How to fix broken USB sticks

[james*b]

Hi
I have a couple of "broken" USB flash storage sticks (pen drives) that won't mount on my Macs and don´t seem to be recognised at all.
How can I reset/reformat them? I am not worried about recovering the data and just would like to be able to use them again for storage. I believe they were corrupted by being plugged into a bad device (a Sony smart TV).
Thanks.

 

[JohnDS]

You could try reformatting them using Mac's disk utility. But honestly you are better off replacing them they are so cheap these days.

 

[Fishrrman]

If reinitialization (using Disk Utility) won't work, probably best to toss them out and get replacements...

 

[james*b]

I can't even seem to see them in the disk utility. What is "reinitialization"? Thanks.

 

[JohnDS]

If you can see them in Disk Utility, throw them out.

 

[old-wiz]

If you can see them in Disk Utility, throw them out.

don't you mean can't?

 

[matixryder]

don't you mean can't?

If you have a windows machine or windows as your bootcamp drive. http://download.cnet.com/HP-USB-Disk-Storage-Format-Tool/3000-2094_4-10974082.html Download this and you should be able to format your usb.

 

[JohnDS]

Yes. Meant "can't".