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Thread ID: 81694	2007-08-04 03:31:00	Formatting USB Flash drive	fnphoto (2434)	Press F1

Post ID	Timestamp	Content	User
576307	2007-08-04 03:31:00	I have a Sony 16 Gb USB Flash Drive which I am trying to format as NTFS. At the moment it is Healthy Fat32 but when I try to format it windows XP just says "Windows was unable to complete the format" - no reason given. Is there a work around for this problem??	fnphoto (2434)
576308	2007-08-04 03:35:00	I think most are meant to get formatted in FAT32 not NTFS. Any reason why you want it in NTFS?	Speedy Gonzales (78)
576309	2007-08-04 03:36:00	You might have to delete the partition and make a new partition then format. A camera might not like NTFS, though.	Graham L (2)
576310	2007-08-04 03:51:00	I think most are meant to get formatted in FAT32 not NTFS. Any reason why you want it in NTFS? With NTFS you can take advantage of a more robust file system & smaller allocation unit, use NTFS file compression to create additional effective space and you can enable the Encripting File system for added security. Flash drives definately can be formated NTFS, they are only distributed with the FAT system to allow them to be used by all versions of Windows that support USB. I have also tried partitoning etc.	fnphoto (2434)
576311	2007-08-04 03:55:00	Well true, I know they CAN be formatted in NTFS. But then if u want to boot from it, it may not boot when formatted in NTFS.	Speedy Gonzales (78)
576312	2007-08-05 22:06:00	Well true, I know they CAN be formatted in NTFS. But then if u want to boot from it, it may not boot when formatted in NTFS. But the reason I would like to format it NTFS is not for booting but for carrying/ transfering a lot of small private & work data files.	fnphoto (2434)
576313	2007-08-05 22:09:00	This (www.msfn.org) Maybe similar Go to Device Manager and set the policy of the USB Stick device to "Optimize for Performance". The default is to optimize for Quick Removal, which restricts you to the FAT filesystem. If you do this, then you absolutely must go through the the annoying removal dialog to unmount the filesystem before unplugging the drive. If you don't, then you have a good chance of losing data.	Speedy Gonzales (78)
576314	2007-08-05 22:14:00	:lol: Simple. Windows won't let you. I have recently formatted my 4 gig in NTFS and like it, download the GParted live CD (sourceforge.net). Burn the .iso to a CD, boot off the cd, insert your flash drive, scan for devices, it should see your flash drive. Delete the current partition, then create a new partition on it, full size, and format it in NTFS. Bingo. Works a charm!! Good Luck! :D Oh and if you can't find another way to do what you want, or don't have broadband, PM me and I can send you a copy of the GParted disk for a few $.	wratterus (105)
576315	2007-08-06 00:02:00	:lol: Simple. Windows won't let you. I have recently formatted my 4 gig in NTFS and like it, download the GParted live CD (sourceforge.net). Burn the .iso to a CD, boot off the cd, insert your flash drive, scan for devices, it should see your flash drive. Delete the current partition, then create a new partition on it, full size, and format it in NTFS. Bingo. Works a charm!! Good Luck! :D Oh and if you can't find another way to do what you want, or don't have broadband, PM me and I can send you a copy of the GParted disk for a few $. Thanks wratterus. I have this CD so ASAP I will try this method. I had previously tried speedy's previous tip but it didn't work with this drive. Partition Magic also didn't work. I'll also try using Vista.	fnphoto (2434)
576316	2008-02-29 15:02:00	fnphoto: I have the same problem. Cannot format my 16 GB USB Flash Drive to NTFS. I have the same error when formatting. I've downloaded the gparted livecd, but it will not work (at the end of bootong I get some sort of LOOP error and I come into command prompt. I assume I should get to a GUI). Did it work for you?	QsD1 (12628)
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