Format Confusion

[GThomasK]

I have a 256gb USB flash drive that I want to use in my Mac Pro (early 2008, OS 10.9.5) to transport video files larger than 4gb. Disk Util reports 2 different formats - disk is MS-DOS (FAT), volume is ExFAT. Write status is Read Only. All options to erase and start over are greyed out. Does anyone know of a way to reformat?

Thanks for any help!

 

[JohnDS]

See if there is a write-protect slider on the flash drive.

If not, please post a screenshot of your disk utility window.

 

[Kobayagi]

See if there is a write-protect slider on the flash drive.

If not, please post a screenshot of your disk utility window.

Listen to this guy, he knows this stuff

 

[GThomasK]

There is no write-protect slider. I should also mention that the flash drive can r/w on Win7, format is ExFAT. Screen shots
of the disk and volume....

Thank you both for the response.

 

[Kobayagi]

Can you try to partition it? This will also reformat it, which opens up abilities to choose your format type. After that, you could try if you can erase it again, maybe it won't be greyed out.

 

[GThomasK]

The partitioning options are also grey out since the disk is not writable. Here's a screen shot -

 

[CoastalOR]

I think the USB PNY Thumb Drive has a problem and needs to be replaced. I have only had one 16 Gb PNY Thumb Drive and the build quality, performance and reliability were questionable. I did not use it very long before disposing of it.

 

[JohnDS]

There is a long and interesting discussion here: https://discussions.apple.com/thread/5200407?tstart=0
[doublepost=1475807732][/doublepost]Another possibility:

• If the USB drive contains read-only files, select the drive and click "Get Info" under "File" in the Finder's top menu bar. Click the box next to "Ignore ownership on this volume" in the "Ownership & Permissions" section. Then launch Disk Utility to proceed with formatting.

 

[GThomasK]

Thank you JohnDS. I tried the option you listed, but there is no "Ownership & Permissions" section in the "Get Info" window. I have "Sharing & Permissions" with no boxes or options within that section.


A possible solution is at the very bottom of the thread you posted, I pasted it here -

"What I didn't realize, was that it wasn't the particular utility that mattered, but the fact that the Mac was booted from an alternate boot drive. Eventually I booted from a Mavericks/UniBeast installer I had on a USB thumb drive in my backpack, and used the GUI Disk Utility in the Mavericks Installer. It was no longer read-only, and I was able to reformat it easily. Now that it's no longer XP/FAT I can use the boot drive's Disk Utility to alter it at will."

If I understand correctly, to use this solution I have to boot into Mavericks and use the GUI Disk Utility in the Mavericks Installer. I happen to have my original 10.5.4 Mavericks installation disks. My Mac ignorance is about to show on this next question -

After a quick search I found that I should load the Mavericks installation disk in the CD/DVD drive, and hold the C key down while rebooting. The Mavericks Installer should load with a window menu option for Disk Utility. Is this correct?

Many thanks for your response.

 

[JohnDS]

That is correct.

 

[CoastalOR]

If I understand correctly, to use this solution I have to boot into Mavericks and use the GUI Disk Utility in the Mavericks Installer. I happen to have my original 10.5.4 Mavericks installation disks. My Mac ignorance is about to show on this next question -

After a quick search I found that I should load the Mavericks installation disk in the CD/DVD drive, and hold the C key down while rebooting.

For clarification:
Mavericks is OS 10.9.5 and was never distributed on a CD/DVD (download from Apple only). OS 10.5.4 is Leopard, not Mavericks. If you boot from the Installer DVD that came with your 2008 MP, then you will be running from the OS 10.5.4 Leopard Disk Utility for formatting your PNY USB drive.

 

[GThomasK]

Thanks for that correction. Earlier in the thread link posted by JohnDS, the author referenced OS 10.5. I made a wrong assumption instead of checking - again my Mac ignorance was glowing. Bottom line - I think it's obvious that I don't have the right skill set to be attempting this recovery. I'll try to return the flash drive and get my money back. I suspect that it is defective as you mentioned earlier. Thanks to all who offered suggestions.