Vista will not read flash drives using FAT

"The usual factory recommendations for Windows users is to reformat ..."
Or use the "Convert" command so you don't have to recopy your data back onto
the drive.

"Night Hawk" <guest@unknown-email.com> wrote in message
news:6e85b6dc4b8151f29ee904d50724f992@nntp-gateway.com...

>
> Ron;934052 Wrote:

>> When the drives are inserted, Vista will
>> request to format the drive. If FAT is selected for the formatting, the
>> formatting will fail. If NTSF is selected, the formatting will succeed
>> and
>> the device can be used. However, the removable FAt drives work fine
>> when
>> inserted into a computer running XP.
>>
>> Any ideas?

>
> Correct! When buying an external hard drive as well as when going to
> use a flash drive on Vista they usually see a factory Fat32 volume.
> External hard drives will also see a software installed once the drive
> is detected by Windows and the auto run starts the installer.
>
> Unlike it's predessor XP Vista can not see Fat volumes on it's own
> while XP could be be installed on a Fat16 or Fat32 primary as well as on
> an NTFS volume. XP was backward compatible especially for use with older
> Fat16 networks.
>
> The usual factory recommendations for Windows users is to reformat any
> external drive or device to NTFS the current standard for all newer
> versions since 2000.
>
>
> --
> Night Hawk

Bender;934081 Wrote:

> "The usual factory recommendations for Windows users is to reformat ...
> Or use the "Convert" command so you don't have to recopy your data bac
> ont
> the drive
>
> "Night Hawk" <guest@xxxxxx-email.com> wrote in messag
> news:6e85b6dc4b8151f29ee904d50724f992@xxxxxx-gateway.com...> > >

> >

> > > Ron;934052 Wrote:> > > > >
> > > >> When the drives are inserted, Vista wil
> > > >> request to format the drive. If FAT is selected for the formatting
> > > th
> > > >> formatting will fail. If NTSF is selected, the formatting wil
> > > succee
> > > >> an
> > > >> the device can be used. However, the removable FAt drives work fin
> > > >> whe
> > > >> inserted into a computer running XP
> > > >
> > > >> Any ideas?> > > >

> >

> > > Correct! When buying an external hard drive as well as when goin

> > t

> > > use a flash drive on Vista they usually see a factory Fat3

> > volume

> > > External hard drives will also see a software installed once th

> > driv

> > > is detected by Windows and the auto run starts the installer

> >

> > > Unlike it's predessor XP Vista can not see Fat volumes on it'

> > ow

> > > while XP could be be installed on a Fat16 or Fat32 primary a

> > well as o

> > > an NTFS volume. XP was backward compatible especially for us

> > with olde

> > > Fat16 networks

> >

> > > The usual factory recommendations for Windows users is t

> > reformat an

> > > external drive or device to NTFS the current standard for al

> > newe

> > > versions since 2000

> >
> >

> > > -
> > > Night Hawk > >

The idea of reformatting to NTFS is when adding the new drive on an
before you start seeing files copied to it. You would look at it tha
way as if you just bought a new internal hard drive but you discove
that someone already stuck a Fat volume on it while you use the NT fil
system

What would you do? Some would simply remove the factory partition an
replace that with a fresh NTFS volume ready for use once formatted
Windows will also detect and install the drive as a new logical withou
the need to run the installer often when removing the drive and pluggin
it back in rather then leaving plugged in at all times

That's especially useful when taking the drive along with you t
work/school and back home when files are being transferred betwee
different systems

--
Night Hawk

Yes, Vista will read Fat16 and Fat32 partitions
Although you may not be able to format them that way from Vista'
formatting tool

You can use other means to format a drive to FAT and Vista will rea
them just fine
I create FAT file systems all the time for Puppy Linux, BartPE, an
UBCD on a stick
I use the HP USB Format Utility 2.0.6 (which is the best of th
series)

If it is not, then there is an error with the partition, even if X
will read it just fine, Vista may not, and tell you there is an erro
with the partition, or prompt you to format it. You can try runnin
dskchk on it, or pull the files off on the XP machine and reformat it t
NTFS (which is the better option anyway for regular data file ussage

--
Tepid