usb-creator can't format device

[to be removed]

Binary package hint: usb-creator

I attempted to create a USB stick to use as an installation medium. usb-creator wanted me to format the device. I clicked the "Format" button, and the stick's LED blinked for a bit, and then nothing happens.

The stick has a partition of the 06 type, but it is not formatted. Perhaps this confuses usb-creator?

-- Starting up at 19:00:56 --

-- Starting up at 19:02:01 --

-- Starting up at 19:02:38 --

-- Starting up at 19:33:24 --
[19:33:25] new device:
{'capacity': dbus.UInt64(4007076864L), 'uuid': '', 'label': '', 'free': 0, 'fstype': '', 'device': '/dev/sdb1', 'mountpoint': '', 'udi': '/org/freedesktop/Hal/devices/volume_part1_size_4007076864'}
[19:33:25] adding: /dev/sdb1
[19:34:02] mounting /home/liw/ubuntu-8.04-alternate-amd64.iso
[19:34:03] updating dest_status as part of update_row_state
[19:34:14] Unable to format device
[19:34:52] Unable to format device
[19:36:09] updating dest_status as part of update_row_state