Format USB sticks?

[roshi]

In terms of formatting, what about USB sticks, the 2GB and 8GB kind? What is the best way to format them, if I do NOT need to use them with Windows?

[Racer X]

HFS+ is fine for mac only, but FAT 32 is OK as well.

[N-OS X-tasy!]

FAT32 enables stick to be used with both OS X and Windows.

[MacMagus]

You may find that for 2GB and under only FAT/DOS volumes are supported.

Otherwise, HFS+ is fine.

[Monster]

since I use several of mine on WIndows computers too I use FAT32.

[samintx]

FAT32 defititely. I never format. Just use on mac and WIN as they come out of the box

[BigGuynRusty]

I definitely reformat, gets rid of a lot of crap that some of the USB Sticks come preloaded with, mostly viruses.
HFS+, I use CD/DVD to exchange info with Windows, can't trust them to return the USB stick, they already made a bad decision choosing Windows.

BGnR

[RAMd®d]

I've left some at FAT32 because they are needed between Macs and PCs.

But like the original poster, some I don't need for PCs, so like BG I've reformatted. I don't need the U3 stuff which doesn't work on Macs anyway.

[loveshine]

I have a couple SanDisks with the U3 CD icon that pops up.
Is there an easy way to get rid of it?

Are there any disadvantages to using FAT32 or rather any advantages as far as speed or reliability to use HFS+?

I did a speed tests and a small quicktime file took 2 minutes to be written to my 4GB stick but my 8GB stick took 27 minutes. Could it be a bad stick?
Is there a way to do diagnostics or improve performance?

[OWC Jamie]

Sandisk has a U3 software remover on thier website.
As far as I know, you'll need a PC to use it.

I tried formatting on my G4 and it didn't see the little partition the U3 software resides on.


That U3 software is available on other storage devices, too, so you should be able to find an uninstaller on U3's site.