Error while attempting to format the Windows USB Drive: "Your bootable USB drive could not be created: An error occurred while formatting the disk."

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Error while attempting to format the Windows USB Drive: "Your bootable USB drive could not be created: An error occurred while formatting the disk."

Issue:

I've been stuck at the 'Create Bootable USB Drive for Windows Installation for the longest of times, with the error given in the title of this thread.

Background information:

I am using the USB Drive, that comes with the Windows 10 Home box, for the re/formatting process.

What I have done:

1. I have unmounted the ISO via. Terminal and Disk Utility, previously.
1.5. I have also attempted to do this process using Terminal, but I am faced with a 'Permission Denied' when I attempt using (sudo dd if=/(file location) of=dev/disk# bs=1m).
2. I have tried using the ISO file (4.02 GB) from the Microsoft website, and the ISO file (8.33 GB) converted from the contents of the USB.
3. I have check that I am selecting the correct ISO file, and not the default option that it selects.
4. I have ticked all three (3) boxes in the 'Select Tasks' menu in Boot Camp Assistant.

Any help would be really appreciated, as I have come to a complete halt.

MacBook Pro with Retina display, iOS 9.1

Posted on Nov 26, 2015 3:09 AM

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Answer 1

Loner T

Level 9

59,471 points

Nov 26, 2015 5:57 AM in response to thataznone

Please connect your USB to the Mac and post the output of diskutil list. Your error message is about failure to format. What is the brand and size of your USB?

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Answer 2

thataznone Author

Level 1

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Nov 26, 2015 8:54 AM in response to Loner T

It's the USB that comes with the Windows 10 Home edition box.

/dev/disk0 (internal, physical):

#: TYPE NAME SIZE IDENTIFIER

0: GUID_partition_scheme *500.3 GB disk0

1: EFI EFI 209.7 MB disk0s1

2: Apple_CoreStorage Macintosh HD 499.4 GB disk0s2

3: Apple_Boot Recovery HD 650.1 MB disk0s3

/dev/disk1 (internal, virtual):

#: TYPE NAME SIZE IDENTIFIER

0: Apple_HFS Macintosh HD +499.1 GB disk1

Logical Volume on disk0s2

A55BBB6D-DB44-46B7-8EFC-06D1C1A03352

Unlocked Encrypted

/dev/disk2 (external, physical):

#: TYPE NAME SIZE IDENTIFIER

0: FDisk_partition_scheme *15.7 GB disk2

1: Windows_FAT_32 WINDOWS10 15.7 GB disk2s1

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Answer 3

Loner T

Level 9

59,471 points

Nov 26, 2015 9:26 AM in response to thataznone

Are you trying to use the same USB, both, as a source for the Windows Software and the USB installer? If yes, it will not work. The presence of just the Autorun.inf seems to indicate that.

If the ISO you created is from this USB shown, either we can erase this USB (which I would not recommend) or find a different USB and try to format it with Disk Utility, before we let BCA use it.

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Answer 4

thataznone Author

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Nov 26, 2015 9:32 AM in response to Loner T

I was indeed trying to use the USB for both, and in hindsight, should have expected that not to work.

I will test it with a different USB first thing tomorrow, and I will update this situation at that given time.

Thanks for the help in advance!

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Answer 5

thataznone Author

Level 1

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Nov 26, 2015 4:44 PM in response to Loner T

Hello!

Upon changing the USB to a SanDisk Cruzer 16GB, the formatting process begins to work.

However, I get the 'Your Bootable Drive could not be created. There is not enough space available on the disk' error.

I've reformatted my USB, upon looking at another thread here, to MS-DOS (FAT) and Master Boot Record, but it still does it not.

Got any idea of what might be wrong?

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Answer 6

Loner T

Level 9

59,471 points

Nov 26, 2015 10:04 PM in response to thataznone

Where did you obtain the Windows Installer from? You may want to get an ISO file directly from Microsoft, instead of using alternative methods. You have a file larger than 4GB on the source that will not fit a FAT32 file system.

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