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phobos · Mar 2, 2009, 03:34 PM

Well here's the problem.
I just put my usb stick on to my mac pro and I got the message that the drive inserted isn't recognised.
I've used that stick many times before with no problems.
Anyway I accidentally hit ignore (the drive) and now I can't even see it. Disk utility isn't even aware of the stick.
Is there someway to actually see the drive so I can reformat it?
Thanks in advance

ibook_steve · Mar 2, 2009, 03:38 PM

What happens when you take it out and put it back in? Same thing?

Steve

phobos · Mar 2, 2009, 03:49 PM

yep same thing

Big Mac · Mar 2, 2009, 04:57 PM

Try restarting yet? How about plugging it in to a different computer?

ibook_steve · Mar 2, 2009, 05:44 PM

It could be the stick. Have you tried it in a different computer?

Steve

phobos · Mar 3, 2009, 02:29 AM

Restarting didn't do anything. Haven't tried on another computer. But is there a way to see the stick on this computer. I should be able to see it somehow. Am i right or not?

philm · Mar 3, 2009, 06:17 AM

In my hands at least, USB memory sticks are very flaky. Suddenly not visible/readable by the Finder etc. If they don't want to be reformatted in Disk Utility, I throw it away.

ibook_steve · Mar 3, 2009, 10:51 AM

Originally Posted by phobos

Restarting didn't do anything. Haven't tried on another computer. But is there a way to see the stick on this computer. I should be able to see it somehow. Am i right or not?

Not if the stick is dead. You need to try it in another computer.

Steve

cgc · Mar 3, 2009, 07:57 PM

If you check via DiskUtility or select "About this Mac" from the Apple Menu, then click on "More Info..." and look at the USB devices, does it show up there?

phobos · Mar 3, 2009, 11:42 PM

Strangely enough it show up on the System profiler as "Mass storage device"!!!
Why on earth can't I see it in Disk utility???

cgc · Mar 4, 2009, 07:30 AM

Kooky...probably something wrong with it. Buy a new one, NewEgg has the SanDisk 8GB thumb drive for $13.99 with free shipping. I bought one from Amazon for $29 six months ago...it's a fast stick (6-10MBps write and 30MBps read)

seanc · Mar 4, 2009, 01:57 PM

Do you make sure to always eject it? Flash drives are quite picky about being pulled out while they're in the middle of something and rather than just causing file corruption, it breaks them completely.

Big Mac · Mar 4, 2009, 02:36 PM

Interesting. I did not know that.

cgc · Mar 5, 2009, 08:06 AM

Originally Posted by seanc

Do you make sure to always eject it? Flash drives are quite picky about being pulled out while they're in the middle of something and rather than just causing file corruption, it breaks them completely.

Interesting, though I'm curious if you have a source. Best I could find is http://www.everythingusb.com/usb_death_drives.html and it's inconclusive. Heck, I've removed and replaced a CPU with the power on and all worked fine. I'm not saying it's a good thing to pull the USB stick out without properly removing it via the OS, I've just never seen it causing problems before. I use SanDisk USB Drives exclusively though...maybe it has something to do with the brand (?).

seanc · Mar 5, 2009, 08:59 AM

I don't have a source just some things I have witnessed.
An otherwise perfectly functioning Kingston Data Traveller II died after having the write process killed by windows shutting down during copying files. The PCs were set to shutdown at 10pm but the system clocks were always wrong - NTP servers blocked by firewall.

I've also seen some pulled out of a PC when it wouldn't safely eject and it never worked afterwards.

I'm probably wrong but it was just a thought.

A note on Sandisk drives, I've been through 3 mini cruisers. 2 stopped mounting and 1 would die when you tried to write to it.
My 4GB mini cruiser has been through the washing machine and come out fine.