[bananaterracottapie]

Hi guys,
yesterday i saved some files from my friend's mac onto my memory stick and now when i try opening my memory stick on my pc it says it is not formatted.
sorry if its a simple question, but if i do format it does that mean i will lose the files on my memory stick? and if so is there anyway i can get them back (they hold all the copies of my finished coursework )

merci,
Bananaterracottapie

[venenecinema]

Yes, you will lose all files. There is probably a way of avoiding this but I don't use a mac, hopefully somebody else can advise you there. Basically if the files are important then DON'T FORMAT IT!

[bananaterracottapie]

(Original post by venenecinema)
Yes, you will lose all files. There is probably a way of avoiding this but I don't use a mac, hopefully somebody else can advise you there. Basically if the files are important then DON'T FORMAT IT!

"phew" good thing i didnt format it then :P sorry if i ddint make it clear, im using a pc not a mac....but i was wondering perhaps it would still work on my friend's mac or is it completely broken?

[venenecinema]

(Original post by bananaterracottapie)
"phew" good thing i didnt format it then :P sorry if i ddint make it clear, im using a pc not a mac....but i was wondering perhaps it would still work on my friend's mac or is it completely broken?

Oh right, sorry I didn't read it properly. I assume that it is formatted in a way that macs can handle but PCs can't then, it should still work on your friend's mac. Or you can get a trial version of a program called "macdrive" which allows you to read from drives which are formatted for a mac on a pc.
EDIT: Hang on, just noticed you said it was your memory stick (must learn to read). In this case I am not really sure what is going on, unless it was reformatted in the mac then I have no clue.

[ttoby]

I found this: http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=234542

Basically, your friend needs to take the files off the memory stick, format the memory stick as FAT32 as described on that link (I can't comment on how to do that myself since I don't use a mac) then put the files back on, then give the memory stick back to you.

[ANARCHY__]

(Original post by bananaterracottapie)
Hi guys,
yesterday i saved some files from my friend's mac onto my memory stick and now when i try opening my memory stick on my pc it says it is not formatted.
sorry if its a simple question, but if i do format it does that mean i will lose the files on my memory stick? and if so is there anyway i can get them back (they hold all the copies of my finished coursework )

merci,
Bananaterracottapie

Macs have a different file system to PCs. Macs use HFS+ whereas PCs use FAT32. However, if you use Wubi (a virtual Ubuntu partition that you can uninstall fairly easily, you will be able to read the files). Of course, it depends which is easier for you to do; either getting the files off your stick from your friends computer or getting it via Ubuntu on your own but here is the Ubuntu method.

Follow the steps listed on the Ubuntu install page EXACTLY. I cannot stress this enough. It will waste a lot of time if you don't. As well as this, note down or remember the password you set. It will be frustrating if you forget during the installation process.

The actual file the guide is talking about is here. Just hit the big orange button. Once you've installed, log on, insert the USB and access your Windows files. Copy and paste everything you need from the USB to the Windows files (Documents/Pictures/whatever) and then remove the USB and restart your computer. Then, from the boot menu, choose Windows and log in. Your files should be there.

Note: If you want to uninstall, click here but I would wait to see if you can read your USB on Windows now. If not, then quote me and I'll tell you how to reformat your USB.

Hope that helps.

[bananaterracottapie]

(Original post by ANARCHY__)
Macs have a different file system to PCs. Macs use HFS+ whereas PCs use FAT32. However, if you use Wubi (a virtual Ubuntu partition that you can uninstall fairly easily, you will be able to read the files). Of course, it depends which is easier for you to do; either getting the files off your stick from your friends computer or getting it via Ubuntu on your own but here is the Ubuntu method.

Follow the steps listed on the Ubuntu install page EXACTLY. I cannot stress this enough. It will waste a lot of time if you don't. As well as this, note down or remember the password you set. It will be frustrating if you forget during the installation process.

