12 GB USB key, only 200 MB available

First, you should ask the friend in question why he partitioned it.
Then, if you don’t have anything important on it, you can use Windows Disk Management to recover the entire contents of your drive.

--
Those who know nothing always know as much as those who don’t know more than them. (Pierre Dac)

Thank you Froulik
when he returned it to me the first time, it wasn’t recognized by my computer.
I brought it back to him and he partitioned it for me, which means it is now recognized by my computer, but I only have 200 MB available... because I only have one partition of 200 MB.
Fred

Don’t you have anything on it that you want to keep?
If you want, we can put it back in order. just tell me which Windows you have. Thanks

--
Those who know nothing always know as much as those who don’t know more than them. (Pierre Dac)

Windows 7

OK. You don’t have anything on it?

--
Those who know nothing always know as much as those who know less than them. (Pierre Dac)

nothing

Okay, I’ll explain the procedure:

You insert your key into your computer
you start it
you type diskmgmt.msc (enter)
you land in Disk Management
Be careful with mistakes (move the dog and the kid away)
Enlarge the window if needed
There you have a line for each of your disks.
Look at the boxes, normally the last line concerns your USB key
you have "Disk 1, or 2..." Removable.
and a "layout" of your key.

Now we need to know:
under "Removable" how many MB are in the line?
and the 200 MB portion must be visible, with another portion following, labeled "raw" or "unallocated"?
can you describe what is written about this key? Thank you

then we continue.

--
Those who know nothing still know as much as those who know nothing more than them. (Pierre Dac)

removable drive: 14.92 GB
in the 1st box
200 MB FAT
Healthy (primary partition)

2nd box
14.72 GB (that's all that is listed)

Well, that's that. Be careful now: we’re on your key!

You’re going to click (right-click) on the first rectangle, formatted in FAT
delete the volume
you confirm if Windows asks
at that moment your entire key ends up in a single rectangle.
- otherwise, stop and contact me -
If you have a single rectangle, you do a right-click again
format
Windows asks for confirmation
a window opens
Volume name: put whatever you want (something simple and short)
leave (or choose) file system: NTFS
leave the "Perform a quick format" checkbox checked
you click OK
you confirm
you wait a bit
and normally it’s fine.

Tell me if it went well?

--

Those who know nothing still know as much as those who know even less than them. (Pierre Dac)

I can’t delete the volume, it’s grayed out!

OK, we'll first take care of the other part (14;72 GB). You do this:
right-click
format
Windows asks for confirmation
a window opens
Volume label: put whatever you want (something simple and short)
leave (or choose) file system: NTFS
leave "Perform a quick format" checked
click OK
you confirm

tell me if that's good already, after that we continue.

Those who know nothing still know as much as those who know even less than them. (Pierre Dac)

Froulik
I am obliged to leave.
I will do what you told me and I will post the report online.
Thanks already for your help.
Frédéric

Good listening, I have to leave too.
We'll meet again later.
Have a good evening :o)

--
Those who know nothing always know as much as those who know even less than them. (Pierre Dac)

An unexpected error has occurred. Check the system event log for more information about the error. Close the Disk Management console... restart the computer.

Good evening,
Try formatting your key with this application:
https://www.commentcamarche.net/telecharger/utilitaires/11843-hp-usb-disk-storage-format-tool/

Good evening lacharpente and thank you
I can't open the app, the error message says in English access denied, administrator rights required!

Try with Easus Partition Master Free; you should be able to do something.

If not, use a GParted live CD/USB then. Make sure you’re not on the hard drive in GParted—go to your 16GB USB key; the dropdown list is on the right. Here’s an example: http://imageshack.us/f/267/captureolr.png/

Look in one of the top menus for something called Create partition table; confirm and you’ll see your 16GB key shown as unallocated.

Then create a primary partition, either FAT32 or NTFS (beware which format your USB key supports; to be safe, use FAT32).

And normally that’s it—just quit GParted and reboot the PC to return to Windows.

It worked!
Thanks really to lacharpente and also Froulik!
My key is now fully usable.
It's comforting to see people like you who help others.
If you want advice on the photo, don't hesitate!
Frédéric

Thanks also Known001 for your intervention.
Best regards
Frédéric

content that it finished well
see you soon for more adventures :o))

--
Those who know nothing always know as much as those who know less than them. (Pierre Dac)