FAT32 vs. NTFS - How to Format to FAT32? 5

[JennyW86]

Hi guys!

I just bought a new External Hard Drive.

However, I want to format it to FAT32, and not NTFS.


The reason: I have a MAC and a PC...and the MAC can't read FAT32.


My main problem is, when I'm in Disk Management (in WinXP), I don't have the option to format the Hard Drive to FAT32, I'm only given the option to format to NTFS.


[!]Any help would be great?[/!]
Eeeek!


Thanks!
JennyW

 

[firewolfrl]

partition magic 8 will format in fat32. third party software is your best bet

 

[Wishdiak]

JennyW86,

You mean that Macs can't read NTFS (which I believe that they can, but it's not easy).

FAT32 has a partition limit of 32GB, so if your new drive is larger than that, you'll need a workaround to format it as one FAT32 partition.

http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=314463

Wishdiak
A+, Network+, Security+, MCSE: Security 2003

http://www.wishdiak.com

 

[vacunita]

MAC's can read NTFS, they just can't write to it which is the problem.

However to format to FAT32 you are going to need a 3rd party tool. Such as the afore mentioned Partition Magic.

----------------------------------
Ignorance is not necessarily Bliss, case in point:
Unknown has caused an Unknown Error on Unknown and must be shutdown to prevent damage to Unknown.

 

[Lemon13]

start a cmd prompt, type in format /? or
format drive /FS:fat32 /A:4096

 

[Grenage]

FAT32 has a partition limit of 32GB

No, it does not. Windows puts FAT32 limit in place. FAT32 actually has a 2TB limit. Only last month I formatted two 150GB drives with single FAT32 partitions.

Carlsberg don't run I.T departments, but if they did they'd probably be more fun.

 

[dbData]

If you can find a Windows 98 machine and it'll recognize the hard drive, you can format it there.



Rick

http://www.iswamp.com

 

[JennyW86]

Hey guys!

I tried Partition Magic, and it worked like Magic!


Now, I just have to turn all of my drives in to FAT32.

It'd be nice if Mac's could work with me and do NTFS...but what can you do!


Thanks everyone...for all the help!


Jenny