formatting a flash drive for mac using windows xp

Formatting A Flash Drive Using Windows Xp Mac Partition Disk

Why is this offered as a scheme for Mac OS Extended (Journaled) That really threw me, and prompted this Question.

Only choose a different scheme if you have specific needs that require that scheme.

GUID Partition Map provides the best compatibility and is the most current scheme.

The top level item is the disk itself, whereas the lower level items are partitions.

When erasing a specific partition, youre only changing that partition, not the whole disk.

Since the scheme is for the entire disk and not one partition, it doesnt make sense to have the scheme show for a partition.

So my advice: Just try again if encountering an error when formatting the higher-level item (partition).

Also, setting the partition to 2 then again back to 1 and hitting Apply may help (not sure, but it does not hurt).

The only way to set GUID Partition Map is to format that higher Partition item rather than the lower Volume item.

You only need MBR if you will be talking to the drive using older versions of Windows (XP and earlier if I remember correctly), and only need the old Apple scheme when using early versions of Mac OS (pre-OS X).

That should allow you to create a partition on the drive and set the partition scheme.

Then select the partition on the left hand side and format it using the filesystem of your choice.

I had a flash drive I tried to format on my dads MacBook and I had the same problem it wouldnt let me erase or format the partition.

When I got home and put it back in my Mac mini I was able to format it without any issues.

Formatting A Flash Drive Using Windows Xp Mac Partition Disk

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Formatting A Flash Drive For Mac Using Windows Xp