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Can You Partition External Hard Drive
Hi
Is it possible to partition a USB External Drive to have both a FAT32 and NTFS partition? My TV only recognized FAT32 and I want to play MP3's / show pics on the TV but use the more stable NTFS file system to store my other files. Will Windows XP recognize both drives? If its of any help I use the USB interface. Thanks |
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Can You Partition External Hard Drive
The short answer is yes. Using a third party partitioning tool would be
recommended. -- Mike Moreland Integrated Secure http://integratedsecure.com/ "Tim879" wrote: Hi Is it possible to partition a USB External Drive to have both a FAT32 and NTFS partition? My TV only recognized FAT32 and I want to play MP3's / show pics on the TV but use the more stable NTFS file system to store my other files. Will Windows XP recognize both drives? If its of any help I use the USB interface. Thanks |
#3
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Can You Partition External Hard Drive
"Tim879" wrote: Hi Is it possible to partition a USB External Drive to have both a FAT32 and NTFS partition? My TV only recognized FAT32 and I want to play MP3's / show pics on the TV but use the more stable NTFS file system to store my other files. Will Windows XP recognize both drives? If its of any help I use the USB interface. Thanks "Mike Moreland" wrote in message ... The short answer is yes. Using a third party partitioning tool would be recommended. -- Mike Moreland Integrated Secure http://integratedsecure.com/ Tim... Ordinarily one would simply use XP's built-in Disk Management utility to perform the partitioning/formatting of the USBEHD, however you've indicated that you need a FAT32 partition specifically to house your audio/video files. As you have heard, DM will allow you to create FAT32 partitions up to, but not exceeding, 32 GB. If that was sufficient for your purposes (even to the extent of creating *multiple* 32 GB FAT32 partitions) on the USBEHD, you could consider that route. But there may be another problem since you're dealing with video files. As I believe one of the responders to your query indicated, there is a *file size* limitation of 4 GB with the FAT32 file system. So we don't know if you will be dealing with files 4 GB, particularly since you're involved with video files. In any event if you can live with a FAT32 partition of not more than 32 GB (bearing in mind you could create multiple partitions of 32 GB), then there's no reason not to use the Disk Management utility to create & format those partitions. There's still another way to get around the 32 GB FAT32 partition limitation, i.e., a method whereby you could create a FAT32 partition of virtually any size (without the need of an extra-cost third-party program), but it involves using a DOS floppy disk containing the FDISK & FORMAT commands (as in a Win9x/Me Startup floppy disk) together with the ability of removing the HDD from the USB external enclosure and installing it in your PC as a secondary HDD. (Programs for creating a DOS floppy disk are available all over the net). The process is relatively easy but I don't know if it is practical for you based upon the machines you're presently using. Anna |
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Can You Partition External Hard Drive
Tim879 wrote:
Is it possible to partition an USB External HD to have both a FAT32 and NTFS partition? My TV only recognized FAT32 and I want to play MP3's / show pics on the TV but use the more stable NTFS file system to store my other files. Will Windows XP recognize both drives? If its of any help I use the USB interface. snipped Anna wrote: snip There's still another way to get around the 32 GB FAT32 partition limitation, i.e., a method whereby you could create a FAT32 partition of virtually any size (without the need of an extra-cost third-party program), but it involves using a DOS floppy disk containing the FDISK & FORMAT commands (as in a Win9x/Me Startup floppy disk) together with the ability of removing the HDD from the USB external enclosure and installing it in your PC as a secondary HDD. (Programs for creating a DOS floppy disk are available all over the net). The process is relatively easy but I don't know if it is practical for you based upon the machines you're presently using. Extra cost? Why do things always have to 'cost' or be made more difficult than needed? heh Limitations of the FAT32 File System in Windows XP http://support.microsoft.com/kb/314463 If you are attempting to format with the native utilities in Windows XP - and the drive/partition is larger than 32GB - the FAT32 option will not be available. You are welcome to utilize a third-party utility - some are free. Examples: Format larger than 32GB FAT32 within Windows XP with this utility: http://www1.mager.org/mkdosfs/ Or this one (with GUI): http://tokiwa.qee.jp/EN/Fat32Formatter/index.html Good luck! -- Shenan Stanley MS-MVP -- How To Ask Questions The Smart Way http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html |
