I need my portable HDD to "format in Fat32"

[Low-Poly Sakura]

Hey, I just bought a portable HDD today, but to use it on where I want to use it I'd have to format it in Fat32 first. Well I already formatted it twice, in NTFS (Standard) and exFAT but that's all that it has. No Fat32 or something.

Edit: I want to use the portable HDD on a PS3

[Haruspex]

What size is that drive? FAT32 file format has a maximum partition size of 2TB. On Windows, there's a limit of 32 GB for formatting a partition in FAT32. There's also a maximum file size of 4 GB.

If the drive is more than 32 GB, but less than 2 TB, you can format it using 3rd party disk management software like Minitool Partition Wizard. If it's more than 2 TB, you can still format a smaller partition within the drive as FAT 32.

[Low-Poly Sakura]

Автор сообщения: Harusp3x

What size is that drive? FAT32 file format has a maximum partition size of 2TB. On Windows, there's a limit of 32 GB for formatting a partition in FAT32. There's also a maximum file size of 4 GB.

If the drive is more than 32 GB, but less than 2 TB, you can format it using 3rd party disk management software like Minitool Partition Wizard. If it's more than 2 TB, you can still format a smaller partition within the drive as FAT 32.

Size is 1 TB

[HypersleepyNaputunia]

bootable mx linux usb disk
then run gparted and format

[Haruspex]

Автор сообщения: KyokoKirigiri

bootable mx linux usb disk
then run gparted and format

Yep, this, or use a 3rd party partition manager for Windows if you prefer. The built in Windows partition maker won't let you format in FAT32 over 32 GB.

[Heretic]

Not sure about externals, but I use Rufus USB to work around Windows limitations.

[Low-Poly Sakura]

Ok, thank you all for your answers, I'll try the 3rd party partition manager first.

[Dr.Shadowds 🐉]

If trying to use this for OS/Software that doesn't recognize NTFS, EXFAT, or even EXT for that matter, then this pretty crappy thing you're dealing with that must be old, or too lazy to include said support.


Anyways FAT32 sucks, but have to deal with it limitations, or any other problems comes with it such as file corruption, as yes can format drive to be FAT32, but this depends it will be recognize at all, or without corruption issues when try to bypass limits.

Now not sure the reason why want it to be FAT32, but I assume it must be something you needed, and TBH might as well grab USB that 32GB since you talked about using external hdd, so I assume using a USB port. I recommend brand such as Sandisk they can be around $15 for 32GB with good performance for your needs when comes to USB 2.0 / 3.0, avoid kingston, and cheap chinese knock offs unless performance don't matter to you for your use case.

[Bad 💀 Motha]

Why would you need it to be FAT32?
Do you need it to be bootable on a legacy PC?
If it's just for external storage, use EXFAT. This helps should you want to use it on WinOS or Linux at the same time. There really is no reasons to be formatting an external non-bootable as NTFS

[Low-Poly Sakura]

I want to use the "1 TB" (which actually only has about 931 GB Space) Portable HDD on a PlayStation 3, sorry for not having told that earlier
Well, using the program MiniTool Partition Wizard I formatted it in FAT32 now but it just still doesn't work. The PS3 seemingly doesn't recognise the portable HDD.

[Dr.Shadowds 🐉]

Автор сообщения: Sakura

I want to use the "1 TB" (which actually only has about 931 GB Space) Portable HDD on a PlayStation 3, sorry for not having told that earlier
Well, using the program MiniTool Partition Wizard I formatted it in FAT32 now but it just still doesn't work. The PS3 seemingly doesn't recognise the portable HDD.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5-h6GeibaM4

FYI if want to use something else besides FAT32, you will need to jailbreak your PS3 to support exfat / ntfs, please note performance WILL be slow, as PS3 uses USB 2.0, and there no way to make it go faster either as well.

[Bad 💀 Motha]

Just wipe the drive completely then format it on the console directly.

No reason though that you can't format as FAT32 in WINOS. But use CMD (RUN AS ADMIN) > DISKPART

[Low-Poly Sakura]

Hey all, I got it to work. Thank you!