[clug] Getting rid of a partition on a USB drive

[Paul Wayper]

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On 04/08/2011 08:23 AM, jhock wrote:
> Hi All,
> 
> I have a 2GB USB drive. I stupidly put it into a M$ operating system and
> it now has two drives. I think one is for the annoyingly stupid waste
> bin.  So now I have a 1.5 gb drive /dev/sdb and a ~480 mb
> drive /dev/sdc.

I suspect this isn't anything to do with Windows.  The Cruzer USB key that I
have has this annoying software that says 'oh let me help you by pretending to
be a CD drive with drivers for stupid operating systems, and I'll also provide
you with an annoying program that runs every time you plug me into a Windows
system that helps you organise your stuff because you're completely incapable
of doing it on your own, and don't worry because no-one could possibly subvert
this and use it as a vector to install viruses or malware.'

It's a pain, and I believe there are utilities out there to nuke it.  It's the
only way to be sure.

As Craig says, a device will turn up as (e.g.) /dev/sdb and its partitions are
numbered /dev/sdb1, /dev/sdb2, /dev/sdb3 and so on from there.  To get a
second device indicates that the USB key actually thinks it's two separate
drives.  Check your dmesg or /var/log/messages to see what the kernel thinks
was actually plugged in - this may help explain what's going on.

Have fun,

Paul
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