format flash drive

mknabster · mknabster #1 (**permalink**)

12-04-2007, 02:29 PM

I have a flash drive that is kind of acting up on me. Is there a way to format it in OSX?

goobimama · goobimama #2 (**permalink**)

12-04-2007, 03:24 PM

Disk Utility (applications > Utilities > disk utility). Just select the mounted drive and click "Erase" tab. Then make sure it is MS DOS FAT for volume format and click erase.

mac57 · mac57 #3 (**permalink**)

12-04-2007, 06:43 PM

Actually, you can format it as Mac OS (Journaled) format. You will find that Mac OS X writes to it faster once you do, although if you plan to share it with Windows PCs, this may not work (unless they have MacDrive, or some similar software that lets Windows PCs read Mac OS X's file format).

captainpat · captainpat #4 (**permalink**)

03-06-2011, 04:35 PM

Thanks for the replies here. They helped.

scottiedawg · scottiedawg #5 (**permalink**)

09-22-2011, 12:29 AM

My 4GB flash drive has been "erasing" for the past 9 hours. Any ideas for rectifying this issue?

harryb2448 · harryb2448 #6 (**permalink**)

09-22-2011, 06:37 PM

Yes scottie - another drive as they do fail alas and quite often depending on the brand. Best run at the moment seems to be with SanDisk.

lmunoz331 · lmunoz331 #7 (**permalink**)

10-02-2011, 07:37 PM

I'm using an 8 gig SanDisk flash drive to transfer files from my pc over to my macbook pro slowly, but every time I delete stuff off of my flash drive it shows that the free space is low, even though there's nothing in my flash drive.

Is there an explanation for this or a way that I can fix it?

chscag · chscag #8 (**permalink**)

10-02-2011, 08:10 PM

Are you sure there's nothing on the flash drive? There may be large hidden files on there that can't be deleted.

When you plug the flash drive into your PC, open up My Computer, Folder options, and make sure you're showing hidden and system files. Then check to see if there's anything on the drive.

lmunoz331 · lmunoz331 #9 (**permalink**)

10-03-2011, 01:12 PM

There are hidden files. Do I have to format it every time I want to free up space then?

chscag · chscag #10 (**permalink**)

10-03-2011, 04:15 PM

No, that's certainly not necessary. Just use the properties dialog from Windows and remove the hidden, system, and read only attributes from the files. Once those are removed you can delete them in the normal way.

lmunoz331 · lmunoz331 #11 (**permalink**)

10-03-2011, 06:37 PM

ah, okay. that makes sense.

it's just odd that there are always extra 'hidden files' whenever i plug into a mac.

thanks for you help!

tandaman90 · tandaman90 #12 (**permalink**)

02-02-2012, 03:35 PM

I used to have that problem and now I always make sure I empty the trash after deleting anything from the zip-drive before ejecting it. It works for me, and it's really simple. I'm not sure if this is the problem for you though. It couldn't hurt to try though.

mknabster #1 (permalink)
Member Since: May 22, 2007 Posts: 880 Mac Specs: 15in MBP 2.5GHz Core2Duo \| 1.83Ghz Dual G5 PowerMac \| 2.0 GHz Dual G5 PowerMac	12-04-2007, 02:29 PM I have a flash drive that is kind of acting up on me. Is there a way to format it in OSX? -Matt
	QUOTE Thanks

harryb2448 #6 (permalink)
Member Since: Nov 28, 2007 Location: Nambucca Heads Australia Posts: 14,079 Mac Specs: iMac i5 2.7GHz OS X.8.3	09-22-2011, 06:37 PM Yes scottie - another drive as they do fail alas and quite often depending on the brand. Best run at the moment seems to be with SanDisk. *Hang on to those original install discs like grim death! Using OS X.7 or later make a bootable USB thumb drive before running Installer!*
	QUOTE Thanks

chscag #8 (permalink)
Member Since: Jan 23, 2008 Location: Fort Worth, Texas Posts: 31,985 Mac Specs: 21.5" iMac 2.5 GHz i5, iPad 3rd Gen., 3 iPods	10-02-2011, 08:10 PM Are you sure there's nothing on the flash drive? There may be large hidden files on there that can't be deleted. When you plug the flash drive into your PC, open up My Computer, Folder options, and make sure you're showing hidden and system files. Then check to see if there's anything on the drive. Community Guidelines
	QUOTE Thanks

chscag #10 (permalink)
Member Since: Jan 23, 2008 Location: Fort Worth, Texas Posts: 31,985 Mac Specs: 21.5" iMac 2.5 GHz i5, iPad 3rd Gen., 3 iPods	10-03-2011, 04:15 PM No, that's certainly not necessary. Just use the properties dialog from Windows and remove the hidden, system, and read only attributes from the files. Once those are removed you can delete them in the normal way. Community Guidelines
	QUOTE Thanks

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goobimama #2 (permalink)
Member Since: Apr 28, 2006 Posts: 2,542 Mac Specs: iMac Core Duo 20", iBook G4, iPhone 8GB :)	12-04-2007, 03:24 PM Disk Utility (applications > Utilities > disk utility). Just select the mounted drive and click "Erase" tab. Then make sure it is MS DOS FAT for volume format and click erase.
	QUOTE Thanks

captainpat #4 (permalink)
Member Since: Mar 06, 2011 Posts: 1	03-06-2011, 04:35 PM Thanks for the replies here. They helped.
	QUOTE Thanks

scottiedawg #5 (permalink)
Member Since: Sep 22, 2011 Posts: 4	09-22-2011, 12:29 AM My 4GB flash drive has been "erasing" for the past 9 hours. Any ideas for rectifying this issue?
	QUOTE Thanks

lmunoz331 #7 (permalink)
Member Since: Oct 02, 2011 Posts: 5	10-02-2011, 07:37 PM I'm using an 8 gig SanDisk flash drive to transfer files from my pc over to my macbook pro slowly, but every time I delete stuff off of my flash drive it shows that the free space is low, even though there's nothing in my flash drive. Is there an explanation for this or a way that I can fix it?
	QUOTE Thanks

lmunoz331 #9 (permalink)
Member Since: Oct 02, 2011 Posts: 5	10-03-2011, 01:12 PM There are hidden files. Do I have to format it every time I want to free up space then?
	QUOTE Thanks

lmunoz331 #11 (permalink)
Member Since: Oct 02, 2011 Posts: 5	10-03-2011, 06:37 PM ah, okay. that makes sense. it's just odd that there are always extra 'hidden files' whenever i plug into a mac. thanks for you help!
	QUOTE Thanks

tandaman90 #12 (permalink)
Member Since: Feb 02, 2012 Posts: 1	02-02-2012, 03:35 PM I used to have that problem and now I always make sure I empty the trash after deleting anything from the zip-drive before ejecting it. It works for me, and it's really simple. I'm not sure if this is the problem for you though. It couldn't hurt to try though.
	QUOTE Thanks

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