Can You Partition External Hard Drive

[Tim879]

Hi

Is it possible to partition a USB External Drive to have both a FAT32
and NTFS partition? My TV only recognized FAT32 and I want to play
MP3's / show pics on the TV but use the more stable NTFS file system
to store my other files.

Will Windows XP recognize both drives? If its of any help I use the
USB interface.

Thanks

 

[Mike Moreland]

The short answer is yes. Using a third party partitioning tool would be
recommended.

 

[Anna]

The short answer is yes. Using a third party partitioning tool would be
recommended.

Tim...
Ordinarily one would simply use XP's built-in Disk Management utility to
perform the partitioning/formatting of the USBEHD, however you've indicated
that you need a FAT32 partition specifically to house your audio/video
files. As you have heard, DM will allow you to create FAT32 partitions up
to, but not exceeding, 32 GB.

If that was sufficient for your purposes (even to the extent of creating
*multiple* 32 GB FAT32 partitions) on the USBEHD, you could consider that
route. But there may be another problem since you're dealing with video
files. As I believe one of the responders to your query indicated, there is
a *file size* limitation of 4 GB with the FAT32 file system. So we don't
know if you will be dealing with files > 4 GB, particularly since you're
involved with video files.

In any event if you can live with a FAT32 partition of not more than 32 GB
(bearing in mind you could create multiple partitions of 32 GB), then
there's no reason not to use the Disk Management utility to create & format
those partitions.

There's still another way to get around the 32 GB FAT32 partition
limitation, i.e., a method whereby you could create a FAT32 partition of
virtually any size (without the need of an extra-cost third-party program),
but it involves using a DOS floppy disk containing the FDISK & FORMAT
commands (as in a Win9x/Me Startup floppy disk) together with the ability of
removing the HDD from the USB external enclosure and installing it in your
PC as a secondary HDD. (Programs for creating a DOS floppy disk are
available all over the net). The process is relatively easy but I don't know
if it is practical for you based upon the machines you're presently using.
Anna

 

[Shenan Stanley]

Is it possible to partition an USB External HD to have both a FAT32
and NTFS partition? My TV only recognized FAT32 and I want to play
MP3's / show pics on the TV but use the more stable NTFS file system
to store my other files.

Will Windows XP recognize both drives? If its of any help I use the
USB interface.

<snipped>

Anna wrote:

There's still another way to get around the 32 GB FAT32 partition
limitation, i.e., a method whereby you could create a FAT32
partition of virtually any size (without the need of an extra-cost
third-party program), but it involves using a DOS floppy disk
containing the FDISK & FORMAT commands (as in a Win9x/Me Startup
floppy disk) together with the ability of removing the HDD from the
USB external enclosure and installing it in your PC as a secondary
HDD. (Programs for creating a DOS floppy disk are available all
over the net). The process is relatively easy but I don't know if
it is practical for you based upon the machines you're presently
using.

Extra cost?
Why do things always have to 'cost' or be made more difficult than needed?
heh

Limitations of the FAT32 File System in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/314463

If you are attempting to format with the native utilities in
Windows XP - and the drive/partition is larger than 32GB - the
FAT32 option will not be available. You are welcome to utilize a
third-party utility - some are free.

Examples:
Format larger than 32GB FAT32 within Windows XP with this utility:
http://www1.mager.org/mkdosfs/

Or this one (with GUI):
http://tokiwa.qee.jp/EN/Fat32Formatter/index.html

Good luck!

 

[Anna]

<snipped>

Anna wrote:



Extra cost?
Why do things always have to 'cost' or be made more difficult than needed?
heh

Limitations of the FAT32 File System in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/314463

If you are attempting to format with the native utilities in
Windows XP - and the drive/partition is larger than 32GB - the
FAT32 option will not be available. You are welcome to utilize a
third-party utility - some are free.

Examples:
Format larger than 32GB FAT32 within Windows XP with this utility:
http://www1.mager.org/mkdosfs/

Or this one (with GUI):
http://tokiwa.qee.jp/EN/Fat32Formatter/index.html

Good luck!

