Vista - external HDD format to FAT/FAT32

i am having a problem with formating a couple of external HDDs to FAT for use
with PS3, vista will only allow me to format them to NTFS, is there another
way of formating them
--
grapes

Edit by dmex:


Vista can format using FAT/FAT32 and it works with any USB device of ANY size using DOS...

just type format /FS:FAT32 x:

replace x with the drive letter and Vista will format the device without any issues.

cool thanks for that, i will just use many partitions, for different things i
think, 32gb is big enough for most and i will have more than one so it will
be OK. thanks for your help

grapes

Be aware that FAT32 also has a limit to the largest file size (4 GB). When
formatting external drives that need to be shared with devices that don't
work with NTFS I usually make one or two 32 GB FAT32 partitions then format
the rest of the drive as NTFS. This allows me to store files larger than 4
GB on the drive. This is useful for backups, video files, etc.

--
Kerry Brown
Microsoft MVP - Shell/User

Make your partitions SMALLER than 32GB, and you will be able to format them as
FAT/FAT32.

This is because Vista will NOT allow one to create a FAT32 partition LARGER than
32GB.

Sorry, friend.

--

Donald L. McDaniel

This is the tool you are looking for:
CompuApps SwissKnife V3.22
http://www.compuapps.com/Download/sw...swissknife.htm
It will allow you to format jumbo size partitions in FAT32.
Carlos

This is a old thread but all this wrong infomation must be cleared up....

Vista can format using FAT/FAT32 and it works with any USB device of ANY size using DOS...

just type format /FS:FAT32 x:

replace x with the drive letter and Vista will format the device without any issues.


Steven

How do you fat32 format a Notebook 160GB HDD in an external case? I tried the cmd method above and after it formatted for over an hour it said it was to large.

You can not format a drive over 32 Gb in Fat 32.
You have to format in NTFS.

Double wrote:

Confirmed. In fact it was read testing the sourface. Before
it comes to the real format action, it cancels.

For formatting drives >32GB with FAT32 an external
tool is required.
http://www.uwe-sieber.de/usbtrouble_e.html#format_fat32


Uwe