#5
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Can You Partition External Hard Drive
Tim879 wrote: Is it possible to partition an USB External HD to have both a FAT32 and NTFS partition? My TV only recognized FAT32 and I want to play MP3's / show pics on the TV but use the more stable NTFS file system to store my other files. Will Windows XP recognize both drives? If its of any help I use the USB interface. snipped Anna wrote: snip There's still another way to get around the 32 GB FAT32 partition limitation, i.e., a method whereby you could create a FAT32 partition of virtually any size (without the need of an extra-cost third-party program), but it involves using a DOS floppy disk containing the FDISK & FORMAT commands (as in a Win9x/Me Startup floppy disk) together with the ability of removing the HDD from the USB external enclosure and installing it in your PC as a secondary HDD. (Programs for creating a DOS floppy disk are available all over the net). The process is relatively easy but I don't know if it is practical for you based upon the machines you're presently using. "Shenan Stanley" wrote in message ... Extra cost? Why do things always have to 'cost' or be made more difficult than needed? heh Limitations of the FAT32 File System in Windows XP http://support.microsoft.com/kb/314463 If you are attempting to format with the native utilities in Windows XP - and the drive/partition is larger than 32GB - the FAT32 option will not be available. You are welcome to utilize a third-party utility - some are free. Examples: Format larger than 32GB FAT32 within Windows XP with this utility: http://www1.mager.org/mkdosfs/ Or this one (with GUI): http://tokiwa.qee.jp/EN/Fat32Formatter/index.html Good luck! -- Shenan Stanley MS-MVP -- How To Ask Questions The Smart Way http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html Shenan: I'm unsure as to whether your "extra cost" comment was directed to me since you quoted a only a portion of my post in response to the OP's query. I surely did *not* recommend any "extra cost" option to resolve the OP's objective. So I just wanted to make that clear. Now as to the Jens-Ewe Mager program you referred to, i.e., your first link... As you may or may not know, this is a program that we had (note the past tense) previously recommended to users re the OP's objective. The following is a copy of the post we've submitted a number of times to various XP newsgroups... {Quote}The following does *not* concern itself as to *why* a user would want or need to create FAT32 formatted partition(s) from within the XP OS. We'll assume he or she has good & sufficient reasons for doing so. As most of us know, the XP operating system cannot partition/format a hard drive in FAT32 greater than 32 GB. One *can*, however, use the FDISK/FORMAT commands on a DOS bootable floppy disk (such as a Win9x/Me Startup Disk) to partition/format an internal hard drive of virtually any size in FAT32. However, there is a way to FAT32 format a partition (or entire HDD) from *within* the XP OS when the partition is 32 GB. The user can overcome this XP barrier through the use of a Linux-developed program called mkdosfs.exe developed by Jens-Uwe Mager. See http://www1.mager.org/mkdosfs/ for complete details on the background of this program and its utilization. You can download the mkdosfs.zip file from Mr. Mager’s website and extract the mkdosfs.exe program file. The great advantage of this program is that it works from *within* the XP environment. NOTE THIS PROGRAM IS *NOT* A CONVERSION PROGRAM IN THE SENSE THAT IT WILL CONVERT A NTFS PARTITION TO A FAT32 PARTITION WHILE RETAINING ALL THE DATA. RATHER IT IS DESIGNED TO FORMAT THE PARTITION, SO PLEASE UNDERSTAND THAT ALL DATA WILL BE LOST FOLLOWING THE FORMATTING PROCESS. The program is very easy to use… 1. Install the mkdosfs.exe file (it’s only 68 KB) in your C:\ root directory. 2. Ensure that the partition/drive to be formatted FAT32 is not presently being accessed at this point. 3. Using Start Run cmd, and get to a C:\ prompt. 4. Invoke the command “mkdosfs –F 32 x:” (no quotes) where x: is the drive to be formatted. Note the spacing within the command... (mkdosfs(SPACE)–F(SPACE)32(SPACE)x: and capitalize the “F”, as shown. MAKE ABSOLUTELY CERTAIN YOUR DRIVE LETTER REFLECTS THE DRIVE TO BE FORMATTED! YOU WILL NOT RECEIVE ANY CONFIRMATION PROMPT AFTER INVOKING THE COMMAND! ALL DATA ON THE FORMATTED PARTITION WILL BE LOST! 5. Press Enter after typing the command. 