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How to format read-only MBA USB install key?

J

jbgc

macrumors member
Original poster
Apr 18, 2011
30
0
I have a Snow Leopard install USB from one of the old 2010 MacBook Airs, but I will probably never use it again because I'm running Lion and have no desire to downgrade. It is really cool and I want to be able to use it for my own purposes. The only problem is that it's formatted as a read-only device and I can't format it in Disk Utility.

I've searched around and have even tried the chinese SMI Mass Production Format tool but it does not work for me.

Any ideas on how I can force format this to be used as a regular USB flash drive? Any help is appreciated.
 
jbgc said:
I have a Snow Leopard install USB from one of the old 2010 MacBook Airs, but I will probably never use it again because I'm running Lion and have no desire to downgrade. It is really cool and I want to be able to use it for my own purposes. The only problem is that it's formatted as a read-only device and I can't format it in Disk Utility.

I've searched around and have even tried the chinese SMI Mass Production Format tool but it does not work for me.

Any ideas on how I can force format this to be used as a regular USB flash drive? Any help is appreciated.
Click to expand...

It's a read only USB! It's designed to have the same thing forever and ever. Apple made sure you can't delete or format the thing.
 
Retina MacBook said:
It's a read only USB! It's designed to have the same thing forever and ever. Apple made sure you can't delete or format the thing.
Click to expand...

I did it before on my brother's Apple USB, it just won't work on mine. I KNOW it can be done, just can't figure it out.
 
On a slightly unrelated note, does anyone else wish Apple would sell us these things? I'd buy a 64 gig one in a heart beat, and various other sizes for various other uses as well.
 
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