Can't format external drive from Files

[mds08011]

(1) Issue/Bug Description:

Formatting a disk via right-clicking in the "Files" file manager does not work.

(2) Steps to reproduce:

1. Insert an external drive such as an SD Card.
2. Open Files, find drive on the left side of Files window.
3. Right-click and select "Format..."
4. Nothing happens and the drive is not formatted.

A GIF is included below (Other Notes), showing the issue being reproduced.

(3) Expected behavior:

I expect the drive to be formatted or at least open a new dialog window.

(4) Distribution:

NAME="Pop!_OS"
VERSION="21.10"
ID=pop
ID_LIKE="ubuntu debian"
PRETTY_NAME="Pop!_OS 21.10"
VERSION_ID="21.10"
HOME_URL="https://pop.system76.com"
SUPPORT_URL="https://support.system76.com"
BUG_REPORT_URL="https://github.com/pop-os/pop/issues"
PRIVACY_POLICY_URL="https://system76.com/privacy"
VERSION_CODENAME=impish
UBUNTU_CODENAME=impish
LOGO=distributor-logo-pop-os

(5) Gnome Shell version:

pop-shell:
  Installed: 1.1.0~1639174177~21.10~de901ae
  Candidate: 1.1.0~1639174177~21.10~de901ae
  Version table:
 *** 1.1.0~1639174177~21.10~de901ae 1001
       1001 http://apt.pop-os.org/release impish/main amd64 Packages
       1001 http://apt.pop-os.org/release impish/main i386 Packages
        100 /var/lib/dpkg/status

(7) Where was Pop Shell installed from:

Full PopOS install from: https://pop.system76.com/

(8) Monitor Setup:

Lemur Pro (lemp9) laptop screen

(9) Other Installed/Enabled Extensions:

I use the GSConnect Gnome Extension.

(10) Other Notes:

[mds08011]

To be clear, I am able to format this SD Card without issue in the "Disks" utility but was confused why the Files option did not work.

[bflanagin]

I'm unable to replicate this issue on my test machines. @mds08011 have you tried other SD cards or flash drives?

[mds08011]

I just tried a different flash/USB drive (4GB) with the same result: I can format no problem in the Disk Utility but when I try to right-click on "Format" in the left-side menu of Files, nothing happens. No dialog, no errors, and the disk ejects properly if I click that option instead. I'll try to test on different type of device (SD or HDD) next.

[JaldeaR]

I have exactly the same issue as shown in the GIF

[mikekasprzak]

Same problem here, and it doesn't work from Disks either. I suspect this might be related to the data on the SD card itself, as I swear I've been able to do this in the past. My card had an EXT4 partition (I think it was a former Raspberry Pi OS card). Problem happens on two different PCs using the same card (a 128 GB MicroSD).

This link suggests it's a bug with the wipefs tool, one that's continued to haunt Ubuntu distros for the last decade.

https://askubuntu.com/a/377396

https://bugs.launchpad.net/debian/+source/util-linux/+bug/1059872

Notably the first link has a comment suggesting it's still an issue in Ubuntu 20.04. I'm running PopOS 22.04 and have trouble.