Invisible memory stick!

Grandad · Feb 18, 2011

I have a new iMac and have just connected an equally new 4GB memory stick.
I see it on the screen in the top rh corner. If I double click the window opens and I can do everything I expect to be able to do.

But then, when I try to save a document to it from the 'File/Save As' I cannot because it does not appear in the column under devices. Where is it?

schweb · Feb 18, 2011

What is the format of the memory stick? It needs to be either FAT or HFS+. If it's NTFS, you can't write to that type of drive, you can only read data from it.

You can use Disk Utility to reformat the memory stick in an appropriate format.

technologist · Feb 18, 2011

Switch to the Finder
Choose Finder > Preferences
Select the Sidebar tab
Check the box next to "External disks"

Grandad · Feb 18, 2011

Hi Schweb, it is a MS DOS FAT 32 stick.
Hi Technologist - if I do as you suggest it is not listed under External Disks.
In Disk Utility I can see it, and it says:
Mount Point : /Volumes/4GB Stick Capacity : 4 GB (4,000,309,248 Bytes)
Format : MS-DOS (FAT32) Available : 3.92 GB (3,923,230,720 Bytes)
Owners Enabled : No Used : 75.1 MB (75,120,640 Bytes)
Number of Folders : 0 Number of Files : 0
......But I stlll can't see it to save to it!!

CrimsonRequiem · Feb 18, 2011

Can you save a file by dragging a file on-top of the USB icon on the desktop?

schweb · Feb 18, 2011

Grandad said:
Hi Schweb, it is a MS DOS FAT 32 stick.
Hi Technologist - if I do as you suggest it is not listed under External Disks.
In Disk Utility I can see it, and it says:
Mount Point : /Volumes/4GB Stick Capacity : 4 GB (4,000,309,248 Bytes)
Format : MS-DOS (FAT32) Available : 3.92 GB (3,923,230,720 Bytes)
Owners Enabled : No Used : 75.1 MB (75,120,640 Bytes)
Number of Folders : 0 Number of Files : 0
......But I stlll can't see it to save to it!!

Did you try reformatting it to see if that fixes it?

Grandad · Feb 20, 2011

I took it back to the shop, they tried it and it didn't work for them either; so, they gave me another one which works just fine.
Thanks for your help.