Disk Utility replaced FAT32 with just FAT

Try it. It still should work.

Try using the command line/terminal:

diskutil partitionDisk /dev/disk6 MBRFormat "MS-DOS FAT32" "partition name" 100%

Be sure you use your target/disk by name instead of just /disk6 as exampled above.

Do you know for a fact that it isn't actually formatted with FAT32? I know that Disk Utility just says FAT, but maybe it's just being user-friendly with the name.

what Disk Utility lists as FAT among formatting options is actually FAT32.
you REALLY have to go out of your way to format something FAT16 with DU. AFAIK, this can only be done from command line.

maybe it's just being user-friendly with the name.

Actually, it/apple is catering to the sea of (USB) thumbdrives that depend on a trended version of FAT.

Imagine providing more than one choice and the confusion and dismay that would breakout on the forums if there were more than one choice when it came time to format all those HelloKitty t'drives out there 🙂 OMG!! OMG!! 🙂

MS DOS FAT means FAT32 in a Mac os x. Don't be confused with just the name. Try formatting it and do a get info on it or right click properties on a PC

I first noticed an issue when I formatted some SD cards and the camera could not recognize them. I had to use a different camera that did recognize them but needed to format them to fix them. I just tried using Disk Utility to format a USB thumbdrive as MS DOS Fat and DU now reports it as being "MS Dos (Fat 16)" and using the "Partition map scheme: GUID Partition Table". Probably why my SD cards would not work in the older camera.

The USB drive formatted on the WinXP will show MS-DOS (Fat 32) with the Partition Map Scheme: Master Boot Record. DU can change the Partition Map Scheme using the partitioner but there is no Fat 32 option.

KT,

I tried your syntax on a 512 MB Swiss Army Knife USB memory stick. It worked, producing a FAT32 volume which Disk Utility verifies.

This topic is turning out to be more complicated than it appeared to be:

http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/leica-m9-forum/100131-memory-cards-beh aving-erratically-m9-3.html

It is clear that Disk Utility in Snow Leopard can create FAT32 volumes under some conditions.

I first noticed an issue when I formatted some SD cards and the camera could not recognize them. I had to use a different camera that did recognize them but needed to format them to fix them

Camera makers usually recommend using the camera to format the cards.

. I just tried using Disk Utility to format a USB thumbdrive as MS DOS Fat and DU now reports it as being "MS Dos (Fat 16)" and using the "Partition map scheme: GUID Partition Table".

Select the thumb-drive in Disk Utility's left column (select the drive, all the way at the left, not the volume indented below it), click the "Partition" tab, set "Volume Scheme" to "1 Partition", click the "Options" button, choose "Master Boot Record", click "OK", set "Format" to MS-DOS (FAT), set the volume "Nane", then click "Apply".

I ran into this problem a couple of weeks ago - it sounds like you have a U3 partition on the pen drive. See http://u3.com/support/default.aspx#CQ3 for information on how to delete the partition. Once deleted you can format it FAT 32 without any problems.

This suggestion works for thumb drives that need to be readable by Windows and Mac.

1. I first tried to just erase the drive using disk utility and use the MS-DOS(FAT) selection. This did not work. I have a VM of Windows XP and it would not read it.
2. By following the partitioning instructions (the MBR is the trick), everything works fine.

Seems a little tricky to get this done.

Thanks