FAT32 to NTFS problem... - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

Willravel · 12-15-2009, 08:42 PM

I left-clicked on Computer, then Manage, then I choose the drive and under properties I clicked optimize for performance. I then clicked on the drive and the PC asked me to format. The problem is that the capacity is listed as 200MB instead of 16GB (or 15.8). I tried running it that way just to test it, but it just created a 200MB partition, with the rest as FAT32.

telekinetic · 12-15-2009, 09:30 PM

You what with the who now?

What are you trying to do to what, with what hardware and software?

Willravel · 12-15-2009, 10:01 PM

Well it all started with discovering a USB port or two on the side of my HDTV (Samsung LN40B630 40" LCD, I highly recommend it). I put a few .avi files on my 4GB usb flash drive, but the TV couldn't read the drive for some reason. I realized it was because I have all my USB flash drives formatted for OS X, so I used Disk Utility to change it back to FAT32 format. It worked like a charm, I watched the Avatar trailer and Tron Legacy trailer in 1080p without any problems.

Figuring I'd hit the jackpot, I grabbed my 16GB USB flash drive and similarly switched it over to FAT32, but then I found I couldn't move my full-length 1080p movies onto it for some reason. Because I'm of the Mac people, I was unaware that FAT32 allows files only up to 4GB (minus 1B), so my 14GB .mkv file was out of the question. I posted a thread asking what the possible way around this might be, and Cynth mentioned the newer NTFS format, which doesn't have the 4GB file-size restriction.

I grabbed the 16GB USB flash drive, recently reformatted to FAT32 on my Mac, and plugged it into my laptop running Vista. I tried reformatting it under Vista, but it could only see a 200MB partition. So I made this thread.

Fast forward to now, and I think I figured out what happened. When you reformat to FAT32 on Mac, it doesn't necessarily reformat the entire drive, it just makes a big-ass partition. The leftovers of the partition, in my case about 200MB, is the only thing that a Vista (XP and also Windows 7, I've checked) can see. I had a friend of mine come over and check it out, and according to him (he's the Windows nerd to my Mac nerd), the drive is double-partitioned for good.

The "fix" is to go buy a new 16GB drive and format it to NTFS on a Windows machine, making sure to never try and format the drive on a Mac. I have NFTS-3G, the application for Mac that allows me to read and write NFTS formatted drives, so after I get back from Best Buy or wherever tomorrow and format it correctly, it should work just fine.

I hope.

telekinetic · 12-15-2009, 10:36 PM

I'll eat any portion of a llama someone cares to send me if gparted won't fix your drive. GParted -- Download Burn that to a CD, boot onto it, adjust the partition table.

Actually, if you're going to be burning something, might as well make an Ultimate Boot CD, and use the formatting/partitioning tools on that instead.

http://www.ultimatebootcd.com/

This is all assuming there isn't a handy windows utility that will handle partition table editing...I don't know of one, but would be VERY surprised to find one doesn't exist.

nomcat · 12-16-2009, 01:07 AM

Another vote for GParted... saved me a lot of hassle!

Hain · 12-22-2009, 08:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Willravel

... When you reformat to FAT32 on Mac, it doesn't necessarily reformat the entire drive, it just makes a big-ass partition. The leftovers of the partition, in my case about 200MB, is the only thing that a Vista (XP and also Windows 7, I've checked) can see. I had a friend of mine come over and check it out, and according to him (he's the Windows nerd to my Mac nerd), the drive is double-partitioned for good.

None of this sounds right. Just a guess: is it a Sandisk U3 Cruzer?

Willravel · 12-22-2009, 10:31 AM

Bingo.

It was the bullshit software they included on the drive that not even my Mac could erase. I found and downloaded the software, but honestly I don't like dealing with shady crap like that, so I sold it and bought a new one.

Hain · 12-22-2009, 10:11 PM

The firmware is designed to password protect the content from tampering. It would not stand against a physical attack by dismantling. The option to remove the firmware and have a simple as-is flash drive is available.

I have two Cruzers because I like the capless design but dropped the U3. My prefered U3 replacement is PortableApps.com's menu and FOSS and freeware apps.

