Format 4 GB Thumb Drive

jeno · #1 June 13th, 2007, 10:32 PM

Hello all,

I have 2 question:

I am try to format a 4 GB thumb drive using Disk Utilities on Mac OS X 10.4.9.
I have been formating it for more that 24 hours now and the Disk Utilities still show "Preparing to Format" on the status, the software does not crash but i am not getting my thumb drive formated into Mac format.

After formating the thumb drive, it is possible to make it a start-up disk ? I am trying to "burn" Disk Warrior into a thumb drive instead of a CD which i will normally use it like a start-up disk. Disk Utilities does not allow me to "burn" Disk Warrior iso into a thumb drive. Is there any way to do it?

Please help. Thanks

**Giaguara** · #2 June 14th, 2007, 05:41 PM

Hi Jeno,

If the thumb drive happens to be a firewire one, then it can be used as a bootable drive.
24 hours? Cancel the process and force quit Disk Utility if needed. It should not take that long.

jeno · #3 June 15th, 2007, 03:03 AM

The 4 GB thumb drive is USB 2.0
I have try a few time, still i wont format. hope it doesn't spoil my thumb drive.

MisterMe · #4 June 15th, 2007, 09:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jeno

The 4 GB thumb drive is USB 2.0
...

It is my understanding that Intel Macs will boot from USB 2.0. Certainly, PPC-based Macs will not. Which file system are you turned to reformat your tumb drive to?

jeno · #5 June 17th, 2007, 09:58 PM

It was FAT 32, i try to format to Mac format

MisterMe · #6 June 17th, 2007, 11:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jeno

It was FAT 32, i try to format to Mac format

There are three available Mac formats. However, you have given not a hint of anything amiss with your thumbdrive.

Just an aside, modern thumb drives have added an unchangeable partition which is usually labeled "U3 System." It is formatted FAT32 and contains three Windows-specific files: autorun.inf, LaunchU3.exe, and LaunchU3.zip. You cannot reformat this partition. You can, however, reformat the other partition.

jeno · #7 June 18th, 2007, 06:58 AM

The thumb drive is FAT 32, i can connect it to PC with no problem. However i try to make a Mac boot up drive by using it. I try to format is as Mac OS Extended by using Disk Utilities in the Mac OS X.

By the way i dont see any any partition in the thumb drive? am i doing it the wrong way?