[HELP!] Format a 3TB External HDD to FAT32

[Mike8622]

Hello Trusty Seven Forum!

It seems whenever I have a computer issue I come here and the great members always help me. Well, here I am again..

I just bought a 3TB external HDD to store all my music and movies so I can view and use them on my PS3. Long story short I have been searching for a good deal on a HDD forever and I finally found one. In that time (~6 months) I did as much research as I could and felt comfortable that I'd have no problem formatting it to FAT32 so my PS3 could recognize it.

It seemed the most popular and easiest way was to use Swiss Knife. So, I downloaded SK...and it wouldn't work (isn't compatible w/ W7 apparently) and then every other program I've tried hasn't worked either.

I'm not very computer literate, though, I'm not a complete noob either (at least I don't think I am ) Can someone please help me or point me in the right direction to get this thing formatted correctly??

Thank you in advance!!

 

[Golden]

Hi Mike,

Using Windows 7, the maximum size FAT32 partition you could format to is 32GB. And if my memory serves me correctly, there is a maximum file size of 4GB.

Convert a hard disk or partition to FAT32 format

I'm not entirely sure how you might go about this, but perhaps our more experienced users can comment about creating several partitions of 32GB in size.....but the maximum file size limit will till remain.

Regards,
Golden

Mike : I stumbled across this possibly solution using Ubuntu, but I've never used it.

http://techsavvycomputing.com/2011/08/02/windows-fat32-partition-size-limitation-workaround/

 

[jumanji]

Upto 2TB, you can use fat32format Ridgecrop Consultants Ltd . You may perhaps create another 1 TB partition and repeat the format. Try it. ( You may perhaps be able to merge the two partitons with some partitioning software later if you want one single 3TB partition.)

EDIT: I understand that PS3 does not recognise HDDs larger than 2TB and many went in for only 2TB HDDs to play safe. Just check the PS3 forums anyway. http://www.ps3hax.net/showthread.php?t=17964&page=2

 

[Mike8622]

Mike : I stumbled across this possibly solution using Ubuntu, but I've never used it.

Windows FAT32 Partition Size Limitation Workaround « TechSavvyComputing

Thanks, Golden. I heard that running an Ubuntu "Live CD" and formatting in Linux would be easy as pie. I was saving that as a last ditch effort because I know nothing about Linux.

Thanks for the reply

 

[Mike8622]

Upto 2TB, you can use fat32format Ridgecrop Consultants Ltd . You may perhaps create another 1 TB partition and repeat the format. Try it. ( You may perhaps be able to merge the two partitons with some partitioning software later if you want one single 3TB partition.)

EDIT: I understand that PS3 does not recognise HDDs larger than 2TB and many went in for only 2TB HDDs to play safe. Just check the PS3 forums anyway. How to format an External Hard drive to Fat32 if it is larger than 30GB - Page 2 - PS3Hax Network - Playstation 3 Hacks and Mods

I tried fat23format for the entire 3TB and I kept getting errors 5 seconds in. I'm going to try formatting 2TB and see if it works.

I don't know how I missed that the PS3 won't read drives over 2TB?? Oh well, I got the 3TB for a really good price so I can't complain.

I'm going to try again and I'll report back how it went.

Thanks for the help, guys!

 

[Mike8622]

Ok, now I have a new problem. I used fat32format and made a partition of 2TB. The program gave me numerous errors messages, but my drive is now split. One is 2TB, the other the remaining GB's. Windows wouldn't let me do anything to the drive until I formatted it back to NTSF. So now I have 2 different NTSF drives.

I've very lost here and I think I bit off more than I can chew. Once a drive is FAT32 can I not add anything to it using Windows? How am I supposed to get all my files onto the FAT32 partition?

 

[Mike8622]

Friendly bump. Can anyone help me please??

 

[Golden]

Mike,

Try the Ubuntu route - its actually suprisingly easy getting used to Linux.

Regards,
Golden

 

[Mike8622]

Golden,

My issue is getting windows to see my fat32 partition so I can add media to the drive. Right now it keeps telling me I have to format (NTFS) the drive to use it.

 

[jumanji]

When using fat32format, select the largest allocation unit size 65536 and check whether you are able to format the full 3TB to FAT32. Atleast one user in another forum seems to have done it and succeeded. ( Since you have no data on your external drive, you can try anything.) And whether your PS3 will be able to see the 3TB is a different issue.

 

[Mike8622]

When using fat32format, select the largest allocation unit size 65536 and check whether you are able to format the full 3TB to FAT32. Atleast one user in another forum seems to have done it and succeeded. ( Since you have no data on your external drive, you can try anything.) And whether your PS3 will be able to see the 3TB is a different issue.

Sorry I've been MIA, I've been incredibly sick

I tried to format the whole drive in fat32format originally and it spit out a bunch of error messages. I will try it again. I have a new problem, however, which maybe you, or someone can help me with? I split the drive into 2 partitions (2TB and >1TB) and can't figure out how to get it back to one 3TB partition?

