created a lbuntu boot USB stick now can't repartition or format it back to mac

[Garyed055]

Hi

To install lbuntu on my macbook I created a boot USB and now I can't repartition or erase it back to mac os

Diskutility doesn't work

Gary

 

[Algr]

So what is happening? Is it not offering APFS as an option? Does it fail when you try it?
From what I know about FAT32, I'm surprised that FAT12 would ever be an option.

 

[Garyed055]

So what is happening? Is it not offering APFS as an option? Does it fail when you try it?
From what I know about FAT32, I'm surprised that FAT12 would ever be an option.

I tried APFS nothing its says can't change partition map or size not valid for file system chosen

Gary

 

[Algr]

I know that some things can't co-exist with others. Are you trying to partition just part of the memory stick? You might need to clear the whole thing.

Also, memory sticks are cheap. You might be better off just getting another one, and using one stick for one thing.

 

[topcat001]

macos/DU is severely limited when it comes to disks. Just boot another machine in Linux and format the USB as simple MBR/fat32. Then DU will be able to use it again. Windows sucks as well, but might be worth a try for formatting.

 

[mfram]

When you select the drive in Disk Utility be sure to select the entire disk not just one of the partitions. In other words, move up a level on the that drive. Then you may erase it.

 

[Bigwaff]

When you select the drive in Disk Utility be sure to select the entire disk not just one of the partitions. In other words, move up a level on the that drive. Then you may erase it.

Yes. @mfram speaks true. Open Disk Utility, in menu View > Show All Devices.
This is the way.

 

[Garyed055]

Yes. @mfram speaks true. Open Disk Utility, in menu View > Show All Devices.
This is the way.

Hi

No effect can't format can't partition anything. Checked info its says the device is not writable

 

[mfram]

Then we're going to need screenshots showing the whole window and what you're clicking on. I supposed it's possible if you wrote an ISO image that somehow the device appears as read-only now.

 

[Nermal]

Wipe it out with Terminal. Dismount (not eject) through Disk Utility if it's mounted, then pop into Terminal. Run diskutil list to find the ID of the drive, e.g. "disk4". Then use sudo dd if=/dev/zero of=/dev/rdisk4 bs=1m to write zeros to the drive. You will only need to let that run for a couple of seconds (enough to wipe out the partition table) then you can abort with Ctrl-C. Disk Utility should then let you partition it.

 

[Garyed055]

Then we're going to need screenshots showing the whole window and what you're clicking on. I supposed it's possible if you wrote an ISO image that somehow the device appears as read-only now.

Yes its read only and since it won't mount I don't know how to fix it

 

[Garyed055]

Wipe it out with Terminal. Dismount (not eject) through Disk Utility if it's mounted, then pop into Terminal. Run diskutil list to find the ID of the drive, e.g. "disk4". Then use sudo dd if=/dev/zero of=/dev/rdisk4 bs=1m to write zeros to the drive. You will only need to let that run for a couple of seconds (enough to wipe out the partition table) then you can abort with Ctrl-C. Disk Utility should then let you partition it.

Tried on two different computers 3 times no effect

 

[winxmac]

Screenshots, need more screenshots...

Or better yet, a video recording...

Are you trying to erase/format a flash drive [USB stick] or the internal storage [hard disk/solid state drive]?

Are you trying to erase it within Disk Utility while running macOS or Disk Utility while on Recovery?

You can only erase/format it as macOS extended [HFS+] or APFS [High Sierra or newer] using a Mac but you can erase/format it as MS-DOS FAT/FAT32 using Windows or Linux or macOS...

 

[Garyed055]

Screenshots, need more screenshots...

Or better yet, a video recording...

Are you trying to erase/format a flash drive [USB stick] or the internal storage [hard disk/solid state drive]?

Are you trying to erase it within Disk Utility while running macOS or Disk Utility while on Recovery?

You can only erase/format it as macOS extended [HFS+] or APFS [High Sierra or newer] using a Mac but you can erase/format it as MS-DOS FAT/FAT32 using Windows or Linux or macOS...

Trying to repartition and reformat the USB after using it as a Linux install disk. I've tried under Mac os sonoma and ubuntu but no luck. Near as I can tell the USB is set to read only

 

[winxmac]

The 4th screenshot [with Disk Utility showing], did you try clicking Erase at the top and did it still give you an error?

The View drop down on the upper left, did you set it to Show All Devices? Based on the screenshot it seems to be, but just confirming...

In Disk Utility in El Capitan [10.11] and newer, you need to erase [format] first before you can partition the drive/disk...

In Disk Utility in Yosemite [10.10] and older, you can partition the drive/disk before erasing [formatting] it first...

Do you notice any switch that might have made the USB stick read-only? Make sure it is set to unlocked...

Something like this:

 

[Garyed055]

The 4th screenshot [with Disk Utility showing], did you try clicking Erase at the top and did it still give you an error?

The View drop down on the upper left, did you set it to Show All Devices? Based on the screenshot it seems to be, but just confirming...

In Disk Utility in El Capitan [10.11] and newer, you need to erase [format] first before you can partition the drive/disk...

In Disk Utility in Yosemite [10.10] and older, you can partition the drive/disk before erasing [formatting] it first...

Do you notice any switch that might have made the USB stick read-only? Make sure it is set to unlocked...

Something like this:

Yes I tried erase it failed with error -69825. There is no switch on this USB

 

[Basic75]

You will only need to let that run for a couple of seconds

Usually a count=16 is enough with a block size of 1MB.

 

[Nermal]

Usually a count=16 is enough with a block size of 1MB.

Good to know! I should actually read the documentation at some point and learn about these extra parameters 🙂

 

[Snowlover]

I have solved this problem before using sd card formatter when nothing else would work.

SD Memory Card Formatter for Windows/Mac - SD Association

Watch our video on how to use the SD Memory Card Formatter SD Memory Card Formatter 5.0.3 for SD/SDHC/SDXC/SDUC The SD Memory Card Formatter formats SD Memory Card, SDHC Memory Card, SDXC Memory Card and SDUC Memory Card (respectively SD/SDHC/SDXC/SDUC Cards) complying with the SD File System...

www.sdcard.org

 

[Garyed055]

I have solved this problem before using sd card formatter when nothing else would work.

SD Memory Card Formatter for Windows/Mac - SD Association

Watch our video on how to use the SD Memory Card Formatter SD Memory Card Formatter 5.0.3 for SD/SDHC/SDXC/SDUC The SD Memory Card Formatter formats SD Memory Card, SDHC Memory Card, SDXC Memory Card and SDUC Memory Card (respectively SD/SDHC/SDXC/SDUC Cards) complying with the SD File System...

www.sdcard.org

That failed as well. Says error writing leading zeros.

 

[Garyed055]

Thank you everyone for the replies but I'm just going to toss this drive Its somehow locked in read only mode.

Gary