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Robert4

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Apr 20, 2012
666
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Hello,

Again, thanks all for All the help.
Really appreciated.

Here's what I would like to do, but just can't get it to work:

I created a WORD document on the iMac.

Have read that Windows pc's should have no trouble reading it, as apparently the
extension and formatting are identical.

So, I copied the WORD file created on the Mac to a USB Stick, and then brought it over to a Windows 7 pc
that I also have.

Plugged it into all of the USB Ports on the Windows pc, but would not recognize the USB Stick.

Any way around this ?

Would like to give the USB Stick with the WORD file on it to my son who only has a Windows pc.

Thanks,
Bob
 
Hello,

Again, thanks all for All the help.
Really appreciated.

Here's what I would like to do, but just can't get it to work:

I created a WORD document on the iMac.

Have read that Windows pc's should have no trouble reading it, as apparently the
extension and formatting are identical.

So, I copied the WORD file created on the Mac to a USB Stick, and then brought it over to a Windows 7 pc
that I also have.

Plugged it into all of the USB Ports on the Windows pc, but would not recognize the USB Stick.

Any way around this ?

Would like to give the USB Stick with the WORD file on it to my son who only has a Windows pc.

Thanks,
Bob
Have you successfully used this USB stick on both machines before? It could be the file formatting of the stick itself and not the files (though I’m not actually sure whether this would make a difference. Maybe try emailing it.
 
Hi,

How do I format the USB Stick to FAT32 or exFAT on the iMAC, please ?

Will blame my ignorance on "old age" now.

Thanks again,
Bob
 
Hi,

How do I format the USB Stick to FAT32 or exFAT on the iMAC, please ?

Will blame my ignorance on "old age" now.

Thanks again,
Bob
I’m not in front of my Mac right now, bu it’s something along these lines:
  1. Connect stick
  2. MAKE SURE ANYTHING NEEDED ON THERE IS SAFELY COPIED ELSEWHERE.
  3. Go to Applications>Utilities>Disk Utility
  4. Locate and select your USB drive
  5. Select erase/format
  6. Choose a file system with FAT
  7. Select “go” or “start” or “format” or whatever.
  8. After it’s finished, you should be good to go.
 
Hi,

How do I format the USB Stick to FAT32 or exFAT on the iMAC, please ?

Will blame my ignorance on "old age" now.

Thanks again,
Bob

Insert your USB in your iMac
Open Disk Utility - Applications > Utilities > Disk Utility
Select the USB drive in left column
Select Erase from the top of the screen (this will erase all contents on the USB drive tho)
Change the name of the USB if you like
Select the Format > MS-DOS(FAT)
Erase

Then add your word file to the USB from the Finder again
Plug in your PC and you should be good to go

Edit: What @willmtaylor said while I was typing :)
 
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Hi Guys,

Thanks so much for help; really nice of you all to take the time.

So, I used the Disc Utility and formatted the USB Stick to exFAT.
Put my WORD doc created with WORD for the MAC on it after formatting it.
The MAC has no trouble reading it.

But the W7 pc can't find it.
Tried all of its USB slots.

It also seems that the USB stick, probably, comes from SanDisk formatted as FAT32.
So, the W7 pc apparently can't find the USB Stick formatted aS Either FAT32 OR exFAT.

A good guess is that I'm therefore missing something that should be changed, or selected, or...,
in the W7 pc. Or,...?

Any more thoughts on ?

Thanks,
Bob
 
Hi,

Well, again, thanks for help and suggestions, but we are probably, as the saying goes, beating a dead horse.

Here's the latest, just to bring everyone up to date:

The SanDisk I tried to use is labeled SDCZ36-016G

Pretty sure, but not 100 % sure, that it is USB 2.0. Think it is ?
They don't mark it on the stick.

Works fine for the MAC

Tried with the disc utility reformatting it to exFAT and also again to FAT32.
Older W7 pc won't recognize it.

Took another new USB stick out of box, and it is recognized by the W7 pc.

So, I give up. Will just use this new one.

Tempted to say it's a bad Stick, but the MAC uses it just fine.

Sure is funny, though.

Good academic problem; would be interesting to understand what is, and isn't, happening.
Any future thoughts on, do let me know. (think it might be a USB 3.0 ?)

Thanks again,
Bob
 
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Google search reveals that this model of ScanDisk USB is indeed 2.0
But also reveals a number of issues with it being read by Windows 7
A wide variety of solutions are offered with varying degrees of success

If it were me, I'd just toss it and move it on
 
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Also look to see how it partition is made out I’ve had trouble on windows 7 with sticks for
Formated fat 32 with guid portion instead of mbr we’re win 10 does not care
 
If one USB flashdrive won't work, try a DIFFERENT one.

They are nothing but "commodities".
Most work, but a few won't.

Just toss it and move on...
 
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