Data Bus between the controller and the memory changes the ID number and the utility, using the correct ID number, finds a match in its Database.
Controller Version: SK6211BA
Flash Part No.: I29F32G08AAMD1_S
Total Flash Size: 8192 MB
4K Page, MLC
Flash ID 01: 0x89 0xD7 0x94 0x3E 0x84
Flash ID 02: 0x89 0xD7 0x94 0x3E 0x84
Flash ID 03: 0x00 0x00 0x00 0x00 0x00
Flash ID 04: 0x00 0x00 0x00 0x00 0x00
Flash ID 05: 0x00 0x00 0x00 0x00 0x00
Flash ID 06: 0x00 0x00 0x00 0x00 0x00
Flash ID 07: 0x00 0x00 0x00 0x00 0x00
Flash ID 08: 0x00 0x00 0x00 0x00 0x00
Here the utility found memory in its database. But the Code Bank version is unknown! We find it by searching for the date by the name of the flash chip in the file SK6211BA_Skymedi Flash Support List _20090828.xls
Now we are looking for suitable Code banks.
Open the file:
…\SK6211_PDT_20090828\CodeBank\2806\CBVer-1.2.2.44.ini
We find version 09.03.09 by date: C090309A_F090309A
2. Settings
Let's return to the experimental subject. Click the “Advaced” button to go to advanced settings. Password – 123456.
1) register VID & PID: 0951 & 1607
2) Vendor Name: Kingston
3) Product Name: DataTraveler 2.0
4) Revision: 8.2 (leave unchanged)
5) Disk Type: Removable (leave it unchanged)
6) S/N: 001478544881SK8703120829 (this is the test subject’s own serial number)
7) S/N Gen: (3) Don't Change SN
Below you can skip to
8) Fixed Flash Size = 1024 (set the original size of the flash drive)
9) When you set the checkbox to Erase All, the message appears: Warning Message: System information will be eliminated after erase all!!!
(Warning: system information will be destroyed after setting the “remove everything” mode!!!)
Go to the right window Flash Options
10) Select a controller: SK6211BA
11) Select Code Bank Ver: C080512A_F080516A (the one issued by the utility double click on SAMPLE) Now I expect that in the Flash Selection section it should be possible to select the desired memory - HY27UT088G2A, but this does not happen. What is the reason? Perhaps in the utility version! After all, the firmware version indicates: PDT Version: SK6211_PDT_20080616_BA, and I use SK6211_20090828! We follow the path of choosing a flashlist. We find the date - 04/02/2008, but I don’t find names with such a date in the list and Code Bank versions with the closest date are not suitable either! The assumption of matching the date from the flashlist is not suitable for this flash drive. Only a complete search helped! When selecting C090828A_F090828A, the utility gave the opportunity to select the desired memory!
12) Next select Channel Mode: Single
We don't change anything else.
We receive the READY status
Now the utility is “ready” to flash the flash drive.
Click Auto-LLF
3. Work on mistakes
44 -
2 -
when changing read/write test error 37 -
The jackdaw on ERASE ALL helped
45 -
(Status READY, error in LLF process)
Helped: switching to test mode by shorting 31-32 legs to m/s memory
and re-flashing
_______________________________
101 -
We need a more recent version of the utility that supports new memory.
ps: in the previous version 20090709_BA (34 - )
_______________________________
94 -
1 -
When trying to flash - (Access error)
We removed the USB extension cable that was causing the losses.
_______________________________
The experience of forum users was used to work on bugs: Vitorrio, SeeJay, E1haZ and others.
Discussion of the article and problems with recovery are discussed in this forum thread.
Step-by-step instructions for restoration USB flash drives in which I will try to answer the question in an accessible language How to recover a flash drive independently and without much effort.
Sometimes you help a person, and then he will tell everyone that you are so good and there are already crowds of people thirsty for help. This is roughly what happened when I restored several flash drives colleagues.
Now the people bear not only their own flash drives, but also flash drives your friends, acquaintances and relatives. Well, at least someone else would bring a bottle of beer or a cookie.
It’s not difficult for me to help, but when I suggest you learn how to do all this yourself, you refuse. Next time I’ll just sew them off. If you don't want to study, pass by.
I’ll finish with the lyrics here and move directly to the topic of the post..
If your flash drive stopped be determined like a disk, doesn't want to formatted, does not allow you to write down information or something else happened to it, BUT it has no mechanical damage, then you know that all is not lost. Most likely a glitch controller and you will have to tinker with it a little. This procedure takes approximately 5 minutes.
I’ll say right away that there is no universal programs For recovery all varieties flash drives. You will need to find exactly the one that can work with your controller. flash drives.
First we need to define VID And PID non-working flash drives.
Determine VID and PID for flash drive recovery
Stick it in flash drive into your computer and run device Manager. Start – Execute - mmc devmgmt.msc.
Then go to the section Universal Serial Bus Controllers.
We find ours in the list flash drive. Usually, everything flash drives have a name USB storage device.
Press the right button on the device and open Properties.
Go to the tab Intelligence.
Select the item from the drop-down list Instance code devices or Equipment IDs.
In this window we see PID And VID.
Finding a flash drive recovery program
We go to the website FlashBoot.ru and enter the received VID And PID.
Click on the button Search.
In the results we look for your manufacturer and model of the flash drive. I have Kingston DataTraveler 2.0.
The right column will contain the name of the program we need or a link to it.
All. Now search Google for the program by name or download it from the link provided. Launch and follow the instructions. Usually, in such programs for recovery There’s only one button, so you shouldn’t have any questions.
That's all!
If you have any questions, ask in the comments.