External HDD FAT32

pauLAW · 2 Feb 2011 at 16:48

Hey

My friend has a Seagate Expansion 1TB external HDD. She got the drive so she can upload films to it and plug the external into the TV to watch the films.

The problem is the TV will not see the HDD, I think its going to be the same issue with the likes of the PS3 where it will only read FAT32? I think this because her old external works on the tv.(fat32)

The best thing to do would be to format the drive to FAT32 right? Only problem is how? can someone please advise?

Thanks

kae2 · 2 Feb 2011 at 16:53

Just like you'd format any drive within Windows... right click, format.

rpstewart · 2 Feb 2011 at 17:04

If the partition is over 32Gb then the Windows command won't format it as FAT32 - not a technical restriction, just a marketing one from Microsoft.

There are plenty of free third party formatting tools available as a result. My mind's a blank for suggestions though, have a search through the forum, there should be plenty of similar posts.

pauLAW · 2 Feb 2011 at 17:08

kae2 said:
Just like you'd format any drive within Windows... right click, format.

Cant be done over 32gb via windows

kae2 · 2 Feb 2011 at 17:16

pauLAW said:
Cant be done over 32gb via windows

Well I never knew that... I stand corrected!

Can't remember the last time I used Fat32!

FlukeRogi · 2 Feb 2011 at 17:41

GuiFormat

TheGedi · 2 Feb 2011 at 22:36

I do beilive that the EASUS Partition manager now has a free version if anyone didnt know.

I have used that on Several Machines for Partitions/Reformatting Externals for Xbox/PS3 etc.

http://www.partition-tool.com/download.htm

pauLAW · 3 Feb 2011 at 11:42

Yeah having a partition might be the best option for me......partition some to FAT32 and the rest NTFS

dannycivic02 · 20 Mar 2011 at 13:20

FlukeRogi said:
GuiFormat

Thanks a lot that is exactly what I was after.

IAmATeaf · 20 Mar 2011 at 18:21

I've always used a util from HP to do this, can't think of the name but I think the same utils can also make a USB pen drive bootable.

JonJ678 · 20 Mar 2011 at 21:28

A gparted live cd is as good as graphical partitioning tools can hope to be. It's available under the majority of linux installs, and also as a bootable cd in it's own right.