USB Flash Drive: Trying to recover space from "erase free space" problem. Finder shows no files i

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Level 1

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USB Flash Drive: Trying to recover space from "erase free space" problem. Finder shows no files i

Hi,

I have an 8gb flash usb drive. (recognizes 7.5gb)

I must have stop the operation or use erase free space orsomething stupid. Regardless, i just want to get it back to full capacity of7.5 gb. I think right now its only 6.2 gb. Finder shows no files inside thedrive. Let me know what i need to do. I try looking at different webpages aboutsparseimage file or 00 written in place of my missing 1.3 gb. But i dont knowhow to get it back. I am new to OSX, so please help me with clear instructions.Thanks

iMac, Mac OS X (10.5.8)

Posted on Dec 10, 2011 10:35 PM

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Answer 1

Rysz

Level 8

44,391 points

Dec 10, 2011 10:40 PM in response to kaichan918

You can reformat it. Plug the drive in, launch Disk Utility (in your Alications> Utilities folder). Select the dove, theme erace/reformat it.

Just be carefully you accidentally don't erase any other external drives!

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Answer 2

kaichan918 Author

Level 1

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Dec 10, 2011 11:28 PM in response to Rysz

select the dove? you mean use erase under disk utility. i have it under erase and zero out data selected. how long does this process take?

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Answer 3

Dec 11, 2011 2:53 AM in response to kaichan918

Zero out data is what's taking a long time. It's not necessary at all, unless you have security concerns about the drive's former contents, such as classified material, pornographic images or such.

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