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    how to format external hard drive to fat 32

    Discussion in 'Windows OS and Software' started by lookitsakyauk, Feb 20, 2008.

  1. lookitsakyauk

    lookitsakyauk Notebook Consultant

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    i have vista with a ntfs file format and want to format my external hard drive to fat32 what kind of a program do I need to be able to do that?
     
    lookitsakyauk, Feb 20, 2008
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  2. Gregory

    Gregory disassemble?

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    Gregory, Feb 20, 2008
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  3. kedu

    kedu Notebook Guru

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    open up the command prompt or "run" and type:

    format (your drive letter) : /FS:FAT32

    I take it you have a very specific use for this, the fat32 file system is ancient and will not allow files over 4GB

    But remember you will lose everything on this drive when you reformat from ntfs to fat32 - so back up everything.
     
    kedu, Feb 20, 2008
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  4. Polsta

    Polsta Notebook Evangelist

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    juct click on the drive in my computer and click format
     
    Polsta, Feb 20, 2008
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  5. kedu

    kedu Notebook Guru

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    not possible in Vista, ntfs >> fat 32 with a drive over 32GB. Command line is the only way to do it using windows itself without extra software.
     
    kedu, Feb 20, 2008
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  6. x64Man

    x64Man Notebook Consultant

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    True, but if you want to add an external drive to the PS3 one must format it to Fat32, I just had to do this.
     
    x64Man, Feb 20, 2008
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  7. lookitsakyauk

    lookitsakyauk Notebook Consultant

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    thats exactly why i need to do this. I had an extra 80 gb 2.5 in hd so I decided to make it an external to use with my ps3.
     
    lookitsakyauk, Feb 20, 2008
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  8. lookitsakyauk

    lookitsakyauk Notebook Consultant

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    thanks kedu I'm formatting now looks like it's working.
     
    lookitsakyauk, Feb 20, 2008
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  9. lookitsakyauk

    lookitsakyauk Notebook Consultant

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    i did the command line like kedu said and the prompt pops up and I format. But once its done and I click on the drive thru my computer it says that the drive is not formatted. Can someone help?
     
    lookitsakyauk, Feb 20, 2008
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  10. kedu

    kedu Notebook Guru

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    You have to turn off UAC. In the control panel click on user accounts and turn off UAC for your account and restart your computer then try again.
     
    kedu, Feb 21, 2008
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