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

jumanji said:

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

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 Disk - Clean and Clean All with Diskpart Command

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.

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

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?

jumanji said:

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.

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.

alphanumeric said:

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 :)

The drive manufacturers utility should be able to return it to the factory state. Zeroing the drive should wipe it clean.
Other options:
Disk - Clean and Clean All with Diskpart Command
Partition or Volume - Delete
Partition Wizard : Use the Bootable CD

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

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