12-15-2009, 08:42 PM	#1 (permalink)
Willravel ... a sort of licensed troubleshooter.	FAT32 to NTFS problem... I left-clicked on Computer, then Manage, then I choose the drive and under properties I clicked optimize for performance. I then clicked on the drive and the PC asked me to format. The problem is that the capacity is listed as 200MB instead of 16GB (or 15.8). I tried running it that way just to test it, but it just created a 200MB partition, with the rest as FAT32.

12-15-2009, 09:30 PM	#2 (permalink)
telekinetic zomgomgomgomgomgomg Location: Fauxenix, Azerona	You what with the who now? What are you trying to do to what, with what hardware and software? __________________ twisted no more

12-15-2009, 10:36 PM	#4 (permalink)
telekinetic zomgomgomgomgomgomg Location: Fauxenix, Azerona	I'll eat any portion of a llama someone cares to send me if gparted won't fix your drive. GParted -- Download Burn that to a CD, boot onto it, adjust the partition table. Actually, if you're going to be burning something, might as well make an Ultimate Boot CD, and use the formatting/partitioning tools on that instead. http://www.ultimatebootcd.com/ This is all assuming there isn't a handy windows utility that will handle partition table editing...I don't know of one, but would be VERY surprised to find one doesn't exist. __________________ twisted no more Last edited by telekinetic; 12-15-2009 at 10:38 PM..

12-16-2009, 01:07 AM	#5 (permalink)
nomcat Twisted Location: UK	Another vote for GParted... saved me a lot of hassle! __________________ There are many powers in the world, for good or for evil. Some are greater than I am. Against some I have not yet been measured. But my time is coming.

12-22-2009, 10:11 PM	#8 (permalink)
Hain has a plan Location: middle of Whywouldanyonebethere	The firmware is designed to password protect the content from tampering. It would not stand against a physical attack by dismantling. The option to remove the firmware and have a simple as-is flash drive is available. I have two Cruzers because I like the capless design but dropped the U3. My prefered U3 replacement is PortableApps.com's menu and FOSS and freeware apps. __________________ ////\\// IRONSKY.NET \\//\\\\

12-15-2009, 10:01 PM	#3 (permalink)
Willravel ... a sort of licensed troubleshooter.	Well it all started with discovering a USB port or two on the side of my HDTV (Samsung LN40B630 40" LCD, I highly recommend it). I put a few .avi files on my 4GB usb flash drive, but the TV couldn't read the drive for some reason. I realized it was because I have all my USB flash drives formatted for OS X, so I used Disk Utility to change it back to FAT32 format. It worked like a charm, I watched the Avatar trailer and Tron Legacy trailer in 1080p without any problems. Figuring I'd hit the jackpot, I grabbed my 16GB USB flash drive and similarly switched it over to FAT32, but then I found I couldn't move my full-length 1080p movies onto it for some reason. Because I'm of the Mac people, I was unaware that FAT32 allows files only up to 4GB (minus 1B), so my 14GB .mkv file was out of the question. I posted a thread asking what the possible way around this might be, and Cynth mentioned the newer NTFS format, which doesn't have the 4GB file-size restriction. I grabbed the 16GB USB flash drive, recently reformatted to FAT32 on my Mac, and plugged it into my laptop running Vista. I tried reformatting it under Vista, but it could only see a 200MB partition. So I made this thread. Fast forward to now, and I think I figured out what happened. When you reformat to FAT32 on Mac, it doesn't necessarily reformat the entire drive, it just makes a big-ass partition. The leftovers of the partition, in my case about 200MB, is the only thing that a Vista (XP and also Windows 7, I've checked) can see. I had a friend of mine come over and check it out, and according to him (he's the Windows nerd to my Mac nerd), the drive is double-partitioned for good. The "fix" is to go buy a new 16GB drive and format it to NTFS on a Windows machine, making sure to never try and format the drive on a Mac. I have NFTS-3G, the application for Mac that allows me to read and write NFTS formatted drives, so after I get back from Best Buy or wherever tomorrow and format it correctly, it should work just fine. I hope.

12-22-2009, 10:31 AM	#7 (permalink)
Willravel ... a sort of licensed troubleshooter.	Bingo. It was the bullshit software they included on the drive that not even my Mac could erase. I found and downloaded the software, but honestly I don't like dealing with shady crap like that, so I sold it and bought a new one.