How to format a harddisk in Fat32 or FAT16 format ?

Lee012lee SG

I have a Seagate 250GB harddisk that is formatted in NTFS format and installed with Windows XP Pro.

I intend to remove this harddisk from the computer and use it as a storage disk for movies, TV dramas to play on my LG DVD Decorder.

However, the LG recorder requires the harddisk to be in FAT 32 or FAT 16 format.

I use the reformat function in the Windows XP Pro disc but it does not allow the harddisk to be formatted in FAT 32 or FAT 16 format. I think it is because the harddisk has already been formatted in NTFS format before and so it will not allow the harddisk to be formatted in FAT32 or FAT16 format now.

Please advise.

Thanks.

deepak.c SG

under ms-dos prompt.

format /fs:fat32 e:

e: = the drive alphabet

Lee012lee SG

under ms-dos prompt.

format /fs:fat32 e:

e: = the drive alphabet

It does not work.

I think it is because my harddisk has already been formated before in NTFS format.

Please advise again.

Thanks.

caleb_chiang SG

unfortunately, win xp do not allow more than 32gb of space to be formated in fat...

if you must, del the partition and format your hdd to fat32 and ntfs partition accordingly.

Lee012lee SG

unfortunately, win xp do not allow more than 32gb of space to be formated in fat...

if you must, del the partition and format your hdd to fat32 and ntfs partition accordingly.

Thanks for the info on the 32gb limitation for FAT32.

So, can I still format the whole 250gb into FAT32 ?

My LG recorder requires the harddisk to be in FAT 32 or FAT 16 format.

The LG recorder cannot read files in NTFS format.

So, I need to format the whole 250GB harddisk in FAT32 format.

Is there a way to format the whole 250GB harddisk in FAT 32 or FAT 16 format ?

Please advise again.

Thanks.

deepak.c SG

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/310525

playmemory SG

look for a software called swift knife. the software is able to format your file system to fat32.

Lee012lee SG

I have googled for swift knife software but google gives links to swift knives, not a

software.

Anyway, does the swift knife software able to overcome the 32GB limitation to format

the whole of 250GB harddisk in FAT 32 format ?

Drakng SG

Use Acronis disk director. You can format the whole HD in Fat32. I've done it before, but be careful, you cannot copy files bigger than 2Gb on it.

Nowaday movies file are in HD and they are mostly bigger than 2GB. It's better to buy a cheap media player like WD media player and format your disk in NTFS

PedoBear SG

remove the hard drive partition so can reformat again

Lee012lee SG

Use Acronis disk director. You can format the whole HD in Fat32. I've done it before, but be careful, you cannot copy files bigger than 2Gb on it.

Nowaday movies file are in HD and they are mostly bigger than 2GB. It's better to buy a cheap media player like WD media player and format your disk in NTFS

I intend to format my 250GB harddisk in FAT32 format and move all the cd, dvd movie and drama files from the desktop computer into this harddisk.

Next, I intend to connect this USB external harddisk to my LG DVD recorder's USB port. The LG DVD recorder requires the HD to be formatted in FAT 32 before the files in the HD can be played on the LG recorder.

Is there any other way that the whole 250GB HD that can be formatted in FAT32 format ? Thanks.

starExcaliblur SG

I have googled for swift knife software but google gives links to swift knives, not a

software.

Anyway, does the swift knife software able to overcome the 32GB limitation to format

the whole of 250GB harddisk in FAT 32 format ?

website of swissknife:

http://www.compuapps.com/download/Swissknife/swissknife.htm

Here's another site, you can get swissknife directly from here

http://www.pendrivelinux.com/large-external-usb-hard-drive-fat32-format-utility/