I have a lexar USB 32GBs and it has its permissions set as read-only and it is formatted as FAT32 and it can't be formatted in disk utility since it is greyed out and it unable to even recognize it there. ⚠
MacBook Air, OS X Mavericks (10.9.2)
In disk utility, select the lexar (I presume it's a stick/pen/thumb drive). On the right hand side, is the "Repair Disk" button enabled (not greyed out)? If so, click it. Reply with result, good or bad.
The Disk Utility IS GREYED OUT . and there is no option for me to set its permissions
Is the USB drive write protected?
Some USB flash drives that are used to distribute software have code on them that prevents you from reformatting the drive. Where did this drive come from?
Its a lexar 32GB drive which i got from best buy canada
In general you should be able to reformat a USB stick using Disk Utility. Some models restrict this however.
What's the exact model? Have you checked to see if it is write protected?
I have one USB falsh drive that is write protected which I set up using the program that came on the stick. It requires a PW to unprotect it. Is there a program on yours that is a security program? If so you need to open it with a PW to change the settings.
The Disk Utility IS GREYED OUT . and there is no option for me to set its permissions
Are you saying you cannot launch Disk Utility?
Applications -> Utilities -> Disk Utility, and you cannot not start it?
If you can launch Disk Utility, AND if the Lexar is grayed out in the Disk Utility side-bar, then I've found that if the USB thumb drive has a "Write Lock" switch, that will prevent Disk Utility from formatting the disk. Although I have only had 1 USB Thumbdrive that had a "Write Lock" switch. All the others I own were always read/write and no switch on the side.
Next question, are you logged into your Mac as an Administrator (generally the first account created on the Mac is the administrator), or are you a non-privileged account on the Mac. It is always possible that you need to be an admin (this is just guessing, and has no basis in reality).
Some flash drives have a failure mode in which they are irreversibly write-locked by the internal controller when it detects a write error. If the drive doesn't have a write-lock switch (most do not) and you can't erase it in Disk Utility, that's almost certainly what has happened. To be sure, test it with another computer, if possible.
| LJDS50-32GASBNA | Lexar JumpDrive S50 |
that is the model number and name for the usb drive i have
The problem is that it wont l;et mye copy anything on to it or off it. and when i tried to reset its permissions iot doesnt give me the options to and if i tried to refomat ion disk utility the option is greyed out as in i cannot select the option.
i did look in the :"get info" section for the usb drive and it is set to read only so i do need a way to make it re writable !
and yes i am logged onto to my mac as the admin
It's not clear whether you read or understood my first comment. If it's not understandable, please be specific about what you don't understand and I'll try to clarify.
Alright I'm gonna fully explain the situation .
I have a Green 32GB Lexar USB Stick -> LJDS50 - 32GASBNA
I had a few pictures on it through my mac and now after about 2 weeks i put it into my mac and it was
1) unrecognized by Finder unless i restart the computer everytime i insert it.
and
2) it is not letting me put any files in it
when i looked in the permissions of the drive it only says read - only and has no options to change it.
it is in a FAT32 Format and when i tried to reformat it in disk utility it does not let me as the option cannot be selected as it is greyed out .
I just tried to put it in a windows computer and tried to format it from there and it showed me messages of the disk being "WRITE PROTECTED" AND from the command prompt it says it is NOT READ-ONLY.
what i am trying to do is somehow get the disk to a rewritable level then format it
The drive has failed and is permanently locked.
NOOÖ 😟
Its all good atleast we figured out the problem and thank god it was cheap !
thanks for your all your help guys !
How do you format a USB on a mac
