How To Completely Format a USB Stick and Merge Partitions in Ubuntu

In this tutorial, we will guide you through the process of completely formatting a USB stick and merging partitions in Ubuntu. This process is essential when you want to erase all data on your USB stick or when you need to merge multiple partitions into one.

Prerequisites

Before we begin, ensure you have the following:

• A USB stick
• A computer running Ubuntu
• Basic knowledge of terminal commands

Caution: This process will erase all data on your USB stick. Ensure you have backed up any important data before proceeding.

Identifying the USB Stick

First, you need to identify the device name of your USB stick. This can be done using the fdisk command or by checking GParted.

Open a terminal and run the following command:

sudo fdisk -l

This command lists all the disks and their partitions on your computer. Identify your USB stick from the list (e.g., /dev/sdb).

Unmounting the USB Stick

Before formatting, you need to unmount any mounted partitions on the USB stick. Use the following command:

sudo umount /dev/sdb*

Here, /dev/sdb* represents all partitions on the USB stick.

Formatting the USB Stick

Using the dd Command

The dd command is a powerful tool for copying and converting data. We will use it to overwrite the entire USB stick with random data or zeros.

To fill the USB stick with random data, use the following command:

sudo dd if=/dev/urandom of=/dev/sdb

In this command, if stands for input file and of stands for output file. /dev/urandom is a file that produces random data when read. The command reads from /dev/urandom and writes to /dev/sdb, effectively overwriting the USB stick with random data.

To fill the USB stick with zeros, use the following command:

sudo dd if=/dev/zero of=/dev/sdb

Here, /dev/zero is a file that produces null bytes when read. The command reads from /dev/zero and writes to /dev/sdb, filling the USB stick with zeros.

Using GParted

GParted is a graphical partition editor that allows you to easily manage your disk partitions. If you haven’t installed it already, you can do so by running sudo apt install gparted in the terminal.

To format the USB stick using GParted:

1. Open GParted.
2. Select your USB stick from the drop-down menu in the upper-right-hand corner.
3. Go to Device and choose Create Partition Table.
4. A window will appear. Click Apply to create a new partition table on the USB stick.

At this point, your USB stick is completely formatted and ready for use.

Merging Partitions

To merge partitions on your USB stick, follow these steps:

1. Open GParted and select your USB stick.
2. Delete the partitions you want to merge by right-clicking on each one and choosing Delete.
3. Once all necessary partitions are deleted, create a new partition that spans the entire USB stick.
4. Click the green checkmark button to apply the changes.

Your USB stick now has a single partition that spans its entire capacity.

Conclusion

In this tutorial, we covered how to completely format a USB stick and merge partitions in Ubuntu. We discussed two methods of formatting: using the dd command and using GParted. We also covered how to merge partitions using GParted. Remember to exercise caution when performing these actions, as they will irreversibly delete all data on your USB stick. Always double-check the device name and ensure you have backed up any important data.