commands from lengthy tutorial at https://www.lifewire.com/fix-a-broken-usb-drive-using-linux-4116970 $ sudo fdisk /dev/sdX d[, d, ..., d] # delete w # write $ sudo fdisk /dev/sdX # or r, zsh's built-in repeat command command n # new; they incorrectly (?) say N in tutorial, which doesn't work p # primary 1 # partition number RET RET # default start and end sector numbers w $ sudo partprobe # tell kernel of table changes; no reboot needed $ sudo mkfs.vfat -F 32 /dev/sdX1 # err, make fs :)