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How to format USB key so it works in windows ??

A

aduteau

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Oct 14, 2007
553
46
Hi, I just purchased a new USB key, and I just formated it in MAC OS journaled, and the I formatted in MS-dos FAT,
here is the problem, MAC OS can see the USB key ... but when I want to us it in Windows ... it doesnt see it at all ....

Weird coz before I formatted in MAC OS journal ... Windows could see it ...

Anyone know how I could repair this ?
 
aduteau said:
Hi, I just purchased a new USB key, and I just formated it in MAC OS journaled, and the I formatted in MS-dos FAT,
here is the problem, MAC OS can see the USB key ... but when I want to us it in Windows ... it doesnt see it at all ....

Weird coz before I formatted in MAC OS journal ... Windows could see it ...

Anyone know how I could repair this ?
Click to expand...

Please clarify: is it currently formatted as FAT32 or HFS+? Windows does not even acknowledge (without a program like MacDrive) that an HFS+ volume exists.
If it is FAT32, than both windows and OS X WILL see it. If they don't, you have a problem with the drive or the USB port, and you should try restarting.
 
illegallydead said:
Please clarify: is it currently formatted as FAT32 or HFS+? Windows does not even acknowledge (without a program like MacDrive) that an HFS+ volume exists.
If it is FAT32, than both windows and OS X WILL see it. If they don't, you have a problem with the drive or the USB port, and you should try restarting.
Click to expand...

How do I put it as Fat32 ??
 
It's MS-DOS.

The whole drive must be formatted as PC, not just the partition.

You must not use a Mac partition table.
 
ggjstudios said:
In Disk Utility, click Help and search for the word "format". You'll see a link for "Formatting a disk for Windows computers"
Click to expand...

I just did what the help says ... and Windows still wont see my USB key ....
 
aduteau said:
no ? whats that ??
Im new to macs btw ...
Click to expand...

Open disk utility, select the disk and then the Partition tab. Select "1 partition" from the drop down menu. Click the option button and select MBR (Master Boot Record). Click Ok. Then select the MS-DOS format from the other drop down menu and then Apply. Let us know if it works.
 
One thing that I just thought of... Where are you plugging in the stick on the PC? I recently had a problem with a computer not seeing my external hard drive when I plugged it in to the non-powered ports on the front of the box.

Make sure that you plug it in to a (normal) high-powered port on the back of the PC if it is a desktop. That, and PLEASE restart the PC. Some times windows has some sort of issue seeing drives, that magically goes away after a restart.
 
Do other USB devices work on the same PC, in the same USB port? (make sure it's something with the particular USB drive and not the PC in general)
 
"If Windows can't recognize it, it can't format it."

That's not necessarily true.

In Windows go to System Control > Administrative Tools > Computer Management > Disk Management. There you should see your drive, even when unformatted. Right click on the drive, and choose Format or Partition.
 
I have a 4GB stick which does not appear automatically on Windows machines when plugged in, BUT I can view it and all the files on it using Windows explorer
 
apfhex said:
...If Windows can't even see that the device is attached, then it's a whole different problem.
Click to expand...
....which is what "doesn't see it all all" typically means. All we can go on is what the OP stated, and based on that, Windows doesn't recognize the device at all, which would indicate it also can't format it. If the facts are otherwise, the OP didn't specify.
 
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