Simviation Forum - File System Upon Formatting USB Drive

Nov 14^th, 2009 at 12:41am

a1 Offline
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I have a couple USB sticks, drives, whatever you want to call it in NTFS and FAT 32 file system. I can't format them to good old FAT. The drop down box does not give me a choice for FAT just FAT 32 or in some cases it set it to quick eject and i get NTFS.

How do I get ti back to FAT.

Thanks

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Reply #1 - Nov 14^th, 2009 at 3:04am

Skittles Offline
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I don't want to sound rude, but did you even think of conducting a search for F.A.T.

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

FAT 32 started with Win2000 if you want FAT16, find a Win98 machine.

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They both will work perfectly, until you open windows.

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Reply #2 - Nov 14^th, 2009 at 3:58am

Mazza Offline
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Why would you want the old format, just go with FAT 32, it's better than FAT Wink

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Reply #3 - Nov 14^th, 2009 at 8:45pm

a1 Offline
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Interesting.

Every blank USB stick I put in Says FAT. It doesn't say anything besides that.

When I format in FAT 32 the system can't open it for some reason. It automatically opens a window saying choose a program in which to open. O have to manually expand the USB to see my files.

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Reply #4 - Nov 15^th, 2009 at 9:55am

Skittles Offline
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a1 wrote on Nov 14^th, 2009 at 8:45pm:

Every blank USB stick I put in Says FAT. It doesn't say anything besides that.

It's referring to FAT16? That doesn't make sense to me. Hm... What OS are you using?

What do computers and air conditioners have in common?
They both will work perfectly, until you open windows.

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Reply #5 - Nov 15^th, 2009 at 12:51pm

a1 Offline
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Let me clarify.

I dont' know if it was FAT 16. I am assuming it was FAT 16. I am using Xp 64Bit. It just says FAT.

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Reply #6 - Nov 15^th, 2009 at 5:39pm

Skittles Offline
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a1 wrote on Nov 15^th, 2009 at 12:51pm:

Let me clarify.

I dont' know if it was FAT 16. I am assuming it was FAT 16. I am using Xp 64Bit. It just says FAT.

If it doesn't specify FAT32, I would guess it's FAT16.

So you have a USB stick, formatted in FAT32 but it doesn't work, right?

What do computers and air conditioners have in common?
They both will work perfectly, until you open windows.

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Reply #7 - Nov 16^th, 2009 at 6:37pm

a1 Offline
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Skittles wrote on Nov 15^th, 2009 at 5:39pm:

a1 wrote on Nov 15^th, 2009 at 12:51pm:

Let me clarify.

I dont' know if it was FAT 16. I am assuming it was FAT 16. I am using Xp 64Bit. It just says FAT.

If it doesn't specify FAT32, I would guess it's FAT16.

So you have a USB stick, formatted in FAT32 but it doesn't work, right?

Right. I have to go to windows explorer to open it. In properties the stick says FAT 32. Normal unformated out of the box sticks say FAT.

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Reply #8 - Nov 16^th, 2009 at 9:00pm

Skittles Offline
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a1 wrote on Nov 16^th, 2009 at 6:37pm:

I have to go to windows explorer to open it. In properties the stick says FAT 32. Normal unformated out of the box sticks say FAT.

Unformatted... it says FAT? Could you save anything on it, or did Windows tell you it's unformatted and that you had to format it?

Here's my understanding of what's going on. If the USB stick is unformatted, Windows is guessing it's a FAT (FAT16) file system. Windows no longer uses FAT16. That's why you don't have that option. FAT32 came out with Win2000 and NTFS came out with WinNT. NTFS is the current file system.

I'm guessing your confused about why you have to open Windows Explorer to access the USB stick? That's because the stick acts like an external hard drive.

If you have to format it before you can use it, select NTFS. Just because Windows is stupid by telling you it's a FAT file system doesn't mean you should listen to it.

I hope this helps.

What do computers and air conditioners have in common?
They both will work perfectly, until you open windows.

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Reply #9 - Nov 17^th, 2009 at 7:31pm

a1 Offline
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Thanks. I'll just format everything under NTFS from now on. Out of the packet it says FAT so I just assumed.

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