Can't format a thumb drive

I bought an 8GB HP thumb drive to move some files from one Mac to another. I plug it in a powered port, it shows up in Disk Utility, I erase/format in HFS/Journaled, but when finished "Get Info" says the drive has zero capacity. I can't transfer a single file to it. Why, after formatting the drive, does it register as zero capacity?

Try partitioning it in GUID Partition Table format. Create a single HFS partition.

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Can I format a thumb drive to work on a mac?

I have a number of thumb drives that are formatted for windows (dos I suppose), is it possible to reformat them to work with my intel imac?

No need to format unless the Mac can't read/write to it.
Most thumb drives are already formatted FAT32 (MSDOS) and Mac's can read and write to them no problem just like PC's can.
It's when you need to boot from one (or not allow most PC's to read it as it will need extra paid software) that it has to be GUID/OS X ext J (HFS+) formatted.

Can I use Lion Thumb Drive as normal USB pen drive?

I have Thumb Drive OS X Lion, the question is:
Can I format this Thumb Drive and use if as a normal pen drive in Mac and windows PC?
If yes, how do i format the Thumb Drive?
thx! =)

Yes; as a Microsoft FAT-format volume. It's probably already in that format as most external storage devices such as traditional hard disk drives, flash disks or key drives or USB sticks arrive that way, and OS X can use FAT directly. Plug it in, and you're good to go.
If you want to erase and start over with a particular storage device – to reformat the storage as FAT – then use Disk Utility, in the Applications > Utilities folder, and select the formatting option.
But if you're not going to use the storage on Windows (without having to reformat it back to FAT) and if want to use it to best advantage, I'd reformat Windows FAT or NTFS volumes over into the HFS+ volume structure; to reformat the storage using the native file system of OS X.
As for how to reformat as FAT... From the Disk Utility help:
"You can use Disk Utility to format a disk to use with a Windows computer.
Notice: Formatting a disk erases all the files on it. Copy any files you want to save to another disk before formatting the disk.
Open Disk Utility, in the Utilities folder in Launchpad.
Select the disk you want to format for use with Windows computers.
Click Erase, and choose one of the following from the Format pop-up menu:
If the size of the disk is 32 GB or less, choose MS-DOS (FAT).
If the size of the disk is over 32 GB, choose ExFAT.
Type a name for the disk.
The name’s maximum length is 11 characters.
Click the Erase button, and then click Erase again."

How can I access a thumb drive plugged into an airport with my iPad?

how can I access a thumb drive plugged into an airport with my iPad? I am trying to set up an information point to serve weekly info over a NOT connected to the internet airport.

You can't. There are a couple of devices such as AirStash and the GoFlex drive that you can access over WiFi. They are limited, as I understand it, though.

How can I re-format a thumb drive back to MS-DOS(FAT)

I bought a kingston 16gb thumb drive today, and formatted it to Mac OS X Extended (Journaled, Encrypted) using the disk utility. I was unaware that it will not work with a PC now, only Mac. Is there a way to covert it back to MS-DOS or am I going to have to partion it? I tried to re-format it, but MS-DOS is no longer an option from the drop down menu. Any input is appreciated.

I also had similar problems and just figured it out this afternoon. This is what you're going to do. Open Terminal. It's under Applications>Utilities>Terminal and then type in:
diskutil cs list
This will bring up something like this
CoreStorage logical volume groups (1 found)
|
+-- Logical Volume Group 109FC023-5F18-438A-AF3D-14FF60334A0C
   =========================================================
   Name: Le Disque
   Size: 68375502848 B (68.4 GB)
   Free Space: 0 B (0 B)
   |
You will want to find the name of the device (Whatever you named your kingston 16gb thumb drive) and copy the Logical Volume Group ID code. An example from above would be coping the code:
109FC023-5F18-438A-AF3D-14FF60334A0C
That is called the UUID.
Warning The next command will erase the disk specified by the UUID you enter. Make sure you've copied the correct Logical Volume Group UUID for the disk you want to erase, especially if you have more than one encrypted disk connected.
After you have that code, you will then want to type into Terminal
diskutil cs delete copiedUUID
Remember to replace the "copiedUUID" part with the code you copied earlier.Using the example above, it would be
diskutil cs delete 109FC023-5F18-438A-AF3D-14FF60334A0C
Let it run.
After that, the device will now be called "Untitled" and you will be able to format it back to MS-DOT(FAT) using the Disk Utilities application.
Hope this helps.
Reference:
http://apple.stackexchange.com/questions/26259/lost-password-on-mac-os-extended- journaled-encrypted-drive-want-to-reformat

