Format USB drive in FAT32

H

htwild1

Weaksauce
Joined
Aug 24, 2004
Messages
86
I have an external USB enclosure with maxtor hd.
I wanted to fornmat it in FAT32 to copy mp3 music to use with Pioneer Vsx919 receiver.

First I formatted in exFAT (Vista) thinking that the receiver would be able to read it but no go.

Then I used HP USB format program for flash drive and it formatted only 128 gig, which is fine for my purpose. Plugged back in the main PC to copy the files, the drive was not recognized.

What can I do to get it formatted in FAT32 and able to copy the files?

Thanks.
 
Xp or Vista?
try diskpart from a CMD line

list disk <enter>
select disk ?? <enter>
format fs=fat32 <enter>
 
I got stuck on the part when you specify format.

The disk listed that I wanted to format is listed as "disk 8"

I tried to type in label="disk 8" but got no result.

Forgot to add that I use Vista and when I turn the drive on, Vista tried to install a driver which was not able to load. WinExplorer could not see the drive, except in disk management.
 
"Forgot to add that I use Vista and when I turn the drive on, Vista tried to install a driver which was not able to load"
first problem needs to be corrected before the format problem.
maybe it needs a driver because its exFAT or some sort of maxtor board inside the usb case.
should be :>
select disk 8
format fs=fat32
 
It keeps asking for volume even I typed up what you listed.

Anyway there is another issue. All my external now when I turned them on, Vista tried to load drivers. Naturally there is something wrong with the OS. Would "repairing" vista work?
 
By saying "repairing" vista you mean formating and installing Windows 7 right?
 
Cyant,

I meant to insert Vista CD and do a repair within the program.

PC_user,

That started the whole problem. I used this program to reformat the hd after it was formatted w/ disk management in
Vista under exFAT format. HP program formatted for me a single partition of 128gig and left the remaining space unallocated.
When I connect the hd to copy the files over that's when my PC could not read the drive and lock out all other usb external drives, including a Kingston usb flash drive. When I tried to install the driver, Vista reported that a generic volume file was not found and stopped.

It has to be a file somewhere in Vista that got corrupted.
 
Uh... According to Microsoft, FAT32 can support disks up to 8TB. The largest a file can be on a FAT32 disk is 4GB - 1byte.
 
about 160..gig.

I believe this issue goes farther where Vista does not recognize the usb drives. I am reading a lot of pages relating to how usb drives/sticks suddenly do not work with Vista. That's what happened to all my usb drives now. Cannot read them.
 
Stereodude said:
Uh... According to Microsoft, FAT32 can support disks up to 8TB. The largest a file can be on a FAT32 disk is 4GB - 1byte.
Click to expand...

Totally, brain farted, your are 100% correct. It is a single file.

*Edited/deleted above post
 
I'd be surprised if the OP's receiver will support a HD full of files. Usually they crap out after a certain number of files.
 
That's what I wanted to find out and use a spare hd.

Anyway I was following the work-around suggested on one forum dealing with unrecognized usb devices (pointing vista to load drivers from \windows\winsxs) and now all my usb hds are seen. A "generic volume" is shown in device manager.

Thanks for all the input.
 
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