# utility-format-usb.sh

## Description

The scripts partitions and formats any USB device using **exFAT** filesystem. To avoid accidental format of non removable devices a couple of safeguards exist.

The script will check if the supplied device is valid then it checks if the device is in fact a removable device. If any of these checks fail the script aborts.

The script will ask for user confirmation twice and default to abort on <kbd>Enter</kbd>

## Use case
Re-purpose the USB stick if you have flashed an ISO to it.

Why? Because writing an ISO using `dd` writes an ISO9660 filesystem to a small part of the USB - the rest is inaccessible.

## Instructions
Create the folder **~/.local/bin** and copy the file `format-usb.sh` into the folder, then make sure the file is executable.
```
mkdir -p ~/.local/bin
chmod +x ~/.local/bin/format-usb.sh
```

## Usage
Remove your USB if attached and list devices

    lsblk

Insert your USB device and list the devices

    lsblk

The new device in the list is your USB device e.g. /dev/sdy - format the device using the script

    format-usb.sh /dev/sdy

## Note
What this script does can probably be done in numerous ways with numerous tools.

The **list contains** validation is taken from this [stackoverflow topic][1]