USB Memory stick Not Mounting

Hi all

Can someone offer some advise please....

I've got a couple of USB memory sticks (2 and 8GB) which have only ever been used in the office PC. However, i've recently tried them on my home Mac's to copy some files off them, and the device isn't showing on the desktop or in the finder. I assume this means the sticks aren't mounting!!

Can anyone tell me how I get my imac or mini to recognise the USB sticks are there?

Sorry if this is already handled elsewhere in the forum, I have searched but have only found posts for issues in format when these devices have shown on the desktop!

Many thanks to all in advance
Cheers
Minx

Do they show up in Disk Utility?

It sounds like they are formatted in NTFS. OS X can not read this format, they must be formatted in FAT32.

Hi
Thanks for such a rapid response!!!

I've checked and one is showing in Disk Utility and the other one isn't!!!

Hi B&O

One of them is showing as Volume Format: MSDOS file system FAT16.

How do I reformat, do I use 'Erase' in disk utility using of of the Mac OS formats in the list... if so which one should I choose? There is a variety of extended formats, and one standard format, plus the unix format!!!

Thanks

B&O said:

It sounds like they are formatted in NTFS. OS X can not read this format, they must be formatted in FAT32.

Click to expand...

OS X can read NTFS, it can not write to it without 3rd party drivers.

Minxin said:

Hi B&O

One of them is showing as Volume Format: MSDOS file system FAT16.

How do I reformat, do I use 'Erase' in disk utility using of of the Mac OS formats in the list... if so which one should I choose? There is a variety of extended formats, and one standard format, plus the unix format!!!

Thanks

Click to expand...

you can use Disk Utility and choose 'Mac Extended' or HFS+' Just don't select the one that says 'CaSe SeNsEtIvE'

I have a follow-up question here:

I use PCs at the office and my Mac at home...is there a file system that works between the two? Reading and Writing?

Thanks!

FAT32 is generally the best for use on a Mac and a PC. However you will only be limited to 4GB files.

JGruber said:

FAT32 is generally the best for use on a Mac and a PC. However you will only be limited to 4GB files.

Click to expand...

Well the 2 sticks that i use are 2GB and 4GB, so that should be fine...

Thanks!