SOLVED FAT and extFAT differences ?

[robertwin]

Hi, I have to format a pendrive to FAT.

W10 askes me to format to either extFAT or NTFS.

Are extFAT and FAT the same ?

Thanks

 

[Bighorn]

The only issue is that usually FAT32 is required for some booting, the MCT/Media Creation Tool wipes the drive and reformats as FAT32. Windows has a limit of 32GB drive or partition size for FAT32 and single file size of 4GB, exFAT doesn't. My last 2 4TB External USB HDDs came as exFAT so as to be usable on PC or Mac, mentioned on the package/box, Mac has issues with writing NTFS drives.

 

[clifford_cooley]

In short; FAT has limits like Bighorn mentioned. Later on FAT32 started showing its limits. So exFAT was designed to continue cross-platform compatibility without the previous limitations in FAT and FAT32.

exFAT vs FAT32: Full Comparison

What are the differences between exFAT vs FAT32? We've done the research! Jump in to read about exFAT and FAT32!

history-computer.com

 

[Pradip Shah]

I would still go with Fat. There are special free utilities on the net that allow even larger than 32 GB partitions to be formatted as Fat32.
Download it from ...

http://tokiwa.qee.jp/EN/Fat32Formatter/index.html

 

[clifford_cooley]

The only format utility that doesn't allow for max partition size is Windows built in format feature.

 

[Bighorn]

The only format utility that doesn't allow for max partition size is Windows built in format feature.

Right, I frequently use GPARTED [GNOME Partition Editor] LiveCD or now LiveUSB which runs on a 'lite' version of Linux. Both are bootable and work outside of Windows, have created a FAT32 HDD at 500GB, Windows uses it fine. In fact, I just used the USB version to verify what my 3-month-old Notebook has for a drive and what partitions are on it.

 

[Pradip Shah]

Right, I frequently use GPARTED [GNOME Partition Editor] LiveCD or now LiveUSB which runs on a 'lite' version of Linux. Both are bootable and work outside of Windows, have created a FAT32 HDD at 500GB, Windows uses it fine. In fact, I just used the USB version to verify what my 3-month-old Notebook has for a drive and what partitions are on it.

Why don't you try Ventoy? It does not require any complicated process of handling and processing of individual ISO files. Just Install Ventoy on a USB flash drive. Then simply add /delete/ replace individual ISO files directly with ANY file manager. Works like a charm.

 

[clifford_cooley]

Why don't you try Ventoy?

Thanks for the suggestion. In the past I have looked for such a tool.