6. The formatting of your designated drive in FAT32 will take place. Two lines of text will be displayed: “mkdosfs 2.8 (28 Feb 2001) Win32 port by Jens-Uwe Mager " followed by the C:\ prompt after the drive has been formatted. In addition to the program’s usefulness in overcoming the FAT32 32 GB limitation imposed by the XP OS as it affects your internal hard drives, another significant advantage of this program is that you can now format a USB external HDD in FAT32 in any capacity. And do so within the XP OS environment.{End of quote} The reason we no longer recommend that program is because of a number of negative reports we rec'd from various users, that while the program was apparently successful in formatting the previously created NTFS partitions 32 GB using, for example, XP's Disk Management utility, in a number of cases non-recognition partition problems and/or data corruption problems were later encountered by the user. Although I can only recall one or two cases where we (personally) subsequently encountered a similar problem after using the program, we felt there was sufficient reason to no longer recommend this program (at least without reservations). Needless to say encountering this type of problem could be disastrous for many, if not all, users. All the above is based on the 2.8 version of Mr. Mager's program. I do not know whether any subsequent versions have been released. In any event, I wanted to bring this to the attention of the OP (and you) in deciding whether to use that program. I'm not familiar with the Fat32Formatter program you mentioned. It does sound interesting and I'm glad to brought it to our attention. I'll certainly give it a try. Anna |
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Can You Partition External Hard Drive
http://www.soft32.com/download_151.html
-- Mike Moreland Integrated Secure http://integratedsecure.com/ "Anna" wrote: Tim879 wrote: Is it possible to partition an USB External HD to have both a FAT32 and NTFS partition? My TV only recognized FAT32 and I want to play MP3's / show pics on the TV but use the more stable NTFS file system to store my other files. Will Windows XP recognize both drives? If its of any help I use the USB interface. snipped Anna wrote: snip There's still another way to get around the 32 GB FAT32 partition limitation, i.e., a method whereby you could create a FAT32 partition of virtually any size (without the need of an extra-cost third-party program), but it involves using a DOS floppy disk containing the FDISK & FORMAT commands (as in a Win9x/Me Startup floppy disk) together with the ability of removing the HDD from the USB external enclosure and installing it in your PC as a secondary HDD. (Programs for creating a DOS floppy disk are available all over the net). The process is relatively easy but I don't know if it is practical for you based upon the machines you're presently using. "Shenan Stanley" wrote in message ... Extra cost? Why do things always have to 'cost' or be made more difficult than needed? heh Limitations of the FAT32 File System in Windows XP http://support.microsoft.com/kb/314463 If you are attempting to format with the native utilities in Windows XP - and the drive/partition is larger than 32GB - the FAT32 option will not be available. You are welcome to utilize a third-party utility - some are free. Examples: Format larger than 32GB FAT32 within Windows XP with this utility: http://www1.mager.org/mkdosfs/ Or this one (with GUI): http://tokiwa.qee.jp/EN/Fat32Formatter/index.html Good luck! -- Shenan Stanley MS-MVP -- How To Ask Questions The Smart Way http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html Shenan: I'm unsure as to whether your "extra cost" comment was directed to me since you quoted a only a portion of my post in response to the OP's query. I surely did *not* recommend any "extra cost" option to resolve the OP's objective. So I just wanted to make that clear. Now as to the Jens-Ewe Mager program you referred to, i.e., your first link... As you may or may not know, this is a program that we had (note the past tense) previously recommended to users re the OP's objective. The following is a copy of the post we've submitted a number of times to various XP newsgroups... {Quote}The following does *not* concern itself as to *why* a user would want or need to create FAT32 formatted partition(s) from within the XP OS. We'll assume he or she has good & sufficient reasons for doing so. As most of us know, the XP operating system cannot partition/format a hard drive in FAT32 greater than 32 GB. One *can*, however, use the FDISK/FORMAT commands on a DOS bootable floppy disk (such as a Win9x/Me Startup Disk) to partition/format an internal hard drive of virtually any size in