Usable USB Flash Partitioning in 7

[Neophile]

Hello,

I want to have two partitions on a 16GB stick, one bootable and the other with portable applications; logically one in NTFS and the other one in FAT32, but I am not able to make Windows recognize one of the partitions. I have tried all the ways I know without success.

First, I formatted the whole stick with FAT32 in Windows. Then I used Paragon to make a second partition and format it in NTFS. The drive was on the Explorer, Windows recognized the FAT32 partition, but not the other one in NTFS. Wanted to format, but the whole 16GB, not one partition only.

Second, I cleaned the partitions and formatted the whole stick with Windows in NTFS. Then I used Paragon to make a second partition and format it in FAT32. The same problem, but the other way round. The second partition (now FAT32) appeared on the Explorer, but was not accessible.

Third, I cleaned the partitions and formatted with the HP USB Disk Storage Format Tool, but always with similar results. Also, after partitioning it wanted to format the whole stick, just like Windows. The result was the same.

Concluding, the partitions appear always on the Explorer, on Computer Management and on Diskpart, but the second partition is never accessible. Both Windows and the HP USB Disk Storage Format Tool do not format one partition only but the whole USB flash drive, which destroys the other partition. However, this is not possible, even if undesirable, because if I try it Windows sends an error message that there is something wrong with the stick.

I have searched for hours, found that it is quite normal to do it in Linux, and that some people can do it in Windows, but I could not find any explanation on how. Can someone please instruct me on how to have two partitions on a USB flash, both workable?

 

[Jonathan_King]

I'd be interested as well if there is a solution. I have tried unsuccessfully to have Windows recognize both, to come to the conclusion Windows just does not support it.

 

[Bill2]

On a removable drive, windows will see only one partition but if the usb drive can be made to appear as a fixed disk then multiple partitions would work.

1) There is a registry hack for this which works in XP. You might need to do some figuring out for win7. See this page.

A Multiple Partition USB Stick with Multi Boot OS - MSFN Forums

2) An easier option is to use BootIt. BootIT is a Lexar utility to flip the Removable Media Bit (RMB) setting of a USB drive. What this means is you can take a Lexar drive (and many other brands) and make it appear as a local Drive on your PC rather than Removable Storage. Hopefully, it will work on your brand, use at your own risk. This will not partition the usb flash drive which has to be done with other tools. Here is a download link.

http://www.getusb.info/downloads/lexar_usb_tool.zip

 

[Neophile]

Thank you very much for the answer. It seems is is as you say. I read so many things about over the hours that I was searching for a solution that I may well be confused, but somewhere I can't remember I read things that made me believe it to be possible. I also tried GParted Live. It is said it works for Windows. I burned the ISO file, but I was unable to work with it. Either I don't know how or maybe it works for Windows only from Linux when Windows is on a second partition, but this I do not know at all. I am not completely dumb on computers and I have done all I could, hence my thread to ask.

 

[Neophile]

Sorry, Bill2, I didn't see your answer before my last post. I'm gone a give it a try and let you know after. Thanks.

Update
I have been through the links you provided.
The second link does not solve my problem, but the first one could. The problem is that the useful links on that old article go to pages that no longer exist...
Maybe you know of something more recent. As I said, I have searched for hours, many hours now, and couldn't find, but as we see there must be something out there. Thank you for sharing your ideas.

 

[Darryl Licht]

On a removable drive, windows will see only one partition but if the usb drive can be made to appear as a fixed disk then multiple partitions would work.

1) There is a registry hack for this which works in XP. You might need to do some figuring out for win7. See this page.

A Multiple Partition USB Stick with Multi Boot OS - MSFN Forums

2) An easier option is to use BootIt. BootIT is a Lexar utility to flip the Removable Media Bit (RMB) setting of a USB drive. What this means is you can take a Lexar drive (and many other brands) and make it appear as a local Drive on your PC rather than Removable Storage. Hopefully, it will work on your brand, use at your own risk. This will not partition the usb flash drive which has to be done with other tools. Here is a download link.

http://www.getusb.info/downloads/lexar_usb_tool.zip

BootIT doesnt work in Win7... I have removed the bit 3 times each time I am told to simply remove and reinsert the USB flash drive... NO GO!

I did find a utility that says it can create multiple partitions on flash drives, but it also warns you that a removable drive in Windows will only see the first partition! The utility is called BootICE... So this in conjunction with a registry hack may work. Anyone else have any ideas???

 

[Neophile]

Try this. Maybe it helps.

A Multiple Partition USB Stick with Multi Boot OS - MSFN - Page 3
Fool the BIOS booting any USB stick as a Hard Disk
Make Your Most Bootable USB Flash Drive - The CD Forum

Have a look at the attachment and say if you could do it.