Can't format usb flash drive - "permission denied"

[yarjarrar]

The problem is when I put my 4gb flash drive in, the computer doesn't recognize it and doesn't show up on the desktop. So I go into Disk Utility and try to format it to maybe fix it that way, but when I try to, it says format failed, permission denied. Please help

 

[MisterMe]

... Please help

Thank you for not giving a clue which brand USB drive you are using. Information will only confuse our attempt to give you a wild guess.

When I buy a new USB drive, I take it to a Windows computer and delete the U3 partition. If I want Windows-compatibility, then I reformat it as FAT32. If not, then I take it to my Mac and reformat it as HFS+.

 

[yarjarrar]

Well it's happened to two of my flash drives and they don't have any brand on them. One was a 16gb the other 8gb.

 

[geoffreak]

We can't help you without knowing which flash drive you are using.

 

[yarjarrar]

In the information, it says:

Name : USB 2.0 Flash Disk Media
Type : Disk

Partition Map Scheme : Unformatted
Disk Identifier : disk1
Media Name : USB 2.0 Flash Disk Media
Media Type : Generic
Connection Bus : USB
USB Serial Number : 2008080814470981
Device Tree : IODeviceTree:/PCI0/EHC1@1D,7
Writable : Yes
Ejectable : Yes
Mac OS 9 Drivers Installed : No
Location : External
Total Capacity : 7.9 GB (8,493,465,600 Bytes)
S.M.A.R.T. Status : Not Supported
Disk Number : 1
Partition Number : 0

 

[geoffreak]

I picture would offer more help in identification than that list. There is nothing in there that could identify the drive.

The drive is writable, so it appears as if it has been corrupted. Have you tried using another Mac or maybe a PC?

 

[yarjarrar]

Here is the one I have: