How to format Firewire HDD to FAT32 in XP?

[thefiddler]

I've got a 40Gb external firwire or usb2 (I can hook it up either way, it has both). Anyway, I've got it formatted and running fine. However it's formatted NTFS, and I want it formated FAT32 so that I can use it on my WinXP machine, and also take it to campus and use it on the G5 that's setup for editing and the imacs they have there.

When I go to format from the Disk Managment, or right clicking the drive and selecting format, in XP, it only gives me the option to format in NTFS. How can I format it to FAT32 so I can use it with macs and windows?

Thanks in advance for any help.

[redwudz]

I can't try this, but did you delete the partition first, then see if FAT32 shows as an option in Disk Management?

If XP doesn't allow FAT32 it, there are probably a bunch of external programs to allow formatting. Check with the manufacturer of the brand of HD you have in the external box.

[thefiddler]

Yeah, I tried deleting the partition. Didn't change anything. I'll search around for some other programs that can do it. I just hoped somebody could tell me the best way.

If anyone does know though, let me know. Thanks again.

EDIT: I figured out the problem: WinXP can only format a HDD up to 32Gb in FAT32. So since mine is 40GB, I can't do it with windows. I'm downloading Swiss Knife right now... we'll see if it works.

[thevoelk]

Why don't you get the MAC to format it? Or, you could pull the drive out of the enclosure, install it internally, and try FDISK through a MS-DOS boot disk.

You may be running into a limitation of the FAT32 file system. I can't remember off the top of my head, but you can probably find the answer online. You may be stuck with two partitions.

[thefiddler]

thanks for the input guys.

Swiss Knife is a great little, free program for windows that allows you to format internal and external drives in several file systems. I'm using it to format the drive. no antiquated boot disks or dos commands needed.

thevoelk, read my previous post, FAT32 will format drives up to 127.9Gb, but Windows 2k & XP can't use it to format them over 30GB. I need to do 40Gb, so I'm using SwissKnife.

[thevoelk]

Then use my first suggestion, format the drive in the school lab.