formatting protected USB memory sticks

[xerces8]

There is a bug in parted:
https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/parted/+bug/232175

(WARNING : use the proper device name instead of /dev/sdb in the commands !)

Just delete the old partition table : dd if=dev/zero of=/dev/sdb bs=512 count=1 

Then create a new one using fdisk. Or parted, since now it should work.

Remember to back up the contents of the stick first ;-)

Regards,
David

-----Original Message-----
From: "Colin Rowat" <c.rowat at espero.org.uk>
To: ubuntu-users at lists.ubuntu.com
Date: Fri, 30 May 2008 00:12:40 +0100
Subject: formatting protected USB memory sticks

> I was recently given a 1GB USB memory stick, formatted as drives E: and
> F: for Windows.  One of the drives (/dev/sdb1, or /media/DISK_IMG) is
> formatted as a fat16 blank disc.  The other is loaded with promotional
> material that I would like to remove.  However, I cannot get gparted to
> even recognise this partition (/media/Autorun).  It has also been
> protected against reformatting by standard Windows XP administrative
> tools.
> 
> Is there any way to completely clear the memory stick, creating a
> single, 1GB partition?
> 
> Thank you in advance,
> 
> Colin Rowat
> 
> 
> 
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