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How can I create a 230GB FAT32 partition?

N

NeoPTLD

Platinum Member
I'm expecting to be told "no, you can't do that, format NTFS" as others have told me.
I got an external HDD and I know it is possible to do so, because when I bought it, it came preformatted with one 230GB FAT32 partition and the system recognized it just fine. Under Windows XP, it doesn't seem to let me partition anything larger than 30GB or so in non NTFS file system. I'd like to format into 200GB FAT32 and 30GB FAT32 in order to maintain compatibility with non NTFS compatible system.

Any idea how to do that?
 
i thoiught that windows XP always had issues with external drives, and always saw them as FAT32, when they in fact wern't

the reason you can't have such large capacity drives under FAT32, is becuase it is, indeed impossible
the FAT32, stands for File Allocation Table, its a table somewhere on the HDD that tells where files are,
and said table is only 32 bits, it can't phsically hold an address thats larger than 32 bits,
> convert 250 GB into bytes, then into binary, i'll bet its larger than 32 bits...
solution? many many manty small FAT32 partitions
 
Most any partitioning program will do it. Partition Magic, Acronis, 7tools, Paragon. Ranish is free, but not very wizardy. Knoppix boot cd could be used to partition a drive.
 
I heard OS X can format a partition with FAT32 larger than Windows can, but you need a Mac for that.
 
Windows XP reads NTFS and FAT32 external drives just fine. I am using both as I type.

You will need a 3rd party program. Windows XP will not format in FAT32 if the drive is larger than 32GB. It will see the drive fine though if you format it with another program.

FAT32 actually supports 2TB, I think. A win98 pooter will probably format it.
 
Originally posted by: Kasper4christ
i thoiught that windows XP always had issues with external drives, and always saw them as FAT32, when they in fact wern't

the reason you can't have such large capacity drives under FAT32, is becuase it is, indeed impossible
the FAT32, stands for File Allocation Table, its a table somewhere on the HDD that tells where files are,
and said table is only 32 bits, it can't phsically hold an address thats larger than 32 bits,
> convert 250 GB into bytes, then into binary, i'll bet its larger than 32 bits...
solution? many many manty small FAT32 partitions
Click to expand...

FAT32 supports up to 2Tb volume/partition sizes.
 
Originally posted by: LTC8K6
Windows XP reads NTFS and FAT32 external drives just fine. I am using both as I type.

You will need a 3rd party program. Windows XP will not format in FAT32 if the drive is larger than 32GB. It will see the drive fine though if you format it with another program.

FAT32 actually supports 2TB, I think. A win98 pooter will probably format it.
Click to expand...


Do you suppose you could name a program or two? Drive is connected through USB2.0 through a USB2.0 add on PCI card, so the program has to be able to see past the PCI card. The drive isn't even accessible until Windows is fully loaded.
 
Redbeard already named a few. You can also try the drive manufacturers tools, such as Maxblast if it's a Maxtor drive. Other mfgs have similar tools. You may have to select Win98 as your OS when you use the drive tools in order to avoid the 32gb restriction. The tools are available from the mfg websites.
 
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