FAT32. However, there is a way to FAT32 format a partition (or entire HDD) from *within* the XP OS when the partition is 32 GB. The user can overcome this XP barrier through the use of a Linux-developed program called mkdosfs.exe developed by Jens-Uwe Mager. See http://www1.mager.org/mkdosfs/ for complete details on the background of this program and its utilization. You can download the mkdosfs.zip file from Mr. Mager’s website and extract the mkdosfs.exe program file. The great advantage of this program is that it works from *within* the XP environment. NOTE THIS PROGRAM IS *NOT* A CONVERSION PROGRAM IN THE SENSE THAT IT WILL CONVERT A NTFS PARTITION TO A FAT32 PARTITION WHILE RETAINING ALL THE DATA. RATHER IT IS DESIGNED TO FORMAT THE PARTITION, SO PLEASE UNDERSTAND THAT ALL DATA WILL BE LOST FOLLOWING THE FORMATTING PROCESS. The program is very easy to use… 1. Install the mkdosfs.exe file (it’s only 68 KB) in your C:\ root directory. 2. Ensure that the partition/drive to be formatted FAT32 is not presently being accessed at this point. 3. Using Start Run cmd, and get to a C:\ prompt. 4. Invoke the command “mkdosfs –F 32 x:” (no quotes) where x: is the drive to be formatted. Note the spacing within the command... (mkdosfs(SPACE)–F(SPACE)32(SPACE)x: and capitalize the “F”, as shown. MAKE ABSOLUTELY CERTAIN YOUR DRIVE LETTER REFLECTS THE DRIVE TO BE FORMATTED! YOU WILL NOT RECEIVE ANY CONFIRMATION PROMPT AFTER INVOKING THE COMMAND! ALL DATA ON THE FORMATTED PARTITION WILL BE LOST! 5. Press Enter after typing the command. 6. The formatting of your designated drive in FAT32 will take place. Two lines of text will be displayed: “mkdosfs 2.8 (28 Feb 2001) Win32 port by Jens-Uwe Mager " followed by the C:\ prompt after the drive has been formatted. In addition to the program’s usefulness in overcoming the FAT32 32 GB limitation imposed by the XP OS as it affects your internal hard drives, another significant advantage of this program is that you can now format a USB external HDD in FAT32 in any capacity. And do so within the XP OS environment.{End of quote} The reason we no longer recommend that program is because of a number of negative reports we rec'd from various users, that while the program was apparently successful in formatting the previously created NTFS partitions 32 GB using, for example, XP's Disk Management utility, in a number of cases non-recognition partition problems and/or data corruption problems were later encountered by the user. Although I can only recall one or two cases where we (personally) subsequently encountered a similar problem after using the program, we felt there was sufficient reason to no longer recommend this program (at least without reservations). Needless to say encountering this type of problem could be disastrous for many, if not all, users. All the above is based on the 2.8 version of Mr. Mager's program. I do not know whether any subsequent versions have been released. In any event, I wanted to bring this to the attention of the OP (and you) in deciding whether to use that program. I'm not familiar with the Fat32Formatter program you mentioned. It does sound interesting and I'm glad to brought it to our attention. I'll certainly give it a try. Anna |
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Can You Partition External Hard Drive
Tim879 wrote: Is it possible to partition an USB External HD to have both a FAT32 and NTFS partition? My TV only recognized FAT32 and I want to play MP3's / show pics on the TV but use the more stable NTFS file system to store my other files. Will Windows XP recognize both drives? If its of any help I use the USB interface. snipped Anna wrote: snip There's still another way to get around the 32 GB FAT32 partition limitation, i.e., a method whereby you could create a FAT32 partition of virtually any size (without the need of an extra-cost third-party program), but it involves using a DOS floppy disk containing the FDISK & FORMAT commands (as in a Win9x/Me Startup floppy disk) together with the ability of removing the HDD from the USB external enclosure and installing it in your PC as a secondary HDD. (Programs for creating a DOS floppy disk are available all over the net). The process is relatively easy but I don't know if it is practical for you based upon the machines you're presently using. "Shenan Stanley" wrote in message ... Extra cost? Why do things always have to 'cost' or be made more difficult than needed? heh Limitations of the FAT32 File System in Windows XP http://support.microsoft.com/kb/314463 If you are attempting to format with the native utilities in Windows XP - and the drive/partition is larger than 32GB - the FAT32 option will not be available. You are welcome to utilize a third-party utility - some are free. Examples: Format larger than 