I'd like to get it back to 3TB and then split it into 2 partitions (1.5 and 1.5). The PS3 won't read drives larger than 2TB so If I split one partition to FAT32 and the other NTSF I can keep my PC backups on the NTSF. 2 birds with one stone.

I'm hoping getting rid of the partition will be easy? Also, how do I get past Windows asking me to reformat my drive that's FAT32 every time I plug it into my laptop?

Thanks in advance

 

[jumanji]

OK, try to format the whole 3TB with HP USB Disk Storage Format Tool Download HP USB Disk Storage Format Tool 2.2.3 Free - Windows-based Format Utility for HP Drive Key or DiskOnKey USB Device - Softpedia and then partition it. Hope it works.

If it does not, then use Diskpart Clean/Clean all http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/52129-disk-clean-clean-all-diskpart-command.html

A third party partitioning tool like Partition Wizard Best Free Partition Manager Freeware for Windows 7, Windows Vista, and Windows XP 32 bit & 64 bit. MiniTool Free Partition Manager Software Home Edition. may also help.

 

[Mike8622]

Ok, I ran the HP software and it finished quickly with an error that it was read/write (sorry, I didn't write it down ) I then downloaded the "Free Partition Manager" and it doesn't even see my external.

I got the prompt to reformat my drive so Windows could see it, so I did (figuring I could always just try reformatting again) and now it's showing my 3TB drive as 1 255GB drive Wth is going on???? Why is it such a PITA to format it to FAT32?? I'm about to box this thing up and send it back to the store at this point.

That being said, I appreciate the help, I guess I'm more noob than I though I was. How can I get my TB's back and start this process over?

edit to add: I didn't run the diskpart clean/clean all yet. Should I? I kind of shat a brick when I noticed all my space was gone so I stopped

 

[jumanji]

Check the Disk Manaufacturer's website to see if there is any Advanced Formatting Tool to format your 3TB Drive.

I think not many here (including me ) have a 3 TB HDD and even if they have tried to format it FAT32.

Did you try the clean/clean all?

 

[Mike8622]

Check the Disk Manaufacturer's website to see if there is any Advanced Formatting Tool to format your 3TB Drive.

I think not many here (including me ) have a 3 TB HDD and even if they have tried to format it FAT32.

Did you try the clean/clean all?

I will check Seagate's website and see if there's anything, but how do I get my drive back to being a 3TB drive instead of a 255GB drive? Sorry, but I'm kind of freaking out that I lost all that space and the thing is brand new

I was afraid to try the clean/clean all after I saw that all my space was gone. So I waited to see if I should do it or not.

 

[alphanumeric]

To get the drive back to a 3TB drive you need to delete any and all partitions currently on it. You may be able to do it in Disk management if it can actually see all the current partitions. Once you do that you can create one 3TB partition. Windows 7 can access fat 32 and fat 16 formated media. USB thumbdrives are a prime example. You just can't format "large" drives in fat 32 natively from Windows.

Also, you need to determine if the 2TB PS3 limit is a partition size limit or Hard Drive size limit. If it can't access a Hard Drive larger than 2TB you are wasting your time partitioning the drive.

 

[Mike8622]

To get the drive back to a 3TB drive you need to delete any and all partitions currently on it. You may be able to do it in Disk management if it can actually see all the current partitions. Once you do that you can create one 3TB partition. Windows 7 can access fat 32 and fat 16 formated media. USB thumbdrives are a prime example. You just can't format "large" drives in fat 32 natively from Windows.

Also, you need to determine if the 2TB PS3 limit is a partition size limit or Hard Drive size limit. If it can't access a Hard Drive larger than 2TB you are wasting your time partitioning the drive.

Thanks for the reply. Is there a tutorial or guide somewhere that explains how to delete partitions on W7? I'm not familiar with HDD's what-so-ever. If there isn't could you give me a step by step or point me to someone who could?

I read on Playstation's website that the max size a PS3 can read is 2TB so I'm going to return this once I can get it back to the full 3TB.

Thanks to you, and everyone who has helped. I really appreciate it. I've added to all of your rep's

 

[alphanumeric]

The drive manufacturers utility should be able to return it to the factory state. Zeroing the drive should wipe it clean.
Other options:
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/52129-disk-clean-clean-all-diskpart-command.html
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/2668-partition-volume-delete.html
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/93322-partition-wizard-use-bootable-cd.html?ltr=P&filter

 

[Mike8622]

Sorry if I'm coming across as an idiot or these are basic questions, but where would I find the "Seagate manufacturers utility"? I tried Googling it but came up empty. I have been searching for something like this to "restore to factory settings" all day and have had no luck

 

[alphanumeric]

Support | Seagate Click Downloads