Windows 7: Formatting NTFS ---> FAT32

Hi,

I have a NAS that is capable of expanded storage by attaching a USB drive to it : the only catch is that USB drive has to be FAT32. In order to do that, I have to convert (format) my existing NTFS format USB drive to FAT32 format.

I have two questions:

1. Do I use the format command staright from the elevated CMD prompt, or the format command from within DISKPART? Or are they actually the same thing?

2. In Computer Management, do I have to turn the disk "Offline" prior to running the formatting proceed?

I plan on running the CLEAN ALL command from within DISKPART to wipe the USB drive prior to formatting it using Brink's tutorial (Disk - Clean and Clean All with Diskpart Command)

Thanks,
Golden

Hello Golden,

If you are able to, you could format the USB drive while in Windows 7 from the Computer window or in Disk Management by right clicking on the USB drive, click on Format, and selecting FAT32 (File system) to format it as.

Hi Brink,

There isn't a FAT32 or exFAT option under the right-click Format drop-down box - it currently states NTFS(Default).

I think the only way is via CMD or DISKPART? I was going to use:

Regards,
Golden

A little tool i like to use for this kind of thing is FAT32Format which has always worked well for me. Has a very simple GUI for windows.

You can also use the command prompt module to preform the format, this a link to the guide. The good thing about it is that fat32format can format drives up to 2TB.

Golden,

That would work in a command prompt in Widows 7 as well, but you needed to have the /X in front of /P:1 instead.

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/l...30(WS.10).aspx

format g: /FS:FAT32 /X /P:1

Thanks Brink, and thanks Clinkz for the link to that handy tool.

Brink: /P:1 is the same as CLEAN ALL in DISKPART? Running 1 pass of zero's across the disk?

Hi there
Does the USB drive actually have to be FAT32 formatted --I thought most modern drives can use NTFS and even if you share this drive with Linux , modern Linux distros don't have any problem with READ and WRITE of NTFS formatted files.


Edit -- misread the post -- it appears the NAS system needs the FAT32 format not the USB drive per se. My error.

Cheers
jimbo

Not exactly.

"Clean all" will delete all volumes/partitions on a disk first, then writes zero on every sector on the disk one time.

"/P:1" will only write zero on every sector on the specified volume/partition on the disk 1 (amount specified) times.

Thats correct : the NAS (Thecus N2200) requires the USB drive to be FAT32.

Thanks Brink.