32GB FAT32 within Windows XP with this utility: http://www1.mager.org/mkdosfs/ Or this one (with GUI): http://tokiwa.qee.jp/EN/Fat32Formatter/index.html Good luck! -- Shenan Stanley MS-MVP -- How To Ask Questions The Smart Way http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html "Anna" wrote: Shenan: I'm unsure as to whether your "extra cost" comment was directed to me since you quoted a only a portion of my post in response to the OP's query. I surely did *not* recommend any "extra cost" option to resolve the OP's objective. So I just wanted to make that clear. Now as to the Jens-Ewe Mager program you referred to, i.e., your first link... As you may or may not know, this is a program that we had (note the past tense) previously recommended to users re the OP's objective. The following is a copy of the post we've submitted a number of times to various XP newsgroups... {Quote}The following does *not* concern itself as to *why* a user would want or need to create FAT32 formatted partition(s) from within the XP OS. We'll assume he or she has good & sufficient reasons for doing so. As most of us know, the XP operating system cannot partition/format a hard drive in FAT32 greater than 32 GB. One *can*, however, use the FDISK/FORMAT commands on a DOS bootable floppy disk (such as a Win9x/Me Startup Disk) to partition/format an internal hard drive of virtually any size in FAT32. However, there is a way to FAT32 format a partition (or entire HDD) from *within* the XP OS when the partition is 32 GB. The user can overcome this XP barrier through the use of a Linux-developed program called mkdosfs.exe developed by Jens-Uwe Mager. See http://www1.mager.org/mkdosfs/ for complete details on the background of this program and its utilization. You can download the mkdosfs.zip file from Mr. Mager's website and extract the mkdosfs.exe program file. The great advantage of this program is that it works from *within* the XP environment. NOTE THIS PROGRAM IS *NOT* A CONVERSION PROGRAM IN THE SENSE THAT IT WILL CONVERT A NTFS PARTITION TO A FAT32 PARTITION WHILE RETAINING ALL THE DATA. RATHER IT IS DESIGNED TO FORMAT THE PARTITION, SO PLEASE UNDERSTAND THAT ALL DATA WILL BE LOST FOLLOWING THE FORMATTING PROCESS. The program is very easy to use. 1. Install the mkdosfs.exe file (it's only 68 KB) in your C:\ root directory. 2. Ensure that the partition/drive to be formatted FAT32 is not presently being accessed at this point. 3. Using Start Run cmd, and get to a C:\ prompt. 4. Invoke the command "mkdosfs -F 32 x:" (no quotes) where x: is the drive to be formatted. Note the spacing within the command... (mkdosfs(SPACE)-F(SPACE)32(SPACE)x: and capitalize the "F", as shown. MAKE ABSOLUTELY CERTAIN YOUR DRIVE LETTER REFLECTS THE DRIVE TO BE FORMATTED! YOU WILL NOT RECEIVE ANY CONFIRMATION PROMPT AFTER INVOKING THE COMMAND! ALL DATA ON THE FORMATTED PARTITION WILL BE LOST! 5. Press Enter after typing the command. 6. The formatting of your designated drive in FAT32 will take place. Two lines of text will be displayed: "mkdosfs 2.8 (28 Feb 2001) Win32 port by Jens-Uwe Mager " followed by the C:\ prompt after the drive has been formatted. In addition to the program's usefulness in overcoming the FAT32 32 GB limitation imposed by the XP OS as it affects your internal hard drives, another significant advantage of this program is that you can now format a USB external HDD in FAT32 in any capacity. And do so within the XP OS environment.{End of quote} The reason we no longer recommend that program is because of a number of negative reports we rec'd from various users, that while the program was apparently successful in formatting the previously created NTFS partitions 32 GB using, for example, XP's Disk Management utility, in a number of cases non-recognition partition problems and/or data corruption problems were later encountered by the user. Although I can only recall one or two cases where we (personally) subsequently encountered a similar problem after using the program, we felt there was sufficient reason to no longer recommend this program (at least without reservations). Needless to say encountering this type of problem could be disastrous for many, if not all, users. All the above is based on the 2.8 version of Mr. Mager's program. I do not know whether any subsequent versions have been released. In any event, I wanted to bring this to the attention of the OP (and you) in deciding whether to use that program. I'm not familiar with the Fat32Formatter program you mentioned. It does sound interesting and I'm glad you brought it to our attention. I'll certainly give it a try. Anna "Mike Moreland" wrote in message ... http://www.soft32.com/download_151.html -- Mike Moreland Integrated Secure http://integratedsecure.com/ Mike (and the OP if he's