Formatting Flash Drive (FAT 32 or FAT?)

james76 · 12-07-2006, 12:17 PM

I'am formatting my flash drive and wantto know whether to use FAT 32 or FAT? I'am running xp. Thanks for any help

starcab · 12-07-2006, 02:06 PM

Use FAT32

microchipper · 12-09-2006, 11:43 AM

i'm sure i did mine to NTFS not because i needed to but because i could and xp works better with NTFS.

**DCIScouts** · 12-10-2006, 06:33 AM

Mine is formatted to FAT and has worked well on a half dozen computers so far...

alienationware · 12-10-2006, 06:16 PM

Quote:

I'am formatting my flash drive and wantto know whether to use FAT 32 or FAT? I'am running xp. Thanks for any help

Pick any one. Then if you have problems later, you can always copy the contents of the flash drive to your hard drive and reformat to the other.

Emperor_nero · 12-10-2006, 06:43 PM

I think I use FAT32

TFT · 12-10-2006, 08:49 PM

Some Flash drives can certainly be formatted NTFS

gamerman4 · 12-10-2006, 09:35 PM

ANY drive can be formatted NTFS, Windows XP will only let you format it to NTFS if it over like....1-2GB i think.
Third-party software lets you format flash drives into anything.
I'd go with FAT32 since FAT is too old but FAT would certainly work.

69mako · 12-11-2006, 11:31 AM

If you plan to ever pop it into an older computer that doesn't support NTFS, you might want to stick to FAT32 just for that reason. My mother-in-law still uses Win ME.

Mako

youtin · 12-11-2006, 02:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 69mako

If you plan to ever pop it into an older computer that doesn't support NTFS, you might want to stick to FAT32 just for that reason. My mother-in-law still uses Win ME.

Mako

I agree. I used to format mine in NTFS 'cause it's supposed to be faster but had problems when I tried to use it on my old Win98 laptop. I don't see any difference in performance, but at least my flash drive can now work in most machines.

12-07-2006, 12:17 PM	#1 (permalink)
james76 Silver Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Dubai Posts: 248	Formatting Flash Drive (FAT 32 or FAT?) I'am formatting my flash drive and wantto know whether to use FAT 32 or FAT? I'am running xp. Thanks for any help

12-07-2006, 02:06 PM	#2 (permalink)
starcab Silver Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 211	Use FAT32 __________________ Free flash games Filehost Free image hosting Sports Games Arcade Games

12-10-2006, 06:33 AM	#4 (permalink)
DCIScouts Super Moderator Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Kalamazoo, Michigan, USA Age: 25 Posts: 5,049	Mine is formatted to FAT and has worked well on a half dozen computers so far... __________________ In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends. -Martin Luther King Jr. The most overlooked advantage to owning a computer is that if they foul up there's no law against wacking them around a little. -Joe Martin FOLDING FOR THE GOOD OF MANKIND :F@H Team 44358 Posting and you - CF Edition Cheers CF

12-10-2006, 06:43 PM	#6 (permalink)
Emperor_nero Diamond Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: 127.0.0.1 Posts: 2,301	I think I use FAT32 __________________ I play Rugby, and no its not like it's sissy cousin with the pads.

12-10-2006, 09:35 PM	#8 (permalink)
gamerman4 Platinum Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Arkansas Age: 18 Posts: 992	ANY drive can be formatted NTFS, Windows XP will only let you format it to NTFS if it over like....1-2GB i think. Third-party software lets you format flash drives into anything. I'd go with FAT32 since FAT is too old but FAT would certainly work. __________________ My Gaming PC: NZXT Nemesis Elite Black Case Intel Q6600 @ 3.20 Ghz COOLER MASTER RL-EUL-GBU1-GP Watercooling Gigabyte DS3R 2 x 80GB HDD 1 x 250GB 1 x 500GB 2 x 1GB Patriot Extreme Perf. DDR2 nVidia 8800GT 512MB Antec Smartpower 2.0 400 Watt

12-09-2006, 11:43 AM	#3 (permalink)
microchipper banned Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: sussex, UK Age: 30 Posts: 264	i'm sure i did mine to NTFS not because i needed to but because i could and xp works better with NTFS.

12-10-2006, 08:49 PM	#7 (permalink)
TFT Diamond Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Yorkshire, UK Posts: 1,843	Some Flash drives can certainly be formatted NTFS

12-11-2006, 11:31 AM	#9 (permalink)
69mako Silver Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 148	If you plan to ever pop it into an older computer that doesn't support NTFS, you might want to stick to FAT32 just for that reason. My mother-in-law still uses Win ME. Mako

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Problem with USB Flash drive...	[-0MEGA-]	Computer Accessories	3	11-02-2006 04:09 AM
How can I fix my hard drive problem?	langthang	Computer Memory and Hard Drives	4	10-14-2005 10:04 PM
USB Flash drive power usage on a laptop	RockyM	Laptop and Handheld Computers	1	07-16-2004 08:05 PM
After formatting stops w/ drive configuration problem??????	p3greg	Computer Cases, Power Supplies and Cooling	2	07-08-2004 05:47 PM
Creating NTFS filesystem without formatting the drive?!?!	DashUnderscoreDash	Computer Memory and Hard Drives	4	04-09-2004 11:40 PM