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poflynn Author

Level 4

1,303 points

Partitioning flash drive, size differential

In Disk Utility, when I format and partition an 8GB flash drive it starts out saying an 8GB partion will be created.

When it's done, it reads:

Size: 7.66 GB (not unusual)

Available space: 2.26 GB

The blue area of the box is only part way filled in. When I resize the thing up to the blue, so that the Available space reads Zero KB, the Size then reads 5.4 GB, exactly the difference between 7.66 and 2.26.

What does that mean? There's nothing on the drive. I did an Erase and tried again, but same thing.

I'm confused.

iMac7,1 2.4 GHz; 2GB, Mac OS X (10.4.11), Tiger iLife '08 Alesis IO|14 FW Interface

Posted on Jun 5, 2012 3:37 PM

30 replies

poflynn Author

Level 4

1,303 points

Jun 5, 2012 4:54 PM in response to Kappy

Kappy wrote:

Yes, but it can be done on any drive.

Yes, but it says, in the second part "on your freshly prepared flash drive" but there's no instruction on preparing a flash drive.

I'm going to try again, following your instructions, and assuming that the first part means the flash drive - and not erase my hard drive after I've just installed Lion. That has to be a mistake there.

Kappy

Level 10

361,741 points

Jun 5, 2012 4:56 PM in response to poflynn

That's very unusual. You are sure you partitioned the flash drive using GUID and formatted Mac OS Extended, Journaled?

What you can try is to mount the InstallESD.dmg, then in DU's Restore use the mounted disc image for the Source.

BTW, are you using a Snow Leopard version of DU or are you using the one in Tiger? You must use the former.

Kappy

Level 10

361,741 points

Jun 5, 2012 4:58 PM in response to poflynn

Yes there is. It's all of Step 2. Change "After DU loads select your hard drive" to "After DU loads select your flash drive."

poflynn Author

Level 4

1,303 points

Jun 5, 2012 5:05 PM in response to Kappy

I dragged the InstallESD.dmg to the list on the left in DU first, then from there put it in the Source field. Is that what you mean by "mount" (forgive my ignorance).

Definitely GUID, Extended Journaled, etc.

And yes, I'm in Snow Leopard.

Perhaps the flash drive is faulty?

Thanks for the correction on the instructions.

poflynn Author

Level 4

1,303 points

Jun 5, 2012 5:12 PM in response to poflynn

Also, in 2. c. there is no "Partition" button, but an "Apply" button. Then the window opens with the "Partition" button.

Message was edited by: poflynn

Kappy

Level 10

361,741 points

Jun 5, 2012 5:14 PM in response to poflynn

Mounting a disc image means double-click on the .dmg file icon. This will mount the disc image on the Desktop as a white external disk icon. I mean use that as the source.

Yes, it's possible the flash drive is faulty. What make and model is it? It's also possible that the current Lion installerESD.dmg requires more than 7.66 GBs of space when fully restored. You might try using a 16 GB flash drive instead.

poflynn Author

Level 4

1,303 points

Jun 5, 2012 5:21 PM in response to Kappy

It's a SanDisk Cruzer USB 2.0 8GB. The .dmg is 4.18. (According to the beloved missing manual all you need is 5 GB.)

I can try it on a partition of my USB 1 TB external hard drive just to see if it works.

Kappy

Level 10

361,741 points

Jun 5, 2012 5:39 PM in response to poflynn

Oh, that explains everything. Those puppies are the worst. My suggestion: Lexar® JumpDrive® S70 USB Flash Drive or PNY Attache 2. Avoid SanDisk, Transcend, and Kingston Travelers. They are iffy when used with Macs. I use Lexar or PNY exclusively.

poflynn Author

Level 4

1,303 points

Jun 5, 2012 5:46 PM in response to Kappy

I should have known to stay away from Radio Shack. I should have mentioned that from the start. But I have learned a lot anyway.

I still don't understand the size thing (Available space: 2.26 GB)

Thanks for all the help.

poflynn Author

Level 4

1,303 points

Jun 5, 2012 5:50 PM in response to Kappy

btw, one more thing, the other day I ordered some A-DATA flash drives from MacMall. Any word on them?

Kappy

Level 10

361,741 points

Jun 5, 2012 5:51 PM in response to poflynn

I've not used them personally, but I have not heard anything bad about them. Give 'em a try.

poflynn Author

Level 4

1,303 points

Jun 5, 2012 6:19 PM in response to Kappy

Thanks again, Kappy.

poflynn Author

Level 4

1,303 points

Jun 5, 2012 7:04 PM in response to Kappy

Well, now it worked. I did as you suggested and mounted the .dmg. Now the flash drive is full size (7.66), and the name is changed to the same as the .dmg, "Mac OS X Install ESD." I had simply named it "Lion Installer."

Go figure.

I also read here http://macs.about.com/od/diyguidesprojects/ss/usbflash_3.htm

that I need to give permission in Get Info by unchecking "Ignore ownership on this volume."