Mac won't recognize USB thumb drive

[ebeck1]

I got an i-ecko 8GB thumb drive from a friend and am not able to use it on my mac. From my windows based desk top I reformatted it to FAT32 and the mac still wouldn't recognize it. I decided to reformat it to NTFS, which my mac then recognized it, but obviously I couldn't put anything on the thumb drive. I reformatted it back to FAT32 hoping that it would fix the problem, but once again the mac would not recognize it.

I made sure to check that the ports were working properly and they are. My windows desk top recognizes it and is able to store data. Any suggestions?

 

[Peteman100]

I got an i-ecko 8GB thumb drive from a friend and am not able to use it on my mac. From my windows based desk top I reformatted it to FAT32 and the mac still wouldn't recognize it. I decided to reformat it to NTFS, which my mac then recognized it, but obviously I couldn't put anything on the thumb drive. I reformatted it back to FAT32 hoping that it would fix the problem, but once again the mac would not recognize it.

I made sure to check that the ports were working properly and they are. My windows desk top recognizes it and is able to store data. Any suggestions?

Try resetting the SMC. That fixed the one time my computer wouldn't recognize a flash drive I knew was working.

 

[ebeck1]

Just reset the SMC... Still not reading it.

 

[simsaladimbamba]

Have you tried formatting it via Disk Utility?

FAT32 (File Allocation Table)

• Read/Write FAT32 from both native Windows and native Mac OS X.
• Maximum file size: 4GB.
• Maximum volume size: 2TB

NTFS (Windows NT File System)

• Read/Write NTFS from native Windows.
• Read only NTFS from native Mac OS X
  [*]To Read/Write/Format NTFS from Mac OS X: Install NTFS-3G for Mac OS X (free)
  
• Some have reported problems using Tuxera (approx 33USD).
• Native NTFS support can be enabled in Snow Leopard, but is not advisable, due to instability.
• AirPort Extreme (802.11n) and Time Capsule do not support NTFS
• Maximum file size: 16 TB
• Maximum volume size: 256TB

HFS+ (Hierarchical File System, a.k.a. Mac OS Extended)

• Read/Write HFS+ from native Mac OS X
• Required for Time Machine or Carbon Copy Cloner backups of Mac internal hard drive.
• To Read/Write HFS+ from Windows, Install MacDrive
• To Read HFS+ (but not Write) from Windows, Install HFSExplorer
• Maximum file size: 8EiB
• Maximum volume size: 8EiB

exFAT (FAT64)

• Supported in Mac OS X only in 10.6.5 or later.
• Not all Windows versions support exFAT. See disadvantages.
• exFAT (Extended File Allocation Table)
• AirPort Extreme (802.11n) and Time Capsule do not support exFAT
• Maximum file size: 16 EiB
• Maximum volume size: 64 ZiB

Format Your Hard Drive Using Disk Utility
Partition Your Hard Drive With Disk Utility

Using Disk Utility - Formatting, Partitioning, Verifying, and Repairing Disks
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[ebeck1]

I've heard that the NTFS software for mac isn't that reliable, but I'll give it a try.

 

[ebeck1]

Did some searching and found that someone had said this: "I should also mention that at both the MacRumors forum (mentioned) and the Apple forums there has been considerable reporting that doing this (native NTFS support enabling on snow leopard) leads to system instability and possible loss of data. BE WARNED!"

Any other ideas?

 

[simsaladimbamba]

Did some searching and found that someone had said this: "I should also mention that at both the MacRumors forum (mentioned) and the Apple forums there has been considerable reporting that doing this (native NTFS support enabling on snow leopard) leads to system instability and possible loss of data. BE WARNED!"

Any other ideas?

You could install the NTFS-3G driver listed in that quote I posted.