Shenan:
I'm unsure as to whether your "extra cost" comment was directed to me since
you quoted a only a portion of my post in response to the OP's query. I
surely did *not* recommend any "extra cost" option to resolve the OP's
objective. So I just wanted to make that clear.

Now as to the Jens-Ewe Mager program you referred to, i.e., your first
link...

As you may or may not know, this is a program that we had (note the past
tense) previously recommended to users re the OP's objective. The following
is a copy of the post we've submitted a number of times to various XP
newsgroups...

{Quote}The following does *not* concern itself as to *why* a user would want
or need to create FAT32 formatted partition(s) from within the XP OS. We'll
assume he or she has good & sufficient reasons for doing so.

As most of us know, the XP operating system cannot partition/format a hard
drive in FAT32 greater than 32 GB. One *can*, however, use the FDISK/FORMAT
commands on a DOS bootable floppy disk (such as a Win9x/Me Startup Disk) to
partition/format an internal hard drive of virtually any size in FAT32.

However, there is a way to FAT32 format a partition (or entire HDD) from
*within* the XP OS when the partition is > 32 GB. The user can overcome this
XP barrier through the use of a Linux-developed program called mkdosfs.exe
developed by Jens-Uwe Mager. See http://www1.mager.org/mkdosfs/ for complete
details on the background of this program and its utilization.

You can download the mkdosfs.zip file from Mr. Mager’s website and extract
the mkdosfs.exe program file. The great advantage of this program is that it
works from *within* the XP environment. NOTE THIS PROGRAM IS *NOT* A
CONVERSION PROGRAM IN THE SENSE THAT IT WILL CONVERT A NTFS PARTITION TO A
FAT32 PARTITION WHILE RETAINING ALL THE DATA. RATHER IT IS DESIGNED TO
FORMAT THE PARTITION, SO PLEASE UNDERSTAND THAT ALL DATA WILL BE LOST
FOLLOWING THE FORMATTING PROCESS.

The program is very easy to use…
1. Install the mkdosfs.exe file (it’s only 68 KB) in your C:\ root
directory.
2. Ensure that the partition/drive to be formatted FAT32 is not presently
being accessed at this point.
3. Using Start > Run > cmd, and get to a C:\ prompt.
4. Invoke the command “mkdosfs –F 32 x:” (no quotes) where x: is the drive
to be formatted. Note the spacing within the command...
(mkdosfs(SPACE)–F(SPACE)32(SPACE)x: and capitalize the “F”, as shown.

MAKE ABSOLUTELY CERTAIN YOUR DRIVE LETTER REFLECTS THE DRIVE TO BE
FORMATTED! YOU WILL NOT RECEIVE ANY CONFIRMATION PROMPT AFTER INVOKING THE
COMMAND! ALL DATA ON THE FORMATTED PARTITION WILL BE LOST!

5. Press Enter after typing the command.
6. The formatting of your designated drive in FAT32 will take place. Two
lines of text will be displayed:
“mkdosfs 2.8 (28 Feb 2001)
Win32 port by Jens-Uwe Mager <[email protected]>"
followed by the C:\ prompt after the drive has been formatted.

In addition to the program’s usefulness in overcoming the FAT32 > 32 GB
limitation imposed by the XP OS as it affects your internal hard drives,
another significant advantage of this program is that you can now format a
USB external HDD in FAT32 in any capacity. And do so within the XP OS
environment.{End of quote}

The reason we no longer recommend that program is because of a number of
negative reports we rec'd from various users, that while the program was
apparently successful in formatting the previously created NTFS partitions

32 GB using, for example, XP's Disk Management utility, in a number of

cases non-recognition partition problems and/or data corruption problems
were later encountered by the user. Although I can only recall one or two
cases where we (personally) subsequently encountered a similar problem after
using the program, we felt there was sufficient reason to no longer
recommend this program (at least without reservations). Needless to say
encountering this type of problem could be disastrous for many, if not all,
users.

