Solved Can't format flash drive FAT32

riffwraith · May 4, 2024

Hi

I have a USB stick in a port, and want to format it in FAT32, but the only options are NTFS or exFAT.

Is there something I need to do to see this option?

Thanks in advance.

antspants · May 4, 2024

What process are you trying to use?

antspants · May 4, 2024

Download MiniTool Partition Wizard.
However if you’re trying to use Windows File Explorer, I don’t know why the option wouldn’t be available as Windows will do Fat32 up to 32GB I believe.

Best Free Partition Manager for Windows | MiniTool Partition Wizard Free

As an all-in-one free partition manager and disk manager software, MiniTool Partition Wizard Free helps manage disk space safely on Windows 11/10/8/7.

www.partitionwizard.com

riffwraith · May 4, 2024

antspants said:
What process are you trying to use?

R-click on the drive in W.Exp. and also via disk mgmt.

antspants said:
Windows will do Fat32 up to 32GB I believe.

Ah, that's probably it. This drive is bigger. I had no idea there was any limitation.

Do you know if MiniTool Partition Wizard will handle bigger drives for FAT32?

Thanks!

antspants · May 4, 2024

riffwraith said:
R-click on the drive in W.Exp. and also via disk mgmt.

Ah, that's probably it. This drive is bigger. I had no idea there was any limitation.

Do you know if MiniTool Partition Wizard will handle bigger drives for FAT32?

Thanks!

Sorry, I was busy pickling a corned beef for the slow cooker

Fix 1. Format the Drive to FAT32 with MiniTool Partition Wizard

MiniTool Partition Wizard is a professional disk management tool. It allows you to format a drive larger than 32 GB to FAT32 for free. Here is the guide:

[Solved] FAT32 Format Option Is Not Available in Windows - MiniTool

This post tells you why Windows doesn't offer the FAT32 format option and shows you how to solve it. Then, you can format the drive to FAT32 smoothly.

www.minitool.com

AmericanPharaoh · May 4, 2024

riffwraith said:
Hi

I have a USB stick in a port, and want to format it in FAT32, but the only options are NTFS or exFAT.

Is there something I need to do to see this option?

Thanks in advance.

Curious, what brand and size of flash drive are you trying to format?

After inserting the USB drive, explorer opens showing the added USB drive in the drive list. When you right click on the drive you see 'File system' there in the list. Then you click on the down arrow there and are presented with 3 choices. FAT32(Default), NTFS, exFAT. So, you're saying the FAT32 (Default) choice is missing from that list? If so, you might try selecting 'Restore Device Defaults' before trying to reformat.

riffwraith · May 4, 2024

AmericanPharaoh said:
So, you're saying the FAT32 (Default) choice is missing from that list?

Yes.

riffwraith · May 4, 2024

antspants said:
Sorry, I was busy pickling a corned beef for the slow cooker

Mmmm.... corned beef

Will try that tool - thx!

antspants · May 4, 2024

Again… Unless something has recently changed, natively, Windows wont format USB drives larger than 32GB to fat32

Yes, Minitool or another software, Bleeping computers advertises another, but Minitool is pretty cool. I bought it because I liked it so much.

The link in post number 3 is the free version, it is also really good and can do what you need to do.

antspants · May 4, 2024

P.S. I also make my own mustard sauce for the beef, cabbage and mash. You’re welcome to come over

It’s yummy enough to just drink, like you would a hot chocolate lol

Berton · May 4, 2024

Another choice if having access to a Linux computer, may have the GPARTED [GNU Partition Editor] installed. And GPARTED is available as an .iso file used to create a bootable LiveCD that runs on a 'lite' version of Linux. I've done as high as 500GB HDD as FAT32. GPARTED can do a number of different formats, Linux default is ext4, Mac OS is HPFS. There's been a post/story on the Internet about the 32GB limit of Windows supposed to be a temporary thing way back but was forgotten about and not changed.

riffwraith · May 4, 2024

antspants said:
P.S. I also make my own mustard sauce for the beef, cabbage and mash. You’re welcome to come over

It’s yummy enough to just drink, like you would a hot chocolate lol

Hmmm... USA > Aussieland is a bit much for food, but enjoy!

So, turns out I have a partition program by Aoemi that I completely forgot I had. That did the trick.

Thx!

antspants · May 4, 2024

Nice, congrats. Glad you sorted it.
I will send you photos of my corned beef and of me chugging down a glass of Mustard Sauce.

Winuser · May 5, 2024

antspants said:
Nice, congrats. Glad you sorted it.
I will send you photos of my corned beef and of me chugging down a glass of Mustard Sauce.

I never tried mustard sauce with my corned beef and cabbage. I always use red wine vinegar. The next time I have corned beef and cabbage I'll make some mustard sauce and give it a try. I may try it later this week. Todays dinner is already planned. Steak, mashed potatoes, gravy and mixed greens.

Berton · May 5, 2024

Fried cabbage goes good with most anything.

riffwraith · May 5, 2024

Winuser said:
Todays dinner is already planned. Steak, mashed potatoes, gravy and mixed greens.

Berton said:
Fried cabbage goes good with most anything.

STOP

riffwraith · May 5, 2024

Now you guys have me hungry

antspants · May 5, 2024

Winuser said:
I never tried mustard sauce with my corned beef and cabbage. I always use red wine vinegar. The next time I have corned beef and cabbage I'll make some mustard sauce and give it a try. I may try it later this week. Todays dinner is already planned. Steak, mashed potatoes, gravy and mixed greens.

Make this and you’ll be wondering where I’ve been all your life

Make this closer to serving time, so the liquid is stewed properly.
I have been making Corned Beef for near 50 years since my mother taught me at very young age.

Mustard Sauce:

1 Cup of liquid from the pot you’re making the Corned Beef in (strain the onion and stuff from it)
1 TBS (Table Spoon) of plain flour
1 TBS Brown Sugar
1 TBS Butter
2 TBS of Brown Malt Vinegar (Or just brown)
1 TBS of Mustard Powder (Maybe a tad more)
1 EGG

I take the hot liquid, add the Brown Sugar so it dissolves and put in the butter so melts. (Easier when the liquid is still hot)
Once the butter is melted (give it a stir to help) add the Vinegar while the liquid is cooling down. (Make sure it’s cool before proceeding)

This is important: (avoid adding egg to a hot liquid)

Take the egg and crack it in a separate cooking bowl & beat it with a whisk until it’s mixed and separated really well.
Add the flower & Mustard Powder to the egg and whisk again until all the flour and mustard powder are mixed into the egg properly.

I believe it’s much easier to add powders to cold and mix straight away as it helps prevent the powders going gluggy, as it can in a hot liquid.

Once the liquid with the butter and vinegar in it is completely cool, add the liquid to the mixed egg, flour and mustard powder.

It’s important the liquid is cool before adding the egg mix or it will start to turn white and cause lumps because it’s partially cooked due to a hot liquid.

Stir in together whith a whisk.

Place all the mixed ingredients into a saucepan, put it on a medium heat and continue stirring constantly until the sauce goes thick.

Put it on your meal, or chug it down in a pint glass (I won’t judge)

This is also important:

When slow cooking the Corned Beef, add some mixed pickling herbs if you can buy them OR just use about 10 peppercorns and about 2 of bay leaves and a 4 cloves.
Chop an onion finely and place it all in the water that is just covering the corned beef.
Add a quarter of a cup of Brown Malt Vinegar and a quarter of a cop of Brown Sugar to the water.
Cover with a lid, simmering for as long as you can.

Enjoy.