formatting a usb drive

[metalmini]

Hi there guys.

I am having the biggest trouble with a usb drive.

A while ago i needed to format a usb drive to have a bootable linux image on it because a server at work didnt have a optical drive. So i had a big fight with my usb drive to make it bootable and at the end it all worked fine.

Anyway now i need the usb drive and i cant write to it because its read only and diskutil doesnt let me do anything to it...

Diskutil is telling me this about the drive:

Format : ISO 9660 (Rockridge)

How do i make my drive usable again? I googled the interweb but i cant seem to get a decent anwer on this topic, so i hope that you guys can help me out on this one 🙂

Thanks in advance!

 

[MacDawg]

Can you post a screen capture of what it looks like when you select it in Disk Utility?

 

[bmcgonag]

Have you first tried teh 'Erase' function in DiskUtil? If not, try that, and set the format type to HFS+.

Then go tot the Partition tab and change the dropdown from 'Current' to '1'... I know this seems redundant, but do it anyway...then Name the Partition to whatever you want, make sure the HFS+ is still selected, then Partition.

If you want it to be writeable by Windows and Mac then use MS-DOS Fat.

Brian

 

[metalmini]

Can you post a screen capture of what it looks like when you select it in Disk Utility?

The partition options are also all grey, i cant do anything :-(

 

[pcman2000]

You can't write to it as it's read only. THis is strange as

_______________________________It says "Unformatted" and "Read-Only"^^^^^^^^^^^^^

BUt it is formatted...! (according to the sidebar...)

I have no idea. 🙁

 

[metalmini]

And another thing, there is n hardware button to keep it read-only...

 

[xpected_one]

Does the USB stick have a lock/unlock toggle on the outside?? Some do? Just a thought?

 

[cderalow]

And another thing, there is n hardware button to keep it read-only...

obviously, set the hardware button to unlock, then repartition & format using diskutil

 

[metalmini]

Im sorry, n was no...

So NO hardware buttons on this drive.

 

[bmcgonag]

Im sorry, n was no...

So NO hardware buttons on this drive.

Do you have access to a windows pc? If so, then try and use the Disk management tool on that to re-format the drive to Fat32, then do with it as you will.

If not, then download gparted and burn the image as a live cd. boot from it with the stick installed in USB port already, then try to re-format / partition to Fat32. gParted is a great tool.

Brian

 

[metalmini]

Ok you are saying that i need windows? Haha never thought i would hear that.

So euhm.. Yea its all Mac over here, i will have to make a couple of calls, but i will try.

Thanks man, i let you guys know after the weekend.

 

[bmcgonag]

Ok you are saying that i need windows? Haha never thought i would hear that.

So euhm.. Yea its all Mac over here, i will have to make a couple of calls, but i will try.

Thanks man, i let you guys know after the weekend.

Honestly, I don't know if Windows will work, but you could give it a try. I would recommnd Gparted over windows honestly, and you mac may boot of the live cd.

 

[metalmini]

Damn... Windows just made my day... but thank god, it crashed right after while doing all kinds of scans and stuff...

So all is well and my usb drive is ready for operation again 🙂

Thanks guys!!