NTFS to FAT32

kona786 · 27 Aug 2011 at 13:19

I need a program to convert my portable HDD from NTFS TO FAT32 - I'm on windows 7 (x86).

Can anyone recommend a free program?

Idleman · 27 Aug 2011 at 13:22

Why not use windows format?

MagicBoy · 27 Aug 2011 at 13:24

To the best of my knowledge it can't be done whilst preserving the data. I wouldn't personally trust my data to a unproven third party utility. Back the data up and reformat the drive.

Why do you need to convert the drive? There's lots of limitations with FAT32 such as maximum file sizes and slack space due to large cluster sizes.

kona786 · 27 Aug 2011 at 13:40

Idleman said:
Why not use windows format?

tried that but it only lets me convert to exFAT - Not FAT32

MagicBoy said:
To the best of my knowledge it can't be done whilst preserving the data. I wouldn't personally trust my data to a unproven third party utility. Back the data up and reformat the drive.

Why do you need to convert the drive? There's lots of limitations with FAT32 such as maximum file sizes and slack space due to large cluster sizes.

The HDD is new and empty - I need it to be FAT32 so it can be compatible with my PS3 and bluray player.

d_brennen · 27 Aug 2011 at 13:44

Gparted live CD springs to mind

Edit: Just be careful with it, disconnect all other hard drives before using it to be safe

CaptainCrash · 27 Aug 2011 at 13:46

kona786 said:
tried that but it only lets me convert to exFAT - Not FAT32

Try fat32format - there's a GUI version if you don't like the command line, but it's pretty simple in itself (from an administrative command prompt: "fat32format x:")

MagicBoy · 27 Aug 2011 at 14:02

If it's new then use the formatting tool in Windows. No need to convert the drive.

CaptainCrash · 27 Aug 2011 at 14:06

MagicBoy said:
If it's new then use the formatting tool in Windows. No need to convert the drive.

Windows won't let you format a volume larger than 32GB as fat32, as we've already established.

MagicBoy · 27 Aug 2011 at 14:09

CaptainCrash said:
Windows won't let you format a volume larger than 32GB as fat32, as we've already established.

Ah forgot about that. Then again 32Gb is the official limit for the FAT32 spec, anything higher is a bodge. And before anyone starts kicking off - the typical hard drive size in 1996 was under 2GB.

d_brennen · 27 Aug 2011 at 14:13

I'll say again, Gparted has all the tools needed to partition and format

kona786 · 27 Aug 2011 at 14:15

CaptainCrash said:
Try fat32format - there's a GUI version if you don't like the command line, but it's pretty simple in itself (from an administrative command prompt: "fat32format x:")

does this work under windows 7?

EDIT - What allocation size should I choose?

EDIT: fat32format Doesn't work it seems - throwing up errors

Idleman · 27 Aug 2011 at 14:36

http://www.pendriveapps.com/format-fat32-larger-than-32gb/

This app. reckons to be able to convert up to 2TB external drive.

kona786 · 27 Aug 2011 at 14:52

Idleman said:
http://www.pendriveapps.com/format-fat32-larger-than-32gb/

This app. reckons to be able to convert up to 2TB external drive.

tried that see above - xp only I think

Sin_Chase · 27 Aug 2011 at 14:55

I have formatted many many drives in excess of 250GB with fat32format.

It works perfectly. The upper limit is 2TB. It's a command line tool but in short:

fat32format X:

X: being the drive you want to nuke.

CaptainCrash · 27 Aug 2011 at 15:07

Sin_Chase said:
I have formatted many many drives in excess of 250GB with fat32format.

kona786 said:
EDIT: fat32format Doesn't work it seems - throwing up errors

It's always work flawlessly for me in the past, but I've just downloaded it again, to try and replicate the rather vague "throwing up errors" mentioned above, and now it does seem to have some issues (maybe a Win7 update/hotfix has introduced some incompatibility).

This seems to work OK, although the interface isn't the most intuitive I've ever used.

GParted will definitely do it, although you'll need to download the ISO, burn a disc, reboot your PC from the CD etc. Up to you really...

Idleman · 27 Aug 2011 at 15:15

Search the Torrent sites, get all my "FREE" software from there. :eek:

kona786 · 27 Aug 2011 at 15:42

CaptainCrash said:
This seems to work OK, although the interface isn't the most intuitive I've ever used.

And the imaginery cookie goes to you

that program worked great - now running fat32 (640GB)

Cheers all.

Edward78 · 27 Aug 2011 at 15:44

I want to know why a PS3/Bluray player wants Fat32, it seems like they would have it able to read NTFS or atleast 1 of the many open source FSs out there.

Deleted member 77746 · 27 Aug 2011 at 18:02

CMD,
'format /FS:FAT32 X:' (where X is your drive letter assigned)

CaptainCrash · 27 Aug 2011 at 20:15

iDroid84 said:
CMD,
'format /FS:FAT32 X:' (where X is your drive letter assigned)

sigh... yet again, Windows won't format a drive larger than 32GB as FAT32, you'll need a third-party utility.

C:\Windows\system32>format /FS:FAT32 /Q H:
The type of the file system is NTFS.
The new file system is FAT32.

WARNING, ALL DATA ON NON-REMOVABLE DISK
DRIVE H: WILL BE LOST!
Proceed with Format (Y/N)? y
QuickFormatting 38151M
The volume is too big for FAT32.

"wondering how many times it needs to be repeated in one thread"