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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

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30 replies

Jun 5, 2012 3:51 PM in response to poflynn

Because it assumes that part of the disk is reserved for OS X meaning you only have the 2.26 GBs for other storage.


If the disk is empty you shouldn't have any problem copying a file to it. You shouldn't have a problem cloning a disc image using Restore. I don't know what you are doing that prevents you from doing either unless you actually have created more than one partition on the disk.

Jun 5, 2012 3:55 PM in response to Kappy

Okay, I'm going to try the Restore process again.

It's definitely only one partition.

I'm doing this following instructions in the Lion Missing Manual, creating a bootable start up with the InstallESD.dmg file from within the package contents of the Lion Install app before I upgrade from Snow Leopard.

Jun 5, 2012 4:06 PM in response to poflynn

Do this. Forget the missing manual. I've done this routine many times, and I know it works. Be sure that your USB flash drive is properly prepped:


Make Your Own Lion Installer


1. After downloading Lion you must first save the Install Mac OS X Lion application. After Lion downloads DO NOT click on the Install button. Go to your Applications folder and make a copy of the Lion installer. Move the copy into your Downloads folder. Now you can click on the Install button. You must do this because the installer deletes itself automatically when it finishes installing Lion.


2. Get a USB flash drive that is at least 8 GBs. Prep this flash drive as follows:


  1. Open Disk Utility in your Utilities folder.
  2. After DU loads select your hard drive (this is the entry with the mfgr.'s ID and size) from the left side list. Note the SMART status of the drive in DU's status area. If it does not say "Verified" then the drive is failing or has failed and will need replacing. SMART info will not be reported on external drives. Otherwise, click on the Partition tab in the DU main window.
  3. Under the Volume Scheme heading set the number of partitions from the drop down menu to one. Set the format type to Mac OS Extended (Journaled.) Click on the Options button, set the partition scheme to GUID then click on the OK button. Click on the Partition button and wait until the process has completed.
  4. Select the volume you just created (this is the sub-entry under the drive entry) from the left side list. Click on the Erase tab in the DU main window.
  5. Set the format type to Mac OS Extended (Journaled.) Click on the Options button, check the button for Zero Data and click on OK to return to the Erase window.
  6. Click on the Erase button. The format process can take up to several hours depending upon the drive size.


3. Locate the saved Lion installer in your Downloads folder. CTRL- or RIGHT-click on the installer and select Show Package Contents from the contextual menu. Double-click on the Contents folder to open it. Double-click on the SharedSupport folder. In this folder you will see a disc image named InstallESD.dmg.


4. Plug in your freshly prepared USB flash drive. You are going to clone the InstallESD.dmg disc image to the flash drive as follows:


  1. Open Disk Utility.
  2. Select the USB flash drive from the left side list.
  3. Click on the Restore tab in the DU main window.
  4. Check the box labeled Erase destination.
  5. Select the USB flash drive volume from the left side list and drag it to the Destination entry field.
  6. Drag the InstallESD.dmg disc image file into the Source entry field.
  7. Double-check you got it right, then click on the Restore button.

When the clone is completed you have a fully bootable Lion installer that you can use without having to re-download Lion.

Jun 5, 2012 4:14 PM in response to Kappy

This is essentially the same instructions in the Missing Manual, except instead of saving a copy first they have you do it before installing Lion.


One thing, however. In the first part of the instructions above, it says to erase and partition your hard drive!?! Shoudn't that be the flash drive?

Partitioning flash drive, size differential

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