All the above is based on the 2.8 version of Mr. Mager's program. I do not
know whether any subsequent versions have been released.

In any event, I wanted to bring this to the attention of the OP (and you) in
deciding whether to use that program.

I'm not familiar with the Fat32Formatter program you mentioned. It does
sound interesting and I'm glad to brought it to our attention. I'll
certainly give it a try.
Anna

 

[Mike Moreland]

http://www.soft32.com/download_151.html

 

[Anna]

http://www.soft32.com/download_151.html

Mike (and the OP if he's still around)...
The Partition Magic program one can download from the site to which you
referred the OP is only a *demo* program. It is *not* functional. It's
designed to give a user an idea of how the program works. Partition Magic is
still a commercial program offered by Symantec under its "Norton" label.
It's a fairly costly piece of software and unnecessary for the OP to
purchase it merely to achieve his objective.

Note to the OP if he's still with us.
I downloaded & experimented with the Fat32Formatter program that Shenan
Stanley recommended (see Shenan's post above). The few times I used the
program it worked just fine formatting NTFS partitions to FAT32. So if you
still have an interest in this area you might want to download this freebie
program (the developer accepts donations) and try it out.

Just keep in mind that this is a *formatting* program. It's *not* a
conversion program in the sense that it will convert a NTFS partition to
FAT32 and all the data will be retained. All the data on the affected
partition will be gone following the formatting process. You probably know
this but I wanted to make it clear.
Anna

 

[Jean]

Of cause you can partition your hard drive, I suggest you use the Partition Assistant to finish the operations?delete partition, format partition and so on. And I am very glad to introduce a detail article about these operations to you-- Guidelines on how to partition a hard drive by Creating, Deleting, Formatting and Resizing Partition. Not only you can solve your problem, and also you can get such helpful and useful information from the article.
Have a try; this software has free edition, experience its superiority in advance, just as I used to do. Ha-ha, good luck!
http://www.extend-partition.com/resource/how-to-partition-a-hard-drive.html

Hi

Is it possible to partition a USB External Drive to have both a FAT32
and NTFS partition? My TV only recognized FAT32 and I want to play
MP3's / show pics on the TV but use the more stable NTFS file system
to store my other files.

Will Windows XP recognize both drives? If its of any help I use the
USB interface.

Thanks

On Sunday, December 21, 2008 3:49 AM MikeMorelan wrote:
The short answer is yes. Using a third party partitioning tool would be
recommended.

--
Mike Moreland
Integrated Secure
http://integratedsecure.com/


"Tim879" wrote:

<snipped>

Anna wrote:
<snip>

Extra cost?
Why do things always have to 'cost' or be made more difficult than needed?
heh

Limitations of the FAT32 File System in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/314463

If you are attempting to format with the native utilities in
Windows XP - and the drive/partition is larger than 32GB - the
FAT32 option will not be available. You are welcome to utilize a
third-party utility - some are free.

Examples:
Format larger than 32GB FAT32 within Windows XP with this utility:
http://www1.mager.org/mkdosfs/

Or this one (with GUI):
http://tokiwa.qee.jp/EN/Fat32Formatter/index.html

Good luck!

//www.soft32.com/download_151.html[/URL]
--
Mike Moreland
Integrated Secure
http://integratedsecure.com/


"Anna" wrote:

 

[philo]

Of cause you can partition your hard drive, I suggest you use the Partition Assistant to finish the operations?delete partition, format partition and so on. And I am very glad to introduce a detail article about these operations to you-- Guidelines on how to partition a hard drive by Creating, Deleting, Formatting and Resizing Partition. Not only you can solve your problem, and also you can get such helpful and useful information from the article.
Have a try; this software has free edition, experience its superiority in advance, just as I used to do. Ha-ha, good luck!

<snip>

real nice of you to respond to a TWO YEAR OLD thread

sheesh