Can't open disk utility at startup, can't format new hard drive

My hard drive on my 2011 macbook pro recently went out, so I purchased a new one. I plugged it in internally and brought up disk utility in internet recovery, but it didn't recognize the drive. So I tried using an external hard drive reader, but now recovery mode can't be accessed at all, whether I press option or command r after startup, it still gives me the same gray folder with a question mark icon. Is my recovery mode damaged, and is that possible to fix?

You can use an external USB disk/flash drive which has Recovery (or a full OS - requires a 16GB disk space on a USB flash or a JHFS+ partition with the OSX) on it. Boot from that recovery USB drive. if Internet Recovery worked once, the MBP is already capable of repeating it. It requires an Ethernet or WiFi connection. If neither is available, or is spotty, Internet Recovery will not work. Can you try Internet recovery via Ethernet cable, if all your previous attempts have been via WiFi?
If the drive is not recognized when plugged into the internal SATA bus, either a cable is not plugged in properly (the replacement drive never showed up successfully as per the OP even once, or the drive is DoA). It should be tested externally. Pulling the drive out and putting it back is fairly easy in the 2011/2012 MBPs. The cable could have been damaged during the replacement. The non-drive end of SATA/IR Sensor cable on the main logic board could be loose or damaged.
If you have a external cable SATA-to-USB or SATA-to-FW (very unlikely), format the new drive using a different PC/MAC to make sure it is not DoA. What brand/model is this new drive? Is it an SSD? It may require a FW upgrade.
If there is a second MAC available, a Target Disk Mode boot (press T while powering up the mac with the new drive) may allow the second working mac to format the new drive via Disk Utility.

Can I connect a thumb drive to my Mac on a Guest Account?

My dad needs to use my Mac for an office presentation. He will use the guest account and present from a thumbdrive. Problem is, the Mac can't seem to detect it. Is the guest acount programmed that way? He really needs this.

the guest account should be able to use a thumb drive.
does your dad have a pc? some thumbdrives only work for pcs while some only work on macs
i would recomend trying to mail the presentation and log on the guest account chekc the mail and download it

HT1338 How can I format my hard drive without installation disk?

Guys I am using Mac with OS X 10.6.5. How can I format hard drive without the installation disk?
I don't have a installation disk can I buy one? where?

Call Apple Sales at 1-800-692-7753 to order 10.6.
Posts concerning 10.6 should be made in 10.6 usage forum.
You posted in the 10.3 and down forum which is very old OSX software.
DALE

Can't format external hard drive enclosure

I connected a 250gb external hard drive enclosure to my mac osx 10.3.9. I was told that it was formatted to windows and that i would have reformat it to mac.
I was given instructions to go to Disk Utility, select the volume and click on the partition tab, but a partition tab didn't appear when i pressed it.
I checked out the info for the volume and this is what it gave me:
Name : New Volume
Type : Volume
Disk Identifier : disk1s1
Mount Point : /Volumes/New Volume
File System : Winows NT Filesystem
Connection Bus : USB
IO Content : Windows_NTFS
Writable : No
Capacity : 232.9 GB (250,056,705,024 Bytes)
Free Space : 232.8 GB (249,976,606,720 Bytes)
Used : 76.4 MB (80,097,792 Bytes)
Number of Files : 48
Number of Folders : 0
Permissions Enabled : Yes
Can Turn Permissions Off : No
Can Repair Permissions : No
Can Be Verified : No
Can Be Repaired : No
Can Be Formatted : No
Bootable : No
Supports Journaling : No
Journaled : No
Disk Number : 1
Partition Number : 1
Final Cut Pro wouldn't let me use it as a sratch disk because it says it is on write-protected.
Does anyone know what i have to do to get the volume to work.
Thank you.

