Formatting External HDD To Fat32

Discussion in 'Windows Vista' started by jatt4964, May 17, 2008.

  1. jatt4964

    jatt4964 MDL Novice

    May 11, 2008
    9
    0
    0
    #1 jatt4964, May 17, 2008
    hi i have a 500gb FreeAgent Pro external HDD

    i need to format it into Fat32, but when i right click and go to format, it only gives ntfs option

    can some1 help ?
     
  2. cupidnior

    cupidnior MDL Novice

    Apr 13, 2008
    33
    0
    0
    #2 cupidnior, May 17, 2008
    Windows does not support large FAT32 drive. I forget the largest size for fat32.
    I remember that when I want to format 40 Gb harddisk. It allow only NTFS.

    Sorry for a bad english.:D
     
  3. offon7544

    offon7544 MDL Expert

    Sep 27, 2007
    1,018
    8
    60
    #3 offon7544, May 17, 2008
    Hi you can use Partition Magic for example to format in FAT32 !
     
    Stop hovering to collapse... Click to collapse... Hover to expand... Click to expand...
  4. petar

    petar MDL Expert

    Apr 5, 2008
    1,188
    92
    60
    #4 petar, May 17, 2008
    Or you can use DOS..
    Execute format x:
    It will actualy report that it is formating a smaller drive, but everything will be OK.

    Note. X is the drive letter of your external hard drive.
     
    Stop hovering to collapse... Click to collapse... Hover to expand... Click to expand...
  5. solracna

    solracna MDL Member

    Nov 3, 2007
    111
    0
    10
    #5 solracna, May 17, 2008
  6. solracna

    solracna MDL Member

    Nov 3, 2007
    111
    0
    10
    #6 solracna, May 17, 2008
  7. petar

    petar MDL Expert

    Apr 5, 2008
    1,188
    92
    60
    #7 petar, May 17, 2008
    Did you solved your problem. ???
    Couse I can see that other members have provided you with a boundle of solutions and they dont know have you resolved your problem.
    All of this answers are worth nothing without your feedback.
     
    Stop hovering to collapse... Click to collapse... Hover to expand... Click to expand...
  8. jatt4964

    jatt4964 MDL Novice

    May 11, 2008
    9
    0
    0
    #8 jatt4964, May 17, 2008
    Last edited: May 17, 2008
    (OP)
    swiss knife does not work

    btw im using vista home premium sp1
     
  9. solracna

    solracna MDL Member

    Nov 3, 2007
    111
    0
    10
    #9 solracna, May 17, 2008
    Try plugging your drive in a Windows XP machine and run swissknife there.
    It SHOULD work.
    Solracna
     
  10. petar

    petar MDL Expert

    Apr 5, 2008
    1,188
    92
    60
    #10 petar, May 17, 2008
    Last edited by a moderator: May 23, 2017
    Stop hovering to collapse... Click to collapse... Hover to expand... Click to expand...
  11. jatt4964

    jatt4964 MDL Novice

    May 11, 2008
    9
    0
    0
    #11 jatt4964, May 18, 2008 (OP)
    ill try formating from xp system
     
  12. hanzzon2

    hanzzon2 MDL Member

    Dec 1, 2007
    134
    45
    10
    #12 hanzzon2, May 18, 2008
    Have you tried using the command line format utility instead?

    Format X: /FS:FAT32

    Replace X: with the drive you are formatting of course...