still around)... The Partition Magic program one can download from the site to which you referred the OP is only a *demo* program. It is *not* functional. It's designed to give a user an idea of how the program works. Partition Magic is still a commercial program offered by Symantec under its "Norton" label. It's a fairly costly piece of software and unnecessary for the OP to purchase it merely to achieve his objective. Note to the OP if he's still with us. I downloaded & experimented with the Fat32Formatter program that Shenan Stanley recommended (see Shenan's post above). The few times I used the program it worked just fine formatting NTFS partitions to FAT32. So if you still have an interest in this area you might want to download this freebie program (the developer accepts donations) and try it out. Just keep in mind that this is a *formatting* program. It's *not* a conversion program in the sense that it will convert a NTFS partition to FAT32 and all the data will be retained. All the data on the affected partition will be gone following the formatting process. You probably know this but I wanted to make it clear. Anna |
#8
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Can You Partition External Hard Drive
Tim879;4138823 Wrote: Hi Is it possible to partition a USB External Drive to have both a FAT32 and NTFS partition? My TV only recognized FAT32 and I want to play MP3's / show pics on the TV but use the more stable NTFS file system to store my other files. Will Windows XP recognize both drives? If its of any help I use the USB interface. Thanks hi,buddy,of course you can do it .all hard disks can store FAT and NTFS files at the same time and Windows XP can recognize both,if you hard disk is of the same file system,you can partition it ,change one or more partition(s) to another one ,by this way ,you can store with NTFS and play with FAT. I never knew there was such a great partition tool --Easeus Partition Manager,I change my partition H from FAT to NTFS by it .I want to play Need For Speed 11,but the machine tell me my disk can't hold the setup program which is over 4GB. I know I need a NTFS disk ,but all the disks of my PC are FAT ,so I tried that tool according to the manual,OMG,I can't believe it ,I catch it .Now,you can try it---- here you can get more information:http://www.partition-tool.com/personal.htm. -- fly-to-sky ------------------------------------------------------------------------ fly-to-sky's Profile: http://forums.techarena.in/members/fly-to-sky.htm View this thread: http://forums.techarena.in/xp-hardware/1090601.htm http://forums.techarena.in |
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Partition a hard drive
Of cause you can partition your hard drive, I suggest you use the Partition Assistant to finish the operations?delete partition, format partition and so on. And I am very glad to introduce a detail article about these operations to you-- Guidelines on how to partition a hard drive by Creating, Deleting, Formatting and Resizing Partition. Not only you can solve your problem, and also you can get such helpful and useful information from the article.
Have a try; this software has free edition, experience its superiority in advance, just as I used to do. Ha-ha, good luck! http://www.extend-partition.com/reso...ard-drive.html On Saturday, December 20, 2008 8:08 PM Tim879 wrote: Hi Is it possible to partition a USB External Drive to have both a FAT32 and NTFS partition? My TV only recognized FAT32 and I want to play MP3's / show pics on the TV but use the more stable NTFS file system to store my other files. Will Windows XP recognize both drives? If its of any help I use the USB interface. Thanks On Sunday, December 21, 2008 3:49 AM MikeMorelan wrote: The short answer is yes. Using a third party partitioning tool would be recommended. -- Mike Moreland Integrated Secure http://integratedsecure.com/ "Tim879" wrote: On Sunday, December 21, 2008 10:54 AM Anna wrote: "Mike Moreland" wrote in message ... Tim... Ordinarily one would simply use XP's built-in Disk Management utility to perform the partitioning/formatting of the USBEHD, however you've indicated that you need a FAT32 partition specifically to house your audio/video files. As you have heard, DM will allow you to create FAT32 partitions up to, but not exceeding, 32 GB. If that was sufficient for your purposes (even to the extent of creating *multiple* 32 GB FAT32 partitions) on the USBEHD, you could consider that route. But there may be another problem since you're dealing with video files. As I believe one of the responders to your query indicated, there is a *file size* limitation of 4 GB with the FAT32 file system. So we don't know if you will be dealing with files 4 GB, particularly since you're involved with video files. In