Apple's Drive Utility can create FAT32 partitions larger than 32GB, as
can any of the Linux or *BSD utilities. The restriction in MS's GUI
tools is entirely arbitrary.
I'd just format it on the Mac if portability between systems is necessary.
-Adam
Godfrey DiGiorgi wrote:
I seem to recall that if you use the utilities provided with Windows
XP, it will not allow the option of formatting a drive using FAT for
any volume or partition larger than 32Gbyte. NTFS is the "native" file
system for WinXP ... so just use the operating system's utilities and
it will do what you want.
I went through this when my partner bought a 120G drive for backup and
data transfer uses, wanted it to be FAT32 so that it would be
read-writeable as a single volume partition from either Windows XP or
Mac OS X. Mac OS X can read NTFS but cannot write to it, and Windows
cannot read/write Mac OS X's native volume format (without third party
add-ons). We found that you had to use a command line only utility to
do a FAT32 volume format on any volume larger than 32Gbytes.
Godfrey
On Apr 27, 2006, at 10:21 AM, Tom C wrote:
I believe... it's been a while since I've done it... that you will be
offered the choice of file systems after you've indicated you wish to
begin formatting.
Tom C.
From: Joseph Tainter <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Reply-To: [email protected]
To: [email protected]
Subject: Semi-OT: Hard Drive Format
Date: Thu, 27 Apr 2006 11:09:06 -0600
Need help, please.
Remember that USB hard drive that I ordered? I will need to format
it to NTFS (I use Windows XP Home). Rummaging through Microsoft's
Knowledge Base, I am finding only instructions for formatting drives
that are in the computer, and only for formatting them to either FAT
16 or FAT 32.
Can someone send me a link to the correct instructions?
Thanks,
Joe
