Drive not visible because of FAT32 instead of NTFS ?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Michael Hertz
  • Start date Start date
M

Michael Hertz

All my partitions are NTFS formatted but a new USB stick is FAT32 formatted.
So the USB stick is not visible in WinExplorer.

Yes, it is visible in COmputer Management and Device Manager and can be accessed through Command prompt.

So the only reason I can see so far is the FAT32 format.

Can this be the reason ?

Is it not possible to use a mixture between FAT32 and NTFS partitions on ONE computer ?

How can I enable FAT32 visibility (in WinExplorer)?

Do I have to install some special driver for FAT32 ?

Michael
 
Michael said:
All my partitions are NTFS formatted but a new USB stick is FAT32 formatted.
So the USB stick is not visible in WinExplorer.

Yes, it is visible in COmputer Management and Device Manager and can be accessed through Command prompt.

So the only reason I can see so far is the FAT32 format.

Can this be the reason ?

Is it not possible to use a mixture between FAT32 and NTFS partitions on ONE computer ?

How can I enable FAT32 visibility (in WinExplorer)?

Do I have to install some special driver for FAT32 ?

Michael
Click to expand...

This PC runs XP PRO SP2 and supports a concurrent mixture of NTFS, FAT32,
and FAT16 HDs. FAT32 is not the reason you can't see that USB stick.
 
All my partitions are NTFS formatted but a new USB stick is FAT32 formatted.
So the USB stick is not visible in WinExplorer.

Yes, it is visible in COmputer Management and Device Manager and can be accessed through Command prompt.

So the only reason I can see so far is the FAT32 format.

Can this be the reason ?

Is it not possible to use a mixture between FAT32 and NTFS partitions on ONE computer ?

How can I enable FAT32 visibility (in WinExplorer)?

Do I have to install some special driver for FAT32 ?

Michael
Click to expand...

I have never across a PC not recognise a FAT32 memory stick.

I don't think that is the problem

My previous posting did not seem to be displayed - Under computer
management, can you change the drive letter just in case there is a
conflict.

Michael
 
*** See below.

Michael Hertz said:
All my partitions are NTFS formatted but a new USB stick is FAT32
formatted.
So the USB stick is not visible in WinExplorer.

Yes, it is visible in COmputer Management and Device Manager and can be
accessed through Command prompt.

So the only reason I can see so far is the FAT32 format.

Can this be the reason ?
Click to expand...

*** No, not at all.
Is it not possible to use a mixture between FAT32 and NTFS partitions on
ONE computer ?
Click to expand...

*** Yes, it makes no difference whether your partitions use FAT32
*** or NTFS (although NTFS is much more versatile than FAT32).
How can I enable FAT32 visibility (in WinExplorer)?
Click to expand...

*** It is already enabled.
Do I have to install some special driver for FAT32 ?
Click to expand...

*** No. Try to delete that partition, then recreate it.
 
All my partitions are NTFS formatted but a new USB stick is FAT32 formatted.
So the USB stick is not visible in WinExplorer.
Click to expand...

If you can't see it in Windows Explorer, it's not because it's using
the FAT32 file system. That shouldn't make any difference.
Yes, it is visible in Computer Management and Device Manager and can be accessed through Command prompt.
Click to expand...

You can CD to it from a command prompt? You can copy data to and from
it? Then there's nothing wrong with the USB stick. I don't know why
it's not showing up in Windows Explorer. I think I'd bring up Disk
Manager and make sure it's not hidden for some reason.
Is it not possible to use a mixture between FAT32 and NTFS partitions on ONE computer ?
Click to expand...

It is definitely possible.
How can I enable FAT32 visibility (in WinExplorer)?
Click to expand...

You don't need to do anything. It should just work.
Do I have to install some special driver for FAT32 ?
Click to expand...

No
 
Michael Hertz said:
All my partitions are NTFS formatted but a new USB stick is
FAT32 formatted. So the USB stick is not visible in WinExplorer.
Click to expand...

Thats not the reason the stick isnt visible.
Yes, it is visible in COmputer Management and Device Manager
and can be accessed through Command prompt.
Click to expand...
So the only reason I can see so far is the FAT32 format.
Click to expand...
Can this be the reason ?
Click to expand...

Nope. I run a mixture of NTFS and FAT32 and they are always visible fine.
Is it not possible to use a mixture between FAT32 and NTFS partitions on ONE computer ?
Click to expand...

Corse its fine.
How can I enable FAT32 visibility (in WinExplorer)?
Click to expand...

Work out why it isnt showing you that particular drive. It isnt because its FAT32.
Do I have to install some special driver for FAT32 ?
Click to expand...

Nope.
 
The date and time was 1/15/2008 12:35 PM, and on a whim, Michael Hertz
pounded out on the keyboard:
All my partitions are NTFS formatted but a new USB stick is FAT32 formatted.
So the USB stick is not visible in WinExplorer.

Yes, it is visible in COmputer Management and Device Manager and can be accessed through Command prompt.

So the only reason I can see so far is the FAT32 format.

Can this be the reason ?

Is it not possible to use a mixture between FAT32 and NTFS partitions on ONE computer ?

How can I enable FAT32 visibility (in WinExplorer)?

Do I have to install some special driver for FAT32 ?

Michael
Click to expand...

Hi Michael,

XP can read and write to FAT32 fine. See if these tips don't help:
http://www.quickonlinetips.com/archives/2005/08/fix-format-usb-flash-drives/

--
Terry R.

***Reply Note***
Anti-spam measures are included in my email address.
Delete NOSPAM from the email address after clicking Reply.
 
Is it formatted as FAT32 or just FAT?
Some USB sticks are preformatted as plan FAT.
Double check the USB device using Disk Management.

JS
 
All my partitions are NTFS formatted but a new USB stick is FAT32 formatted.
Click to expand...


That's fine.

So the USB stick is not visible in WinExplorer.
Click to expand...


Perhaps not, but it has nothing to do with its being FAT32. Windows XP
supports FAT12, FAT16, FAT32, and NTFS, in any and all combinations.


Yes, it is visible in COmputer Management and Device Manager and can be accessed through Command prompt.

So the only reason I can see so far is the FAT32 format.

Can this be the reason ?
Click to expand...


No. Absolutely not.


Is it not possible to use a mixture between FAT32 and NTFS partitions on ONE computer ?
Click to expand...


Yes it is. Also FAT16 and FAT12. It's done all the time.

How can I enable FAT32 visibility (in WinExplorer)?
Click to expand...


There's nothing to enable. It's always there.

Do I have to install some special driver for FAT32 ?
Click to expand...


No. I can't tell from what you've posted what your problem is, but
this isn't it.
 
Likely you have the drive letter assigned to the stick that is a hidden
letter. Download TweakUI from Microsoft Downloads, and UNhide the letter.
 
All memory sticks are formatted FAT32. XP can read and write to them fine.
As Rod says, the cause is elsewhere.
 
Is it formatted as FAT32 or just FAT?
Some USB sticks are preformatted as plan FAT.
Double check the USB device using Disk Management.
Click to expand...


Doesn't matter. Windows XP can read FAT (really FAT16 or FAT12) just
as well as it can FAT32. The file system is *not* his problem.
 
Which is why I mentioned to use 'Disk Management', to see if it's assigned a
drive letter and is it really FAT32.

JS
 
Michael said:
All my partitions are NTFS formatted but a new USB stick is FAT32 formatted.
So the USB stick is not visible in WinExplorer.
Click to expand...

That is NOT a NTFS niggle nor a bad hardware niggle. Its a software
issue.
 
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