Jayden:
Here are some directions for formatting and partitioning a HDD:
Partitioning a Hard Disk Drive
Boot from the install CD holding down the "C" key.
Select language
Go to the Utilities menu and launch Disk Utility.
Select your HDD (manufacturer ID) in left side bar.
Select Partition tab in main panel.
Select # of partition in pulldown menu above Volume diagram.
Select 1 partition at a time and resize. (you can type size in the size field in main pane).
Type in name in Name field (usually Macintosh HD)
Select Volume Format as Mac OS Extended (Journaled)
Click Partition button at bottom of panel.
Select Erase tab
Select each volume, in turn, under Manufacturer ID.
Select on Security Options button.
Select Zero all data. (This process will map out bad blocks on your HDD. However, it could take several hours. If you want a quicker method, don't go to Security Options and just click the Erase button.)
Quit Disk Utility.
Dr. Smoke's FAQ Backup and Recovery has some hints on partitioning.
Please don't hesitate to post back with further questions or comments.
Good luck.
cornelius
Message was edited by: cornelius

Can I format a single Drive as an Offsite Back up?

I was wondering if on an Xserve Raid if I can format just one drive to function as an offsite backup. I checked into doing enhanced JBOD but it want the whole controller side to be JBOD. Any help appreciated!

With Xserve RAID, a controller can do either RAID or JBOD. It affects the entire controller. If you do RAID mode, then any drives not part of a RAID set will be used as hot spares (and can't function as an offsite backup as there is no access to them from any file system). If you do JBOD mode, you get 7 drives.
So there's no way to do what you want with Xserve RAID, unfortunately. And given the product has been discontinued I would say it's a fair bet there never will be this ability.

2 internal hdd's can't boot from thumb drive

I installed an SSD and a seagate SSD/HDD hybrid in the optical bay. I installed refit but I can't boot from a thumb drive and my superdrive doesn't act right, Is there firmware update or any kind of fixes anyone has seen heard or similar problem.
2010 mbp Intel ssd/momentus XT hybrid

cleaning the drive worked.

I can't get a thumb drive with SD card to mount

I have tried restarting, trying to restart my system manager, etc. but it's not working. I can attatch the USB cable to my iPhone charger to the computer and it will mount perfectly, but the thumb drive or card will not work. Getting frustrated. Help!!!!

hello, have you set up firefox sync already on ypur pc? then please refer to the following article in order to add your phone to the synced devices: [[How do I add a device to Firefox Sync?]]

How do i format a thumb drive to work with tiger and a pc

i want to transfer a video file from a pc to tiger but a pc formatted thumb drive isnt recognized in my ibook g4. how should i format my thumb drive

Perhaps the beginnings of an answer to your prob could be found in this thread, PD:
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=1731284&tstart=0
Personally, I have never had any probs at all with my G4/10.4.11 Powerbook (USB 1.1) seeing any USB drive, even those advertised as working with only 2.0 USB.
IMO, either your USB drive's FAT32 file structure is goofy (run Windows Scandisk & maybe even Defrag on the USB drive), or your Mac OS's USB systemfilestuff is gunked. Or your i's actual USB port(s) aren't working.
Do other USB drives work on your i? If so, the prob's your particular USB drive in question. If not, the prob's your Mac.
My 2 cents........

HOw to format a thumb drive

All to often I find transferring files between pc and mac - the mac reckons I don't have any room left but there's very little stored on the thumb.
eg: I have a 2g thumb drive with 1 small spreadsheet on it - I'm trying to copy a 1g file to it and OSX says 'not enough space'.
How do I get around this issue?
Thanks,
Brad.

Have you placed other files on the drive that you then put in the trash? If you didn't empty the trash, then those items are still taking up space.
Whether it's formatted for Mac or FAT32, it should have no trouble with a 1 GB file.

How can i format an external drive so as to read and write from both windows and mac side

i recently bought a macbook pro and used bootcamp so as to be able to run win7 and mac. I now wish to have an external drive so as to backup and tranfer files between the two os's. Specifically to read and write form either windows or mac. How can I do this?

Format it as FAT.

Can't format a thumb drive

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