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1. Insert the USB drive.

2. Navigate to Macintosh HD > Applications > Utilities and open Terminal.

3. At the Terminal prompt, type the following command, replacing path_to_volume with the real path:

   sudo mdutil -i off /path_to_volume

4. Press return.

5. If prompted for a password, type your admin password, then press return. You will receive the response:
   

   /path_to_volume/: Indexing disabled for volume. in Mac OS X 10.4 or

   /path_to_volume: Indexing disabled. under Mac OS X 10.5 or later.

   Spotlight will immediately cease to index the specified volume.

6. If you are using Mac OS X 10.5 or later, skip to step 9.

7. At the Terminal prompt, type the following command, again substituting the correct path:

   sudo mdutil -E /path_to_volume and press return

8. If prompted for a password, type your admin password, then press return. You will receive the response:

   /path_to_volume/: Volume index removed.

9. At the Terminal prompt, type exit then press return.

10. Quit Terminal.

Thanks to thexlab.com, their troubleshooting Mac OS X e-books, and their website for the detailed explanation of why other methods sort of work.