reformat a USB with cd image

[Aaron Konstam]

On Fri, 2007-09-14 at 16:46 -0700, Rick Stevens wrote:
> On Fri, 2007-09-14 at 15:36 -0500, Aaron Konstam wrote:
> > On Fri, 2007-09-14 at 09:54 -0700, Rick Stevens wrote:
> > > On Fri, 2007-09-14 at 16:12 +1000, Lux Zhang wrote:
> > > > Hi,
> > > > 
> > > > I have a USB with a livecd image written on it (using dd if livecd.iso
> > > > of /dev/sdc ). How to revert it to FAT  or  other file system?
> > > 
> > > Run fdisk on it to create partitions of the appropriate type, then
> > > "mkfs -t whatever" to create the filesystems.  In other words, treat
> > > it like any other hard drive.
> > > 
> > > NOTE: You only have a limited number of write cycles on a FLASH memory.
> > > Use them wisely!
> > 500,000 I was told today. That is 499,999 more than a CD-RW.
> 
> A CD-RW has more than that, a CD-R only has one.  I've murdered FLASH
> drives by treating them like a hard disk.  Remember, changing just one
> byte eats up that limited lifecycle.  It's easy to use them up and not
> realize it.
It is also clear my arithmetic is lacking. I meant 499,000 more than a
CD-RW. But what are the alternatives since floppies have disappeared.
I like floppies but "progress" has made them disappear. But floppies
have also limited life.
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Aaron Konstam telephone: (210) 656-0355 e-mail: akonstam at sbcglobal.net