any event if you can live with a FAT32 partition of not more than 32 GB (bearing in mind you could create multiple partitions of 32 GB), then there's no reason not to use the Disk Management utility to create & format those partitions. There's still another way to get around the 32 GB FAT32 partition limitation, i.e., a method whereby you could create a FAT32 partition of virtually any size (without the need of an extra-cost third-party program), but it involves using a DOS floppy disk containing the FDISK & FORMAT commands (as in a Win9x/Me Startup floppy disk) together with the ability of removing the HDD from the USB external enclosure and installing it in your PC as a secondary HDD. (Programs for creating a DOS floppy disk are available all over the net). The process is relatively easy but I don't know if it is practical for you based upon the machines you're presently using. Anna On Sunday, December 21, 2008 11:45 AM Shenan Stanley wrote: Tim879 wrote: snipped Anna wrote: snip Extra cost? Why do things always have to 'cost' or be made more difficult than needed? heh Limitations of the FAT32 File System in Windows XP http://support.microsoft.com/kb/314463 If you are attempting to format with the native utilities in Windows XP - and the drive/partition is larger than 32GB - the FAT32 option will not be available. You are welcome to utilize a third-party utility - some are free. Examples: Format larger than 32GB FAT32 within Windows XP with this utility: http://www1.mager.org/mkdosfs/ Or this one (with GUI): http://tokiwa.qee.jp/EN/Fat32Formatter/index.html Good luck! -- Shenan Stanley MS-MVP -- How To Ask Questions The Smart Way http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html On Sunday, December 21, 2008 12:48 PM Anna wrote: Shenan: I'm unsure as to whether your "extra cost" comment was directed to me since you quoted a only a portion of my post in response to the OP's query. I surely did *not* recommend any "extra cost" option to resolve the OP's objective. So I just wanted to make that clear. Now as to the Jens-Ewe Mager program you referred to, i.e., your first link... As you may or may not know, this is a program that we had (note the past tense) previously recommended to users re the OP's objective. The following is a copy of the post we've submitted a number of times to various XP newsgroups... {Quote}The following does *not* concern itself as to *why* a user would want or need to create FAT32 formatted partition(s) from within the XP OS. We'll assume he or she has good & sufficient reasons for doing so. As most of us know, the XP operating system cannot partition/format a hard drive in FAT32 greater than 32 GB. One *can*, however, use the FDISK/FORMAT commands on a DOS bootable floppy disk (such as a Win9x/Me Startup Disk) to partition/format an internal hard drive of virtually any size in FAT32. However, there is a way to FAT32 format a partition (or entire HDD) from *within* the XP OS when the partition is 32 GB. The user can overcome this XP barrier through the use of a Linux-developed program called mkdosfs.exe developed by Jens-Uwe Mager. See http://www1.mager.org/mkdosfs/ for complete details on the background of this program and its utilization. You can download the mkdosfs.zip file from Mr. Mager?s website and extract the mkdosfs.exe program file. The great advantage of this program is that it works from *within* the XP environment. NOTE THIS PROGRAM IS *NOT* A CONVERSION PROGRAM IN THE SENSE THAT IT WILL CONVERT A NTFS PARTITION TO A FAT32 PARTITION WHILE RETAINING ALL THE DATA. RATHER IT IS DESIGNED TO FORMAT THE PARTITION, SO PLEASE UNDERSTAND THAT ALL DATA WILL BE LOST FOLLOWING THE FORMATTING PROCESS. The program is very easy to use? 1. Install the mkdosfs.exe file (it?s only 68 KB) in your C:\ root directory. 2. Ensure that the partition/drive to be formatted FAT32 is not presently being accessed at this point. 3. Using Start Run cmd, and get to a C:\ prompt. 4. Invoke the command ?mkdosfs ?F 32 x:? (no quotes) where x: is the drive to be formatted. Note the spacing within the command... (mkdosfs(SPACE)?F(SPACE)32(SPACE)x: and capitalize the ?F?, as shown. MAKE ABSOLUTELY CERTAIN YOUR DRIVE LETTER REFLECTS THE DRIVE TO BE FORMATTED! YOU WILL NOT RECEIVE ANY CONFIRMATION PROMPT AFTER INVOKING THE COMMAND! ALL DATA ON THE FORMATTED PARTITION WILL BE LOST! 5. Press Enter after typing the command. 6. The formatting of your designated drive in FAT32 will take place. Two lines of text will be displayed: ?mkdosfs 2.8 (28 Feb 2001) Win32 port by Jens-Uwe Mager " followed by the C:\ prompt after the drive has been formatted. In addition to the program?s usefulness in overcoming the FAT32 32 GB limitation imposed by the XP OS as it affects your internal hard drives, another significant advantage of this program is that you can now format a USB external HDD in FAT32 in any capacity. And do so within the XP OS environment.