yeah. I think all is loast. I finally got around to looking at the gparted report: ======================================== Device: /dev/sdd Model: SanDisk Ultra Serial: Sector size: 512 Total sectors: 60063744 Heads: 255 Sectors/track: 2 Cylinders: 117772 Partition table: none PartitionTypeStartEndFlagsPartition NameFile SystemLabelMount Point /dev/sdd Unpartitioned 0 60063743 iso9660 Kali Live ======================================== *Format /dev/sdd as ext4* 00:00:17 ( ERROR ) calibrate /dev/sdd 00:00:00 ( SUCCESS ) *path: /dev/sdd (device)start: 0end: 60063743size: 60063744 (28.64 GiB)* clear old file system signatures in /dev/sdd 00:00:17 ( ERROR ) write 512.00 KiB of zeros at byte offset 0 00:00:17 ( ERROR ) libparted messages ( ERROR ) *Unable to open /dev/sdd read-write (Read-only file system). /dev/sdd has been opened read-only.* *Can't write to /dev/sdd, because it is opened read-only.* *Can't write to /dev/sdd, because it is opened read-only.* On Mon, Jan 16, 2023 at 7:55 PM Michael wrote: > any advice before I toss it? I suppose I could buy a chain and wear it > around my neck! > > On Mon, Jan 16, 2023 at 7:53 PM Michael wrote: > >> lovely, my 32gb ultra is toast. I started gparted to see if I could >> format it and the square showing the partitions and usage is gray (as >> well as the file system icon). >> >> On Mon, Jan 16, 2023 at 7:16 PM Steve Litt via PLUG-discuss < >> plug-discuss@lists.phxlinux.org> wrote: >> >>> Eric Oyen via PLUG-discuss said on Mon, 16 Jan 2023 16:38:57 -0700 >>> >>> >For most things, I use USB sticks in >>> >a write once, read many configuration scenario. >>> >>> Another thing I've found anecdotally that helps lengthen the USB stick >>> life, whether write once or write a bunch, is to format it as Ext4. I >>> don't think I ever had one go bad as Ext4, but I have with the windows >>> format they're shipped with. Of course, if you have to interact with >>> windows computers or devices expecting windows formated USB sticks, my >>> trick becomes useless. >>> >>> SteveT >>> >>> Steve Litt >>> Autumn 2022 featured book: Thriving in Tough Times >>> http://www.troubleshooters.com/bookstore/thrive.htm >>> --------------------------------------------------- >>> PLUG-discuss mailing list: PLUG-discuss@lists.phxlinux.org >>> To subscribe, unsubscribe, or to change your mail settings: >>> https://lists.phxlinux.org/mailman/listinfo/plug-discuss >>> >> >> >> -- >> :-)~MIKE~(-: >> > > > -- > :-)~MIKE~(-: > -- :-)~MIKE~(-: