Format FAT32 Partition larger than 32gb

Lamo · 29 Mar 2011 at 15:01

Can anyone point me in the direction of a peice of software I can use with windows XP that will allow me to format a FAT32 partition larger than 32Gb.

Thanks

stoofa · 29 Mar 2011 at 15:06

OK - I'll bite.
Why do you need to create large FAT32 partitions?
You really shouldn't be using those these days.

There is a free utility here that claims to be able to do what you want:

http://download.cnet.com/CompuApps-SwissKnife-V3/3000-2248_4-10070864.html

Use at own risk though I'd say.

Lamo · 29 Mar 2011 at 15:11

I have a 200Gb 2.5" drive in a USB caddy that i want to be able to plug straight into things like my ps3/xbox/TV to play films from it directly and thoses devices will only read the partition if it is FAT32.

I could go down the line of creating multiple partitions of 32gb each but this is no good as the TV will only read the last partition created not display all of them.

I'll check that out, if anybody has any recommendations for tried and tested software that would be appreciated as well.

[Olly] · 29 Mar 2011 at 15:20

I've used this in the past, work well.

CaptainCrash · 29 Mar 2011 at 15:48

I've always used fat32format for this - unzip the executable somewhere in your %path% (eg C:\Windows or C:\Windows\system32), then open a command prompt (as administrator) and it's just "fat32format x:" (where x is the drive letter).

vertica · 29 Mar 2011 at 16:34

stoofa said:
OK - I'll bite.
Why do you need to create large FAT32 partitions?
You really shouldn't be using those these days.

Quite common for PS3 usage.

OP you can do it from a live linux cd such as Gparted, suprised this hasn't been mentioned already.
The 32GB limit is a Windows formatting limitation, it will read and write to a larger FAT32 partition, but it wont format one.