Format a USB memory stick to NTFS?

Is it possible to format a USB memory stick to NTFS?

I thought I may have asked this question before, but I can't find it in my database of MG interesting threads.

I'd like to, as I lose my "Comments field", when I copy my c:\Downloads folder to USB drives formatted in FAT32.

I'm guessing the answer is NO, but I've gotta ask. Bazza

PS:
@Adrynalyne@
Haven't seen you on MG for a long time.
Hope you haven't turned into a lurker. Baz.

 

ISn't there a minimum size to format as NTFS ? I remember something vaugly in the dark recess of my mind about that somewhere.

 

Don't mean to hijack "bigbazza's" thread, but this interest me too. I just put my 512 sandisk into my Windows XP computer, right clicked format and my only choices are Fat or Fat32. So how do I get it to ntfs?

Thanks in advance,
BeenThereDoneThat

 

Don't worry about "hijacking" my thread. I really want to be able to copy downloads and comments to a USB drive. Maybe the copy command does not support transferring comments. I've got USB's from 256megs to 1 gig to experiment on.

@Halo@. How did you do it? To NTFS, that is. Bazza

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Halo,

It took a little while for me to figure out your instrucitons, I am using a French version of Windows, so I have to tranlate each step, the words of course (hardware, etc) are not the same. The great news is that it works!!!!!

Thanks & have a great day,
BeenThereDoneThat

 

Halo, man you truly deserve that moniker, for you just enabled me to format my USB's to NTSF with file compression enabled YAHOOOO. Thanks once again Halo for coming through like an angel of mercy.

 

thanks for the info. formatted my 512MB sandisk to NTFS without a hitch. now, does anyone know of a way to delete all that U3 system software crap?
it takes up a good 20 something megabytes that i paid for...that's false advertising!

 

Its on a partion on the disk thingy ?

You could probably delete the partition using the Disk Managment COnsole thing. You'll have to delet both patitions then create a new one using the full space.

 

Thanks Halo. I thought we had you there for a day or so.

I'll certainly try it out later today, after MG.

Seems like lots of other MG' ers wanted to do the same thing.

As I mentioned, I want to copy the "Comments" field across, that I lose when copying files from my C:\Downloads folder to my Fat32 USB drive, to remind me what the program does and help others. Bazza

PS: FWIW. In checking this out, I noticed that my USB memory drives were formatted as FAT and not FAT32. I guess the manufacturers have a bigger audience to reach that way, but, from what I remember, FAT has larger cluster sizes than FAT32, so if you don't want to go to NTFS, at least format them from FAT to FAT32.
(If I'm wrong on this, please reply, as I know MG' ers will).
Baz

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@Halo@
Well I did it.

Reformatted 2 x USB memory sticks from FAT and FAT32, both to NTFS.
Not only that, I was able to copy my C:\Downloads folder to
one of my USB memory sticks and the Comments field associated
with each file came across to the new USB copies as well.

Thought that didn't work at first, but it was just me.
A little fiddling and there they were.

I am pleased with myself as it mean't that I didn't have to retype the Comments
against each file, and as you may have guessed, I've got lots.

Thanks again Halo and another to-do item done. Bazza

 

hi, sorry to jump in but i have w2kpro and 512 usb flash drive and the option for format to ntfs is shown, maybe to just format the drive on w2k to use in xp would be an easy option

 

i know this would probably be a longer process than halo's, but couldn't you also plug in the usb key and insert an xp disk and then format the usb key to NTFS that way? like i said it's a longer process, but i'm curious if this would work also.

 

padams, I think I'd rather use Halo's method.
It is fairly simple and I don't like the idea of inserting the XP disk unless absolutely necessary.
I'm a chicken coz I like my C: drive as it is, and don't want the (small) possibility of making a wrong choice via the XP CD. I've invested too much time in overcoming the things that M$ put in my way, to get my XP Pro operating (almost) the way I want it to.
Bazza

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Yeah me too, i was just asking if you could do it that way, not suggesting you do that. It would be stupid if you used the way i was talking about. I was just curious if that would work or not.

 

I think they all come formatted in FAT. (Mine did--6 of them, over the years).
I had formatted some of them to Fat32, but never NTFS, until now.

As you say, that way they reach a bigger user base and less hassles.
Glad to see that M$ have fixed this up in Vista.

Thanks for your solutiom, Halo.
How the hell did you come across that solution, if it is not revealing trade secrets?
Bazza
PS: Still can't believe everything copies across from Hard drive to USB drive. Baz

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Glad you remembered. The XP book that I use as my source of most inspiration, and perspiration, certainly did not mention it, hence my original question. Bazza

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Did you buy "Windows XP Annoyances for Geeks (Second edition, covers SP2), by David A. Karp, after all?

It's my XP bible and looking very dogeared after 13 months.

Most books on any subject have to come out within a short time before, or after, the release of the subject they are written about, to get most sales.

I guess most authors would like more time to investigate all the "nooks and crannies" but the publisher deadlines don't allow for this.

I find current and even old, PC Mags can still provide little gems of info, to solve some problem that one has agonised over, for ages.

Of course, the learned folks here at Major Geeks are a great source of inspiration and advice. Probably, the best first point-of-call, now that I think more about it. Bazza

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