The actual file the guide is talking about is here. Just hit the big orange button. Once you've installed, log on, insert the USB and access your Windows files. Copy and paste everything you need from the USB to the Windows files (Documents/Pictures/whatever) and then remove the USB and restart your computer. Then, from the boot menu, choose Windows and log in. Your files should be there.

Note: If you want to uninstall, click here but I would wait to see if you can read your USB on Windows now. If not, then quote me and I'll tell you how to reformat your USB.

Hope that helps.

hi thanks for your reply i've tried downloading ubuntu....twice it got stuck, and the third time it got to the end and said something about not being able to retreive data ( i accidentally clicked out of the message.) as far as i know i followed the exact instructions, so i was wondering if you know why it wont let me install it properly.

+it said could not retreive disk image files

[ANARCHY__]

(Original post by bananaterracottapie)
hi thanks for your reply i've tried downloading ubuntu....twice it got stuck, and the third time it got to the end and said something about not being able to retreive data ( i accidentally clicked out of the message.) as far as i know i followed the exact instructions, so i was wondering if you know why it wont let me install it properly.

+it said could not retreive disk image files

Not entirely sure based on what you've told me unless it was burnt incorrectly to the disc or you removed the disc after restarting the system?

I think the best guide is provided by psychocats who also tell you how to remove Wubi. Remove all current incarnations of it you've got now and then try with the psychocats install guide.

Hope that helps.

[bananaterracottapie]

(Original post by ANARCHY__)
Not entirely sure based on what you've told me unless it was burnt incorrectly to the disc or you removed the disc after restarting the system?

I think the best guide is provided by psychocats who also tell you how to remove Wubi. Remove all current incarnations of it you've got now and then try with the psychocats install guide.

Hope that helps.

thanks managed to install it fine....now having difficulties accessing the memory stick files....it hasn't seem to appeared. :/ i've been looking in file system....am i missing something :/ i can find my external hard-drive just not the memory stic. :/

[ANARCHY__]

(Original post by bananaterracottapie)
thanks managed to install it fine....now having difficulties accessing the memory stick files....it hasn't seem to appeared. :/ i've been looking in file system....am i missing something :/ i can find my external hard-drive just not the memory stic. :/

No worries man. Once you stick your USB in, it should come up as an icon on your desktop. If not, click 'Places' at the top of the screen and it should be somewhere in the drop down menu below. If you can't find it, put a screenshot on this thread of what you see of your desktop after inserting the memory stick.

Hope that helps.

[bananaterracottapie]

(Original post by ANARCHY__)
No worries man. Once you stick your USB in, it should come up as an icon on your desktop. If not, click 'Places' at the top of the screen and it should be somewhere in the drop down menu below. If you can't find it, put a screenshot on this thread of what you see of your desktop after inserting the memory stick.

Hope that helps.

thanks copy and pasted the screen shot into word( i am a novice at these things). definitely starting to think the memory stick is broken as it recognised my external hard-drive when i took it out and put it back in again. its odd because its still at least recognised in windows. i need the files though
edited: because i forgot to attach screenshot lol.

[ANARCHY__]

(Original post by bananaterracottapie)
thanks copy and pasted the screen shot into word( i am a novice at these things). definitely starting to think the memory stick is broken as it recognised my external hard-drive when i took it out and put it back in again. its odd because its still at least recognised in windows. i need the files though
edited: because i forgot to attach screenshot lol.

Sup. The screenshot shows that the USB is either not inserted or not recognised (I suspect the latter). If you want to paste a screenshot next time, try imgur. Just save the screenshot next time you take it and upload it from computer on the site. Try putting the USB in again. If it still doesn't work, then you're going to need to access it from a Mac I'm afraid. Note I say 'a Mac' so if you can get to an Apple store easier then meeting up with your friend, then do it that way. Just make sure you take your USB and an extra external drive.

Peace.

