OT Flash Format

New flash 64G.
Want to use to move files to and from Win XP and Win 7.

1) how do I tell how the flash is formatted now?

2) what is the best format to use for my purposes?

--- news://freenews.netfront.net/ - complaints: ---

OldGuy wrote:
New flash 64G.
Want to use to move files to and from Win XP and Win 7.

1) how do I tell how the flash is formatted now?

2) what is the best format to use for my purposes?


1) Disk Management.
2) Prepare the device on Windows 7, as it uses megabyte alignment.
That is slightly more efficient when working with flash.

Your choices are FAT32 or NTFS, and NTFS has journaling for
more robust recovery if the file system is shut down dirty.

There is a file system that might fit a bit better, but I have
a policy of not "embracing the obscure" when it comes to storage.
There is an exFAT package you can download and add to WinXP, so you'd
have portability. So if you wanted to be bleeding edge, and have your
USB stick ignored by some appliance, then this is always an option.
For widest compatibility (even works R/W on Macs), stick with FAT32.
Use this, if your application for the stick, exactly matches your
description above, and no more.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ExFAT

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/955704 (WinXP addon for exFAT)

FAT32 - widest compatibility (use Ridgecrop formatter for large partitions)
NTFS - journaled storage (slightly better recovery if shutdown dirty)
exFAT - made for flash, good for set of OSes with the support for it

For FAT32, and large partitions, I use this. And no, do not click
any of the stupid green buttons on this page. Those are the adverts
that pay for the bandwidth. Look for a link right on the page,
in amongst the text, for the actual download.

http://www.ridgecrop.demon.co.uk/ind...at32format.htm

http://www.ridgecrop.demon.co.uk/dow...at32format.zip

That one, uses "quick" format. It doesn't erase all the flash cells.
It basically writes an empty FAT. And it supports partitions larger
than the Microsoft formatter, likely up to 2TB. It prepare a partition
in a second or two typically.

HTH,
Paul

On 03/24/2014 08:48 AM, Wolf K wrote:
On 2014-03-23 11:22 PM, OldGuy wrote:
New flash 64G.
Want to use to move files to and from Win XP and Win 7.

1) how do I tell how the flash is formatted now?

Flash drives are formatted FAT32, which all current OSs can read and
write (yes, even OS-X and Linux).

2) what is the best format to use for my purposes?

FAT32.



Of course if the OP has files larger than 4gigs such as videos,
Fat32 will not work, so NTFS would be advised.





(ExFat will also work but for various reasons I'd still use NTFS)

OldGuy submitted this idea :
New flash 64G.
Want to use to move files to and from Win XP and Win 7.

1) how do I tell how the flash is formatted now?

2) what is the best format to use for my purposes?

--- news://freenews.netfront.net/ - complaints: ---

Additionally I need to put files greater than 4G on the flash.
FAT32 has a limit of 4G so that is not a solution for me.
And again it needs to work with XP and Win 7.

OldGuy wrote:
OldGuy submitted this idea :
New flash 64G.
Want to use to move files to and from Win XP and Win 7.

1) how do I tell how the flash is formatted now?

2) what is the best format to use for my purposes?

--- news://freenews.netfront.net/ - complaints: ---

Additionally I need to put files greater than 4G on the flash.
FAT32 has a limit of 4G so that is not a solution for me.
And again it needs to work with XP and Win 7.

So that leaves NTFS and exFAT.

To get exFAT support on WinXP, you have to install
software from Microsoft.

Paul

OldGuy wrote:
OldGuy submitted this idea :
New flash 64G.
Want to use to move files to and from Win XP and Win 7.

1) how do I tell how the flash is formatted now?

2) what is the best format to use for my purposes?

--- news://freenews.netfront.net/ - complaints: ---

Additionally I need to put files greater than 4G on the flash.
FAT32 has a limit of 4G so that is not a solution for me.
And again it needs to work with XP and Win 7.

I have a flash drive that I formatted to NTFS . Right click on drive ,
properties , format NTFS .