freeware - opensource disk format software

7th August 2006, 11:08

Does anyone know a freeware or opensource disk format program. I search something that can format fat32 in larger partitions than 32 GB.

piotke · 7th August 2006, 11:11

that's not possible. Fat32 just doesn't support such partitions.

jmke · 7th August 2006, 11:30

FAT32 partitions can be up to 2 Terrabyte... theoretically.. but Microsoft has decided to limit it to 32Gb

Quote:

Windows 2000 and Windows XP can read and write to FAT32 filesystems of any size, but the format program on these platforms can only create FAT32 filesystems up to 32 GB. Thompson and Thompson (2003) write[4] that "Bizarrely, Microsoft states that this behavior is by design." Microsoft's knowledge base article 184006[3] indeed confirms the limitation and the by design statement, but gives no rationale or explanation. Peter Norton's opinion[5] is that "Microsoft has intentionally crippled the FAT32 file system."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FAT32

7th August 2006, 15:33

Well it must be possible. A year ago i bought a Lacie 40 GB mobile usb hdd and it was formatted as 40 gb in fat32.

I made the error of formatting it in ntfs (which has strange results if you connect the hdd with other pc's => user rights are automatically put on the mobile hdd in ntfs which can limit your possibilities).

So for a mobile hdd fat32 is ideal if you want ease of use like for a usb-stick.

jmke · 7th August 2006, 15:59

fdisk from Windows 98B or ME should work

more info: http://www.abit-usa.com/faq/mb/2002031801.php

7th August 2006, 11:08	#1
uni1313 Posts: n/a	freeware - opensource disk format software Does anyone know a freeware or opensource disk format program. I search something that can format fat32 in larger partitions than 32 GB.

7th August 2006, 11:11	#2
piotke [M] Reviewer Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 5,003	that's not possible. Fat32 just doesn't support such partitions. __________________ .

7th August 2006, 15:59	#5
jmke Madshrimp Join Date: May 2002 Location: 7090/Belgium Posts: 79,021	fdisk from Windows 98B or ME should work more info: http://www.abit-usa.com/faq/mb/2002031801.php __________________

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7th August 2006, 15:33	#4
uni1313 Posts: n/a	Well it must be possible. A year ago i bought a Lacie 40 GB mobile usb hdd and it was formatted as 40 gb in fat32. I made the error of formatting it in ntfs (which has strange results if you connect the hdd with other pc's => user rights are automatically put on the mobile hdd in ntfs which can limit your possibilities). So for a mobile hdd fat32 is ideal if you want ease of use like for a usb-stick.