How do I format a TrueCrypt-encrypted flashdrive?

Question

I encrypted a flashdrive using TrueCrypt, but now I've changed my mind and I want to format it as an unencrypted drive. When I plug it in it is no longer appears on the launcher or in the Nautilus sidebar (until I mount it as an encrypted drive via TrueCrypt, which appears in the Nautilus sidebar, but even then the flash drive itself is not recognised).

How can I access/mount it in order to format it?

Solution

Using Disk Utility or Gparted, delete the partition and create a new one, format it to your choice of filesystem. Disk Utility may have a problem deleting partitions it doesn't understand which may include an encrypted partition. If Gparted also has this problem, open a terminal window and use the following command:

sudo dd if=/dev/zero of=/dev/sdX bs=512 count=1

Where /dev/sdX is the device name of the USB drive. Make sure you have the right device because there will be nothing left on the target device after you press enter. It deletes the partition table entirely.

You can then re-commission the USB device by using Gparted to create a new partition table then create the primary partition and format it as before.

Comments

[Sanam Patel]

When you plug it in and open Disk Utility, what do you get? You really should see it listed, mounted or not. Can you please try that and edit the question?

[lofidevops]

@TomBrossman that worked, thanks! I clarified the question to highlight my (false) expectations, feel free to post an answer on that basis, or I'll answer myself

[lofidevops]

hi greg, I didn't vote your answer down but I can see what the problem is: it doesn't answer the question - the question is about formatting a usb drive (that is a truecrypt volume), not mounting a truecrypt volume, but thanks anyway (if you have an alternate answer you can edit your answer, or you can delete your answer in which case I think you might get the rep back, but I'm not 100% sure about that)

[Greg]

hi d3vid. I see you are the OP. Sorry I misunderstood the question. I have added to my answer. I mistook your question as a problem in gaining access to the drive in order to pull content off it before reformatting the drive. Hopefully, my edit of my answer better answers your questions.