The built in Windows XP disk management tool will not allow you to
format FAT32 if the volume is larger than 32GB. XP can mount and use
FAT32 volumes much larger than 32GB but you just cannot format them with
XP. Either keep the volumes smaller than 32 GB or use a third party
disk tool to format larger volumes.
John
Nak wrote:
> Just as suspected, Win XP won't give me the FAT32 option when try format
> as primary partition, for a test.
>
> Any help. I want FAT 32.
>
"Nak" <Nak@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:8D2EE15D-DCDD-48C7-8FEE-FAA2B4432033@microsoft.com...
>
> Just as suspected, Win XP won't give me the FAT32 option when try format
> as primary partition, for a test.
Yes, it will., but not if the partition is over 23 gig.
>
> Any help. I want FAT 32.
Why?
You'll need to boot with another OS or shift the drive to another non-XP
system and format that way.
Thanks John, Shenan and Patrick. Don't have another puter w/ either different
OS or SATA connectors. Keep that in mind though. Have scoured the Net in
interim and picked up a lot on the issues. Panic over. After reading all
that, decided
NTFS might be best way to go for now anyway.
Do appreciate all the inputs from you gents. Learn something new everyday.
Thank you.
--
Nak
"Patrick Keenan" wrote:
> "Nak" <Nak@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:8D2EE15D-DCDD-48C7-8FEE-FAA2B4432033@microsoft.com...
> >
> > Just as suspected, Win XP won't give me the FAT32 option when try format
> > as primary partition, for a test.
>
> Yes, it will., but not if the partition is over 23 gig.
>
> >
> > Any help. I want FAT 32.
>
> Why?
>
> You'll need to boot with another OS or shift the drive to another non-XP
> system and format that way.
>
> HTH
> -pk
>
> > --
> > Nak
>
>
>
Hello;
My experience is limited in this area but I will try to help you. I think
you are on the right track except you should really post this information in
the windowsxp hardware newsgroup. I reason the following:
1. Your Seagate drives are SATA hard drives. This stands for Serial ATA
interface. They have nothing to do with the so called SSCI hard drives. So
place aside talk regarding SCSI hard drives. Seagate manufacturers both hard
drive basic types which is the likely source of confusion. The rated
capacity of your drives is 80 Gb and 160 Gb and both are high speed 7200 RPM
devices. This is not top speed but it is running very fast. I am guessing
you bought these drives on eBay.
2. You must connect these drives to your motherboard with separate cables.
That is, one cable for each drive.
3. I believe I am correct in saying you can not use the FAT file system
format. I am not sure why you want to stick to this format. You must first
convert your current drive to NTFS file system. I cant see why it will do
any harm to convert. To do this in Windows XP: Start>Run , type in cmd and
press enter to get the command prompt C:\ etc.. Now type in this command and
press enter; convert A /fs:ntfs. This will convert drive A to the NTFS file
system. Note: a small prayer before you press enter is considered good
practice. The command will not work if all is not in order. No harm done in
trying.
4. Connect one hard drive to the red connector on the motherboard and the
other to the second red connector. I believe the red connectors on your
motherboard are for these type of drives. At any rate try this. It wont harm
anything if you do.
5. Make sure you have downloaded the latest Seagate DiscWizard software via
the internet. It has been upgraded recently and is an excellent tool for you
to proceed and now attempt to add a your hard drive to your system.The
Seagate software is essentially foolproof. It is almost impossible to make
gross mistakes. If it wont work for you then more prayers are in order
coupled with a new post to the hardware xp newsgroup.
I hope I have helped somewhat.
"Nak" <Nak@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:8D2EE15D-DCDD-48C7-8FEE-FAA2B4432033@microsoft.com...
>
> Just as suspected, Win XP won't give me the FAT32 option when try format
> as primary partition, for a test.
>
> Any help. I want FAT 32.
>
> --
> Nak
Well thanks for that, melvin. Every bit helps. Yours did as well. All your
points
are well taken. fact is, I've just finished formating 5 partitions on it in
NTFS, which
I finally decided was best all round.
A lot of what you say I've already gone thru and replied to in Win XP
General,
where I also posted and got some good feedback. Looks like Win XP is a bit
******* up (according to other forum) and reports SATA drives as SCSI ones.
Learn somtin new everyday.
Thanks for the cmnd and the Seagate wizard suggestion. May come in handy
some time. Did find some aps which can format large drives w/ FAT32, by the
way but
saw some potential disadvantages there, so caved in to NTFS for now. No time
to mess and consider at moment.
Thanks again,
--
Nak
"melvin cotterill" wrote:
> Hello;
> My experience is limited in this area but I will try to help you. I think
> you are on the right track except you should really post this information in
> the windowsxp hardware newsgroup. I reason the following:
>
> 1. Your Seagate drives are SATA hard drives. This stands for Serial ATA
> interface. They have nothing to do with the so called SSCI hard drives. So
> place aside talk regarding SCSI hard drives. Seagate manufacturers both hard
> drive basic types which is the likely source of confusion. The rated
> capacity of your drives is 80 Gb and 160 Gb and both are high speed 7200 RPM
> devices. This is not top speed but it is running very fast. I am guessing
> you bought these drives on eBay.
> 2. You must connect these drives to your motherboard with separate cables.
> That is, one cable for each drive.
> 3. I believe I am correct in saying you can not use the FAT file system
> format. I am not sure why you want to stick to this format. You must first
> convert your current drive to NTFS file system. I cant see why it will do
> any harm to convert. To do this in Windows XP: Start>Run , type in cmd and
> press enter to get the command prompt C:\ etc.. Now type in this command and
> press enter; convert A /fs:ntfs. This will convert drive A to the NTFS file
> system. Note: a small prayer before you press enter is considered good
> practice. The command will not work if all is not in order. No harm done in
> trying.
> 4. Connect one hard drive to the red connector on the motherboard and the
> other to the second red connector. I believe the red connectors on your
> motherboard are for these type of drives. At any rate try this. It wont harm
> anything if you do.
> 5. Make sure you have downloaded the latest Seagate DiscWizard software via
> the internet. It has been upgraded recently and is an excellent tool for you
> to proceed and now attempt to add a your hard drive to your system.The
> Seagate software is essentially foolproof. It is almost impossible to make
> gross mistakes. If it wont work for you then more prayers are in order
> coupled with a new post to the hardware xp newsgroup.
> I hope I have helped somewhat.
>
> "Nak" <Nak@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:8D2EE15D-DCDD-48C7-8FEE-FAA2B4432033@microsoft.com...
> >
> > Just as suspected, Win XP won't give me the FAT32 option when try format
> > as primary partition, for a test.
> >
> > Any help. I want FAT 32.
> >
> > --
> > Nak
>
>
>
Nak wrote:
> Just as suspected, Win XP won't give me the FAT32 option when try format
> as primary partition, for a test.
>
> Any help. I want FAT 32.
>
> Nak wrote:
> > Just as suspected, Win XP won't give me the FAT32 option when try format
> > as primary partition, for a test.
> >
> > Any help. I want FAT 32.
> >
>
> http://www.ridgecrop.demon.co.uk/ind...at32format.htm
>
How to configure a 2nd SCSI SATA drive? 
Linear Mode
