Usb external Hard Disk and NTFS format

[zillah]

1- I bought new external usb hard disk (mobile one) Toshiba 40 GB, I plugged to my laptop (Win XP Professional).

2- I tried to format new mobile hard disk, by going to "Computer Management" then "Disk Management" then right click on the intended hard disk, it gave me only one option for formating which is NTFS.

How can I choose FAT32 option for formatting instead of NTFS ?

 

[NeoExtreme]

Why would you chose FAT32?NTFS is more stable and secure,plus allows compresion and encryption.

 

[tajahem]

NTFS is more stable and secure,plus allows compresion and encryption.

Windows 98 or earlier cannot read NTFS drives.


To answer the original question:

I believe that there is a size limit to how big of a drive XP can format as FAT32 (like about 32GB or so).
You could partition the hard drive and then format both halves, or Partition Magic might be able to do the full 40GB.

 

[Trifid]

probally to use it on older pc's or ones that don't use windows.

Maybe it would allow you to do it in dos?

 

[NeoExtreme]

Windows 98 or earlier cannot read NTFS drives.

Yes I know that.
95 FAT,98,98SE,and ME FAT 32,200 pro FAT 32 perfered NTFS and XP,2003 NTFS.
You are correct FAT32 can handle a partition of 32 Gigs.

 

[C.Ingram]

As stated, partition and you should be OK. If the hard drive will be plugged in to more that one computer, its not a good idea to use NTFS. The SIDs on the files won't match.

 

[ShadowFalls]

I did similar with my external hard drive, I split it in half, FAT32 and NTFS, needed the compatiability of FAT32 and large file support of NTFS (FAT32 is limited to 4 gig file sizes) just make half and half and you should be fine

 

[zillah]

Thanks guys

1- NeoExtreme

Why would you chose FAT32?NTFS is more stable and secure,plus allows compresion and encryption.

To be readable and writeable by Linux or Unix.


2- ShadwFall

I did similar with my external hard drive, I split it in half, FAT32 and NTFS

Did you use any utility to do that ? or there is a built-in utility comes with windows OS ?


3-tajahem

or Partition Magic might be able to do the full 40GB

Yes it do it.

 

[ShadowFalls]

if you are using Windows 2000/XP, right-click My Computer and click Manage
Choose Disk Management and there you go.

 

[zillah]

Now what will the answer be for the XP to format the USB External HD as NTFS?

Is it because more than 32GB? or something else?