Solved Formatting NTFS ---> FAT32

[Golden]

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 (http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/52129-disk-clean-clean-all-diskpart-command.html)

Thanks,
Golden

 

[Brink]

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.

 

[Golden]

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:

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

Regards,
Golden

 

[Clinkz]

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.

 

[Brink]

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/library/cc730730(WS.10).aspx

FORMAT volume [/FS:file-system] [/V:label] [/Q] [/A:size] [/C] [/X] [/P:passes] [/S:state]

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

 

[Golden]

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?

 

[jimbo45]

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

 

[Brink]

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?

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.

 

[Golden]

it appears the NAS system needs the FAT32 format not the USB drive per se.

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

 

[Golden]

Thanks Brink.

 

[Brink]

You're welcome Golden. Please let us know how it went.

 

[Golden]

Mmmm...there is an issue:

Z:\>format z: /X /FS:FAT32 /Q
The type of the file system is NTFS.
The new file system is FAT32.
WARNING, ALL DATA ON NON-REMOVABLE DISK
DRIVE Z: WILL BE LOST!
Proceed with Format (Y/N)? y
QuickFormatting 476937M
Volume dismounted.  All opened handles to this volume are now invalid.
[COLOR=red]The volume is too big for FAT32.[/COLOR]
Z:\>

I also tried using the /A:1024 switch but get this:

Z:\>format z: /X /FS:FAT32 /Q /A:1024
The type of the file system is NTFS.
The new file system is FAT32.
WARNING, ALL DATA ON NON-REMOVABLE DISK
DRIVE Z: WILL BE LOST!
Proceed with Format (Y/N)? y
QuickFormatting 476937M
Volume dismounted.  All opened handles to this volume are now invalid.
[COLOR=red]The specified cluster size is too small for FAT32[/COLOR].
Z:\>

Using A:/2048, A:/4092 or even A:/32K gives the same error.

The tool Clinkz linked to works great and gets the job done, but I'd like to understand where I am going wrong with the DOS command.

Regards,
Golden

 

[Brink]

Hello Golden,

It looks like you should have used the command below to have 4K as the cluster size (unit size) instead. A few items were out of order as well.

format z: /FS:FAT32 /Q /A:4096 /X

 

[Golden]

Thanks Brink. Mmmm....still a no-go apparently:

Microsoft Windows [Version 6.1.7601]
Copyright (c) 2009 Microsoft Corporation.  All rights reserved.
C:\Users\Colin>z:
Z:\>format z: /FS:FAT32 /Q /A:4096 /X
The type of the file system is FAT32.
Enter current volume label for drive Z: USB Book
WARNING, ALL DATA ON NON-REMOVABLE DISK
DRIVE Z: WILL BE LOST!
Proceed with Format (Y/N)? y
QuickFormatting 476937M
Volume dismounted.  All opened handles to this volume are now invalid.
[COLOR=red]The specified cluster size is too small for FAT32.[/COLOR]
Z:\>

 

[Brink]

It appears to be a limitation due to the size of the volume that only a 3rd party program can overcome.

 

[Golden]

No problems - thanks Brink.

For anyone else that may have this issue : use the 3rd pary application FAT32FORMAT as linked in Post #4 by Clinkz.

 

[Clinkz]

Let the power of FAT32FORMAT be known to all! And glad it helped you out mate.