A Quick Format simply deletes the "table of contents" for the drive, making the files invisible to the computer. It is fast. A standard format (unchecking the box) checks every sector on the drive for errors and overwrites the data. Use a standard format if the drive is old or acting up.
Always double-check which drive you are selecting before hitting "Start." A few seconds of verification can save you from a lifetime of regret!
When formatting in Windows 7, you will usually see two main options:
If you receive an error saying the media is write-protected, check if your SD card or USB has a physical switch on the side. If there is no switch, you may need to use the diskpart (Method 3) and use the attributes disk clear readonly command after selecting the disk.
Before proceeding, ensure you have backed up any important files, photos, or documents to a separate location (like a cloud service or a different USB drive). Once the format is complete, data recovery is difficult and often expensive.