Mermory stick formatting advice please

shutter · ‎06-11-2007

I have a Toshiba 32 GB memory stick... I would like to format it, to clean it up a bit... ! when I use the Format command, it gives me FAT32 as default... with NTFS as an alternative...
As it will be used on Windows Vista Home Premium files... would I be correct in assuming that I need to format it with NTFS ?

Oldjim · ‎15-06-2007

you could use either
one thing to check - since I don't know the answer - will Linux read NTFS in case you hit a problem

shutter · ‎06-11-2007

OK Thanks Jim.... have just done a quick format on FAT32

Anonymous · ‎14-04-2015

It may be a bit late but you may want to select the smallest allocation size to suit your needs. For example a 4K allocation means that a 1K file occupies 4K on the disk, so if you're saving large files then use a larger size.
Just thought I'd mention it.

MisterW · ‎30-07-2007

Quote
one thing to check - since I don't know the answer - will Linux read NTFS in case you hit a problem

Linux will read NTFS but I would suggest that USB sticks are best formatted FAT32 since everything will read that. You never know you might want to connect it to say a Car audio system and that's going to struggle with NTFS!!

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shutter · ‎06-11-2007

Brill. !... so I made the right decision for a change ! ! ! ... thanks guys....
brill forumites that you are !

Just to confirm.... I have also made the memory stick Linux Mint bootable, and during the process, it says the memory stick should be formatted in FAT16 or FAT32 format....otherwise it wont work...
rebooted and it sure does...

RobPN · ‎17-05-2013

Remember FAT32 is no use if you need to use file sizes greater than 4GB.

chenks76 · ‎24-10-2013

i always format USB sticks to exFAT.
solves the 4GB limit and exFAT works on Windows, Linux and Mac, so no issues with cross compatibility.

HairyMcbiker · ‎16-02-2009

I just came across exfat, in Mint you need to install a couple of additional packages to read/write to it.
I bought a 64Gb sd card and it came pre-formatted in it. Same it was a fake though. Fighting to get my money refunded now. Got it on Alibaba which CLAIMS that if you are unhappy you get a full refund, so far still waiting. (Ran f3 & h2test on it and it failed, so not scamming them.)

Strat · ‎14-04-2007

According to this exFAT is definitely the way to go.

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chenks76 · ‎24-10-2013

i actually format some of my general storage external HDDs as exFAT too (due to me using them on both windows and mac).
solves any comparability issues (and negates the need to install NTFS plug-ins on the mac).

VileReynard · ‎01-09-2007

exFAT has got to be a case of flogging a dead horse.

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shutter · ‎06-11-2007

As usual.... a non-statement from a windows bashing linux user..... I thought you had stopped this sillyness...

chrcoluk · ‎11-12-2013

if you want, speed, compatibility and able to use bigger than 4 gig files then use exfat.
My multiboot usb stick is able to boot all os's I stick on it with exfat.
using the easy2boot software (there is also a formatter tool).
rufus is one such tool
rmprepusb is more advanced and on the easy2boot website

chenks76 · ‎24-10-2013

Quote from: vilefoxdemonofdoom
exFAT has got to be a case of flogging a dead horse.

care to back that up with any sensible theory?
or are you just a muppet with more time on your hands than you know what to do with.