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robbrown robbrown
 
M$1 January 08, 2009 02:56 PM

How do I format a drive with Fat32?

I'm running Windows Vista on my laptop and would like to format an external USB drive with Fat32.

The drive is 100 gb so I'd like to overcome the 32 gb limit that Vista's Fat32 formatting allow.

I'm aware of the speed and fragmentation issues that formatting a large drive in Fat32 incurs however, I want to use the drive on my PS3 so Fat32 is my only option.

I don't want to pay for any any software to do it.
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darth cont... darth cont...
 
 January 08, 2009 03:02 PM
The forum thread linked below has one solution specific to Vista and the PS3.
Source(s):
http://www.vistax64.com/vista-hardware-devices/114233-external-hdd-format-f...

Asker's Rating:
• Thanks Darth!

While your initial answer was incomplete, through our conversation you led me to the best choice: http://tokiwa.qee.jp/EN/Fat32Formatter/index.html


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robbrown robbrown
 
January 08, 2009 03:10 PM
Thank-you for such a speedy answer! However, it is insufficient.

The thread mentions that this command will work:
format /FS:FAT32 x:

The format command in Vista requires that Fat32 partitions be less than 32 gb. I want one that is as large as possible, well over 32 gb.

The thread also mentioned 2 pieces of software, however, I'm hesitant to download and install them. Have you used either of these pieces of software before Darth? Do they work?

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darth cont... darth cont...
 
January 08, 2009 03:23 PM
Check this info on creating FAT32 partitions larger than 32 GB:

"FAT32 on drives > 32 GB
Under XP and higher Microsoft has blocked formating drives larger than 32 GB with FAT32 without a good reason. But for devices with a standalone function as image tanks or MP3 players FAT32 is essential - they don't work with NTFS formatted drives.

The german computer magazine c't offers a format tool - H2Format. But it works on unformatted partitions only. To prepare a drive, go to the Disk Management, delete the partition, create a new one and select 'Do not format'. Then use H2Format to write a FAT32 file system - usage is similar to the FORMAT.EXE. Sample:

h2format u:

It's very fast because it does nothing else then writing an empty FAT32 file system.

Another FAT32 formatting tool is Fat32Formatter. Under Linux there is the tool "MakeDosFileSystem", short MKDOSFS. There is a Windows port:
http://www1.mager.org/mkdosfs"

(from http://www.uwe-sieber.de/usbtrouble_e.html#format_fat32)

Of the utilities mentioned here, I haven't tried them myself (anytime I've needed a large partition I've chosen NTFS, for one thing I work frequently with some files bigger than FAT32's 4GB limit). Of the ones the link suggests, this one might be the most straightforward to use:

http://tokiwa.qee.jp/EN/Fat32Formatter/index.html

It's a GUI rather than console app, it may be somewhat easier and more intuitive to use.

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robbrown robbrown
 
January 08, 2009 03:36 PM
I googled for the H2 link and found this: http://www.heise.de/software/download/h2format/40825 However, I'm nervous that the buttons and instructions will also be in Dutch, so I have to write that one off.

I'm trying this one here: http://tokiwa.qee.jp/EN/Fat32Formatter/index.html and it's running with the lights on the drive flashing. If it works, you'll get the best answer. I'll let you know if it works out, Darth. Thanks.

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darth cont... darth cont...
 
January 08, 2009 03:53 PM
Good luck! [crossing fingers] ;-}

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robbrown robbrown
 
January 08, 2009 05:40 PM
This is it:

http://tokiwa.qee.jp/EN/Fat32Formatter/index.html

While the homepage and application design itself doesn't particularly instill confidence, the application itself worked flawlessly.

I ran it and with 2 clicks it started to format my external drive in Windows. I now have a 100 gig Fat32 partition on the drive that works with both Windows Vista and my beloved PS3.

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darth cont... darth cont...
 
January 08, 2009 05:56 PM
Thanks, and glad it worked out for you in the end! :-)

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Other Answers (4)

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littlepea littlepea
 
January 08, 2009 03:12 PM
You should try SwissKnife (http://www.compuapps.com/download/Swissknife/swissknife.htm), I think it's mentioned in darth's article above.

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robbrown robbrown
 
January 08, 2009 03:26 PM
Sadly, it crashes on launch.

Must be a vista thing... SwissKnife is using an old version of InstallShield so I suspect that it doesn't play well with Vista.

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littlepea littlepea
 
January 08, 2009 03:30 PM
Hmmm then as darth suggested in his last comment, try h2format. You also need to mark the partition you want to format as active in the Disk Manager.

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xds xds
 
January 08, 2009 03:14 PM
If you can get access to a Windows 98 machine then format the drive with
that.

If you do not have access to a Win98 box then :-

1. Remove the drive from the enclosure
2. Turn off your computer
3. Totally disconnect your computer's HDD/s (This is for safeties sake to
stop you from formatting your machines drives by mistake)
4. Connect the HDD from the enclosure to your motherboard and power supply
5. Obtain a Win98 boot floppy ( http://www.bootdisk.com )
6. Boot your computer from the floppy disk
7.Run FDISK and delete the partion
8. Reboot from the floppy
9. Format the HDD with the FORMAT command
10. Turn off the machine
11. Remove the HDD and replace it in the enclosure
12. Reconnect your internal HDDs

Also many drive manufacturer's (Like WD and Maxtor) have free drive formating utilities you can just put on a floppy or even a CD if you feel adventurous.


I'd be happy to hunt one down if you let us know the make of the drive.


Kind Regards,
~XDS



PS: Just a quick note as well that any .NET based format utility would be a great option to try.
Source(s):
My Brain.


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robbrown robbrown
 
January 08, 2009 03:30 PM
This is a great answer xds and I'm going to use it as a last option.

Since I'm on a laptop and would have to rip a desktop out of it's home under a desk, it will be a large pain to follow these instructions. I know that this is the best geeky-techy way to do it, but i'm really hoping for some free software or alternative method that I can use in Vista to format with Fat32 and LBA.

Thanks again, I've shot you a tip for this answer.

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xds xds
 
January 08, 2009 03:47 PM
Appreciate it,
Man thanks, i was really having a bad day yesterday, i'm sorry if you got caught in the crossfire.

There is ALWAYS more than one way to skin a cat! :~)

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coolin86 coolin86
 
January 08, 2009 03:48 PM
Almost any linux boot disk will allow you do do this. I recently used the QParted program on the SystemRescueDisk (link below).

1) Download and burn the disk image
2) Reboot your computer with this disk in the drive
3) Follow the onscreen prompts to boot into the GUI
4) Open Qparted and select your drive
5) Create a new Fat32 Partition and write changes to disk
6) Remove the disk and boot into Windows

Let me know if you have further questions.
Source(s):
http://www.sysresccd.org/Main_Page


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nativenerd nativenerd
 
January 08, 2009 04:39 PM
DL and burn Knoppix to CD(http://www.knoppix.net/), then boot to the CD, it boots your computer to work in linux without making any changes to the actual system. Once booted in, use tools to format drive to Fat32...should work like a champ! =)

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