AnimeSuki Forums

strategos · 2009-01-04, 20:37

Well, I am going to buy soon a HDD and encloser to built up a External HDD. I know that if you format it right now with windows xp the format you will get is NFTS. But I would like to format it into Fat32. I know this was able with Win98, but to my bad luck my old desktop that had win 98 died. I heard there are ways to format it with winxp thru cmd or thru some other free software. Anyone knows how this is possible? Any guide to this? Thank You ^_^

Sides · 2009-01-04, 20:52

Well with XP and vista, Windows will refuse to format any drive/storage that is above 32GB into fat32. Two options, MSDOS/Win9x bootdisc or use the format command in the recovery console. IMO both a hassle, i recommend using a 3rd party software, i.e Fat32Formatter or mkdosfs, there should be alot of alternative software solutions.

Claies · 2009-01-04, 22:40

Another way is to get a Linux "rescue disc," such as SystemRescueCD, boot your PC with it, and use its free partition utilities. SystemRescueCD has one called GParted that can format partitions and volumes to, among many others, FAT32.

I looked at Sides' recommendation and fat32formatter looks good and easy to use: Here.

Tiberium Wolf · 2009-01-05, 01:08

You want to use the disk in the external closure with fat32? If yes that's a bad idea because if u get an unsafe unmount you might get errors and windows xp will perform always a disk check. I advise you to use ntfs.

Sides · 2009-01-05, 07:44

Depends fat32 is the only file system supported by STB, such as ps3 or mediaplayers. It should be fine unless the HDD is powered via usb.

strategos · 2009-01-05, 10:26

Well, I got an old USB, that was last formated when my old desktop was still alive, and it is fat 32 format. Never had problem with that format. I kind would prefer that format 'cause I can share many of my files with other types of systems that doesn't support the NTFS such as MACS and other types of OS. In order to transfer works. Unfortunately I don't got a MAC yet, and asking others to lend me their macs to format the HDD into Fat 32 might take longer than it should. So any help would be great for this great mission ^_^. Thank You =D

Sci-Fi · 2009-01-05, 19:29

Take a look at CompuApps SwissKnife:
http://www.compuapps.com/download/Sw...swissknife.htm

That freebie program can format any HD, with just about any interface, up to 2TB for a single partition to Fat32 (or NTFS).

2009-01-04, 20:37	Link #1
strategos Senior Member Join Date: May 2004	How to reformat a HDD into Fat32? Well, I am going to buy soon a HDD and encloser to built up a External HDD. I know that if you format it right now with windows xp the format you will get is NFTS. But I would like to format it into Fat32. I know this was able with Win98, but to my bad luck my old desktop that had win 98 died. I heard there are ways to format it with winxp thru cmd or thru some other free software. Anyone knows how this is possible? Any guide to this? Thank You ^_^ __________________ Support your favorite Anime/Manga when they are available at you region!!!! http://www.viz.com/apps http://www.hulu.com

2009-01-05, 01:08	Link #4
Tiberium Wolf Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Age: 44	You want to use the disk in the external closure with fat32? If yes that's a bad idea because if u get an unsafe unmount you might get errors and windows xp will perform always a disk check. I advise you to use ntfs. __________________

2009-01-05, 10:26	Link #6
strategos Senior Member Join Date: May 2004	Well, I got an old USB, that was last formated when my old desktop was still alive, and it is fat 32 format. Never had problem with that format. I kind would prefer that format 'cause I can share many of my files with other types of systems that doesn't support the NTFS such as MACS and other types of OS. In order to transfer works. Unfortunately I don't got a MAC yet, and asking others to lend me their macs to format the HDD into Fat 32 might take longer than it should. So any help would be great for this great mission ^_^. Thank You =D __________________ Support your favorite Anime/Manga when they are available at you region!!!! http://www.viz.com/apps http://www.hulu.com

2009-01-04, 20:52	Link #2
Sides Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Edinburgh Age: 42	Well with XP and vista, Windows will refuse to format any drive/storage that is above 32GB into fat32. Two options, MSDOS/Win9x bootdisc or use the format command in the recovery console. IMO both a hassle, i recommend using a 3rd party software, i.e Fat32Formatter or mkdosfs, there should be alot of alternative software solutions.

2009-01-04, 22:40	Link #3
Claies Good-Natured Asshole. Join Date: May 2007 Age: 34	Another way is to get a Linux "rescue disc," such as SystemRescueCD, boot your PC with it, and use its free partition utilities. SystemRescueCD has one called GParted that can format partitions and volumes to, among many others, FAT32. I looked at Sides' recommendation and fat32formatter looks good and easy to use: Here.

2009-01-05, 07:44	Link #5
Sides Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Edinburgh Age: 42	Depends fat32 is the only file system supported by STB, such as ps3 or mediaplayers. It should be fine unless the HDD is powered via usb.

2009-01-05, 19:29	Link #7
Sci-Fi Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007	Take a look at CompuApps SwissKnife: http://www.compuapps.com/download/Sw...swissknife.htm That freebie program can format any HD, with just about any interface, up to 2TB for a single partition to Fat32 (or NTFS).