How to format USB flashdrive

tux_addict · 11-13-2006, 02:21 AM

A couple of days ago the formatting on my USB flashdrive got messed up. I went looking for a way to format the flashdrive, but the solutions weren't very helpful. In the end, this is how I did it (in case anyone else runs into the same problem):
# mkdosfs -cvF 32 -I /dev/sda
This will give you the FAT 32 filesystem on your flashdrive. As for the various options (cvFI), please do a `man mkdosfs' to find out more about them.
Cheers.

BittaBrotha · 11-13-2006, 02:29 AM

Good info. Thnx.

Old_Fogie · 11-13-2006, 12:54 PM

I have a thumbdrive that took a dive on me, or so I suspect. I tried this out, but I never get a /dev/sda1 device. Do you need or know how to make a new partition table on one of these devices?

I have another thumbdrive and it works fine, tho I never had to reformat yet.

Alien Bob · 11-13-2006, 02:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Old_Fogie

I have a thumbdrive that took a dive on me, or so I suspect. I tried this out, but I never get a /dev/sda1 device. Do you need or know how to make a new partition table on one of these devices?

I have another thumbdrive and it works fine, tho I never had to reformat yet.

I have that info at the end of my "booting from a USB stick" Wiki packge: restoring_a_usb_stick_to_its_original_state

By the way, I don't know whether it makes a difference using a FAT filesystem on a partitionless device (/dev/sda) or on a partitioned device (/dev/sda1). My USB stick is always partitioned.

Eric

duryodhan · 11-13-2006, 10:04 PM

shouldn't just : fdisk /dev/sda be good enough?