{End of quote} The reason we no longer recommend that program is because of a number of negative reports we rec'd from various users, that while the program was apparently successful in formatting the previously created NTFS partitions 32 GB using, for example, XP's Disk Management utility, in a number of cases non-recognition partition problems and/or data corruption problems were later encountered by the user. Although I can only recall one or two cases where we (personally) subsequently encountered a similar problem after using the program, we felt there was sufficient reason to no longer recommend this program (at least without reservations). Needless to say encountering this type of problem could be disastrous for many, if not all, users. All the above is based on the 2.8 version of Mr. Mager's program. I do not know whether any subsequent versions have been released. In any event, I wanted to bring this to the attention of the OP (and you) in deciding whether to use that program. I'm not familiar with the Fat32Formatter program you mentioned. It does sound interesting and I'm glad to brought it to our attention. I'll certainly give it a try. Anna On Tuesday, December 23, 2008 7:06 PM MikeMorelan wrote: http://www.soft32.com/download_151.html -- Mike Moreland Integrated Secure http://integratedsecure.com/ "Anna" wrote: On Tuesday, December 23, 2008 10:11 PM Anna wrote: "Mike Moreland" wrote in message ... Mike (and the OP if he's still around)... The Partition Magic program one can download from the site to which you referred the OP is only a *demo* program. It is *not* functional. It's designed to give a user an idea of how the program works. Partition Magic is still a commercial program offered by Symantec under its "Norton" label. It's a fairly costly piece of software and unnecessary for the OP to purchase it merely to achieve his objective. Note to the OP if he's still with us. I downloaded & experimented with the Fat32Formatter program that Shenan Stanley recommended (see Shenan's post above). The few times I used the program it worked just fine formatting NTFS partitions to FAT32. So if you still have an interest in this area you might want to download this freebie program (the developer accepts donations) and try it out. Just keep in mind that this is a *formatting* program. It's *not* a conversion program in the sense that it will convert a NTFS partition to FAT32 and all the data will be retained. All the data on the affected partition will be gone following the formatting process. You probably know this but I wanted to make it clear. Anna On Sunday, January 04, 2009 2:30 AM fly-to-sky wrote: Tim879;4138823 Wrote: hi,buddy,of course you can do it .all hard disks can store FAT and NTFS files at the same time and Windows XP can recognize both,if you hard disk is of the same file system,you can partition it ,change one or more partition(s) to another one ,by this way ,you can store with NTFS and play with FAT. I never knew there was such a great partition tool --Easeus Partition Manager,I change my partition H from FAT to NTFS by it .I want to play Need For Speed 11,but the machine tell me my disk can't hold the setup program which is over 4GB. I know I need a NTFS disk ,but all the disks of my PC are FAT ,so I tried that tool according to the manual,OMG,I can't believe it ,I catch it .Now,you can try it---- here you can get more information:http://www.partition-tool.com/personal.htm. -- fly-to-sky ------------------------------------------------------------------------ fly-to-sky's Profile: http://forums.techarena.in/members/fly-to-sky.htm View this thread: http://forums.techarena.in/xp-hardware/1090601.htm http://forums.techarena.in Submitted via EggHeadCafe - Software Developer Portal of Choice Assemblies in Folder Debug Build Checker http://www.eggheadcafe.com/tutorials...d-checker.aspx |
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Partition a hard drive
On 09/03/2010 03:05 AM, Jean wrote:
Of cause you can partition your hard drive, I suggest you use the Partition Assistant to finish the operations?delete partition, format partition and so on. And I am very glad to introduce a detail article about these operations to you-- Guidelines on how to partition a hard drive by Creating, Deleting, Formatting and Resizing Partition. Not only you can solve your problem, and also you can get such helpful and useful information from the article. Have a try; this software has free edition, experience its superiority in advance, just as I used to do. Ha-ha, good luck! snip real nice of you to respond to a TWO YEAR OLD thread sheesh |
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