WD Passport Help

Ive been reading around the forums and found the cause of the initial problem, which was since the passport is FAT32 i couldnt get a large file over 4 GB into the passport. is there anyway to overwrite this or is this written in stone. Also Ive read that you can format the drive to NTFS which would allow me to put large files into it, but ive read ppl have problems when they do this, that the computer wont recognize the HD and that you have to have it plugged in first thing after the computer starts to boot and that sometimes it still wont recognize it, can anyone help me out with some personal experience on what you do to put large files into the passport? or your experience formating it to NTFS?

 

Ive never had that problem when formatting to NTFS

 

there is no way to get FAT32 to recognize a file over 4gb. its not possible.

just format it to NTFS then try it out. If it doesn't work then format it back to FAT32 and return/exchange it.

 

i formatted my drive to ntfs the moment i got it (250 gb passport) and had no problems....it just took a long time. i ended up cloning my old hard drive over to it and again, did not have problems transferring files. admittedly, though...i did not use the hard drive for very long inside the external enclosure.

 

If you cannot format for some reason, download a program called HJSplit and specify a max 4GB partial-file size.

You'll still need to recombine the file to read it again though, but HJSplit is a lightweight portable app. But for a one way single transfer it isn't the worst possibility out there.

 

Thank you for the quick reply. i think ima going to format it to NTFS if ppl are saying that they have had no problem, i was mostly worried about one post i read where it would not recognize then HD when he plugged it in to the computer and had to plug it in during booting.

 

That might have to do with the hdd hot swapping? Idk; all the drives ive got are hot swappable by nature, which i thought all externals were.

 

I also immediately formatted to NTFS and i have zero issues with my 250GB Passport. I have had mine for over 6 months no problems.

 

I just got one of these (250GB) and need to know how to format it to NFTS? How? Also, are there any cons to turning it into NFTS?

 

i dont think its any worse than FAT32, or at least it doesn't seem like it, from what ive read i think FAT32 is a bit faster than NTFS but i think its to the point where you wont even be able to notice but technically it is, type of deals. To format just go to my computer right click on the WD HD, and it should say "Format" on the drop down menu, then just choose NTSF

 

Or go into Computer Management > Drive Management

Then format it there.

 

The reason they make them as fat32 is becuase it is universal. MAC OS can read it no problem and so can linux. If your using it in a window environment you shouldn't have a problem. I too have all my externals as NTFS which i do immediately upon plugging them in.