Ubuntu
gparted package

Is there any way to reformat a large (1TB or better) external hard drive in the old FAT32 file system?

Asked by Justin Aflague

The only success I've had with this issue is by using a freeware download named "Swissknife", but this program is very finicky because it will only run on Windows XP and crash on Vista and 7. To the best of my knowledge, I haven't been able to get it to properly install and run on Ubuntu, but perhaps I've done something incorrectly? What I'm hoping for is that someone will tell me there's an easier utility here in the Ubuntu community that will do exactly what I'm trying to do.

For anyone wondering why in the world am I trying to roll-back a large external hard drive to the FAT32 system, (I know I'll be losing some amount of the actual file storage), it's because that's the only file system that is recognised by these latest gaming systems like Xbox and PS3 if you want to plug an external hard drive via USB into the main console and browse media organised on the external hard drive without taking up extra space on the local internal hard drive.

I know this is only supposed to be one question per post, but now that I think about it, I wonder why these gaming systems can only recognise FAT32 and not the latest universal NTFS? If anyone out there has an idea or knows for sure, I sure would appreciate the extra knowledge. Thanks.

Question information

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Status:
Solved
For:
Ubuntu gparted Edit question
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Solved by:
GREG T.
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Best GREG T. (ubuntuer) said : 		#1

 gpart live is a program that can fix it . download burn to cd and use as needed .
http://download.cnet.com/GParted-LiveCD/3000-2094_4-10698802.html
  you can do a search for gpart live download for more

Revision history for this message
Justin Aflague (jjaflague) said : 		#2

Tried it out, and GParted worked liked a dream. I just had to toy around and figure out that I needed to delete the existing partition before I could create a new one in FAT32, but the hard drive I reformatted is playing a TV show episode on my PS3 right now, so a big Thank You to Greg T. And on one more note, I didn't have to burn it on CD. I found GParted in its entirety in Ubuntu's Software Center.

Revision history for this message
Justin Aflague (jjaflague) said : 		#3

Thanks GREG T., that solved my question.

Revision history for this message
GREG T. (ubuntuer) said : 		#4

i run gpart live just i install new versions of ubuntu seams to help
everything run smooth .

On 11/20/2010 02:47 PM, Justin Aflague wrote:
> Question #134785 on gparted in ubuntu changed:
> https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/gparted/+question/134785
>
> Justin Aflague confirmed that the question is solved:
> Thanks GREG T., that solved my question.
>

Revision history for this message
GREG T. (ubuntuer) said : 		#5

the reason to burn to cd is to be able to do the [[whole hdd ]] . or to
wipe a hdd you are going to sell or give to a friend .

On 11/20/2010 02:46 PM, Justin Aflague wrote:
> Question #134785 on gparted in ubuntu changed:
> https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/gparted/+question/134785
>
> Status: Answered => Solved
>
> Justin Aflague confirmed that the question is solved:
> Tried it out, and GParted worked liked a dream. I just had to toy
> around and figure out that I needed to delete the existing partition
> before I could create a new one in FAT32, but the hard drive I
> reformatted is playing a TV show episode on my PS3 right now, so a big
> Thank You to Greg T. And on one more note, I didn't have to burn it on
> CD. I found GParted in its entirety in Ubuntu's Software Center.
>