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How to format a drive larger then 2TB as FAT32


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How to format a drive larger then 2TB as FAT32

By: danielibarnes

I used a Linux virtual machine rather than any Windows utility. The steps from the above link are replicated below (using /dev/sdb as the usb drive) with the last step modified for FAT32.

% sudo gdisk /dev/sdb
GPT fdisk (gdisk) version 0.8.8

Partition table scan:
  MBR: not present
  BSD: not present
  APM: not present
  GPT: not present

Creating new GPT entries.

Command (? for help):
First, create a new GPT partition table
Command (? for help): o
This option deletes all partitions and creates a new protective MBR.
Proceed? (Y/N): Y

Now create a partition. The defaults will create a new partition that spans the whole drive with the first sector already aligned. Be sure to choose the correct type 0700!

Command (? for help): n
Partition number (1-128, default 1):
First sector (34-16326462, default = 2048) or {+-}size{KMGTP}:
Last sector (2048-16326462, default = 16326462) or {+-}size{KMGTP}:
Current type is 'Linux filesystem'
Hex code or GUID (L to show codes, Enter = 8300): 0700
Changed type of partition to 'Microsoft basic data'

Write the changes to the drive and exit

Command (? for help): w

Final checks complete. About to write GPT data. THIS WILL OVERWRITE EXISTING
PARTITIONS!!

Do you want to proceed? (Y/N): Y
OK; writing new GUID partition table (GPT) to /dev/sdb.
Warning: The kernel is still using the old partition table.
The new table will be used at the next reboot.
The operation has completed successfully.

Finally, format our new partition with the FAT32 filesystem using 4k sectors and 64k cluster size.

% mkfs.vfat -s 16 -S 4096 /dev/sdb1
mkfs.vfat 3.0.3 (18 May 2009)
8tbfat32.png

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