[bananaterracottapie]

(Original post by ANARCHY__)
Sup. The screenshot shows that the USB is either not inserted or not recognised (I suspect the latter). If you want to paste a screenshot next time, try imgur. Just save the screenshot next time you take it and upload it from computer on the site. Try putting the USB in again. If it still doesn't work, then you're going to need to access it from a Mac I'm afraid. Note I say 'a Mac' so if you can get to an Apple store easier then meeting up with your friend, then do it that way. Just make sure you take your USB and an extra external drive.

Peace.

cheers! managed to try again on my friends mac, and now im starting to definitely beginning to suspect i didn't format but corrupted by taking it out soon as wasn't recognised on it either. desperately need the documents, would there be a way of recovering them, or if i take them to a shop would they be able to get them off for me.

[Iqbal007]

(Original post by bananaterracottapie)
cheers! managed to try again on my friends mac, and now im starting to definitely beginning to suspect i didn't format but corrupted by taking it out soon as wasn't recognised on it either. desperately need the documents, would there be a way of recovering them, or if i take them to a shop would they be able to get them off for me.

You can, though takes a while and you'll need to torrent EASUS data recovery wizard professional............I borrowed my mates external hard drive to store my stuff as I built a new PC.........and it wasn't recognised and said the same thing as yours.
I thought they gave a free recovery software, but it tend out it was a lie and it actually costs................but getting that one, it takes a while for it find everything and after it's much quicker to transfer your files. It saved around 200gb worth of files.

[ANARCHY__]

(Original post by bananaterracottapie)
cheers! managed to try again on my friends mac, and now im starting to definitely beginning to suspect i didn't format but corrupted by taking it out soon as wasn't recognised on it either. desperately need the documents, would there be a way of recovering them, or if i take them to a shop would they be able to get them off for me.

Like Iqbal said, you're going to need some kind of file recovery system. The one he suggested is good or you can go on Ubuntu and try on the Ubuntu store to see if anything is free (pretty much everything there is free).

[bananaterracottapie]

(Original post by ANARCHY__)
Like Iqbal said, you're going to need some kind of file recovery system. The one he suggested is good or you can go on Ubuntu and try on the Ubuntu store to see if anything is free (pretty much everything there is free).

i'll try that one out do you know whether i need to reformat the memory stick before trying to recover it?

[bananaterracottapie]

(Original post by Iqbal007)
You can, though takes a while and you'll need to torrent EASUS data recovery wizard professional............I borrowed my mates external hard drive to store my stuff as I built a new PC.........and it wasn't recognised and said the same thing as yours.
I thought they gave a free recovery software, but it tend out it was a lie and it actually costs................but getting that one, it takes a while for it find everything and after it's much quicker to transfer your files. It saved around 200gb worth of files.

hey, thanks for the advice. i've installed the software....and done a search under every drive...i think, apart from the c drive, im not sure though whether i've done my memory stick ( one drive came up under system with no C or D attached to it). but anyway after asking it to search each drive...its coming up with folders but 0 files for me to select.......
is this because I haven't reformatted my memory stick and it's not recognising it or something?

[ANARCHY__]

(Original post by bananaterracottapie)
i'll try that one out do you know whether i need to reformat the memory stick before trying to recover it?

If you reformat it, you will lose your files so don't do that.

[Iqbal007]

(Original post by bananaterracottapie)
hey, thanks for the advice. i've installed the software....and done a search under every drive...i think, apart from the c drive, im not sure though whether i've done my memory stick ( one drive came up under system with no C or D attached to it). but anyway after asking it to search each drive...its coming up with folders but 0 files for me to select.......
is this because I haven't reformatted my memory stick and it's not recognising it or something?

Did you torrent this EASUS data recovery wizard professional? Don't get it form their website.
Insert your usb stick, find the specific one and then let it find the folders.

[bananaterracottapie]

(Original post by Iqbal007)
Did you torrent this EASUS data recovery wizard professional? Don't get it form their website.
Insert your usb stick, find the specific one and then let it find the folders.

hmmmmmm, i dno, why wouldn't it find it files on the free one thoug?. the free one said it would let me recover 1gb....and i managed to recover some files just couldnt find the memory stick. ahh well ill try torrenting. which torrent program would you recommend?