How to format a USB key

Environment

• Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6
• Rescue environment

Issue

• How to format a USB key

Resolution

plug the usb key in the computer, and check the last /dev/sd device detected :

# ls -l /dev/sd?

Here we will use /dev/sdX ; use fdisk to confirm it is the right disk :

# fdisk -l /dev/sdx

then on the partition you need to format, here /dev/sdx1 use

# mkfs -t vfat /dev/sdx1

remember to sync before unplugging the usb key

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