Formating a USB stick

[gdt]

For various reasons it's a good idea to re-partition and re-format new flash memory prior to first use.

Delete the existing partition table and create a new one.

# fdisk /dev/sdb

Command (m for help): d
Selected partition 1

Command (m for help): n
Command action
e extended
p primary partition (1-4)
p
Partition number (1-4): 1
First cylinder (1-16384, default 1): 1
Using default value 1
Last cylinder or +size or +sizeM or +sizeK (1-16384, default 16384): 16384
Using default value 16384

Command (m for help): t
Selected partition 1
Hex code (type L to list codes): 6
Changed system type of partition 1 to 6 (FAT16)

Command (m for help): p
Disk /dev/sdb: 2013 MB, 2013265920 bytes
16 heads, 15 sectors/track, 16384 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 240 * 512 = 122880 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x00000000

Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/sdb1 1 16384 1966072+ 6 FAT16

Command (m for help): w
The partition table has been altered!

Calling ioctl() to re-read partition table.

WARNING: If you have created or modified any DOS 6.x
partitions, please see the fdisk manual page for additional
information.
Syncing disks.

Now create a vanilla MS-DOS/Windows filesystem upon that new partition.

# mkfs -t vfat -F 16 -n 'YOUR-NAME' /dev/sdb1
mkfs.vfat 2.11 (12 Mar 2005)

If your USB disk is suddenly of much less capacity you may want to return it to Dodgy Brothers.