Can't format TF card...

Joey Ravn · January 11, 2007, 03:29:49 PM

I try to format my microSD/TransFlash 1GB Trascend card for my brand new SCDS, but I get an error when it comes to 99%. It says that "the cluster size is too big for this File System".
I'm trying to format it in FAT32/64KB, as I read that's the best format and many games like PoR or Animal Crossing work way better with it, but I cannot finish the formating as you can see :roll:
Am I doing something wrong?

sinkhead · January 11, 2007, 03:38:31 PM

What size is your memory card?

- Sam

Joey Ravn · January 11, 2007, 03:59:26 PM

It's a 1GB Trascend TF.

Perseid · January 11, 2007, 04:04:00 PM

What OS are you using and how are you formatting? FAT32 can handle 64K clusters but some versions of the Windows format command won't.

Joey Ravn · January 11, 2007, 04:11:42 PM

Quote from: "Perseid"What OS are you using and how are you formatting? FAT32 can handle 64K clusters but some versions of the Windows format command won't.

XP Home Edition :S And I'm using diskmgmt.msc... am I a one of a kind case?

Perseid · January 11, 2007, 04:17:41 PM

Try using the command line format:

FORMAT <removable drive letter>: /A:64K

Joey Ravn · January 11, 2007, 04:23:24 PM

Quote from: "Perseid"Try using the command line format:

FORMAT <removable drive letter>: /A:64K

I formated it, but it's in FAT 64K... How's the command to format it in FAT32? It did warned me about that cluster size before finishing, though, and I had to accept it before continuing. It didn't do that before.

PS: Sorry for these silly questions, I never worked with file systems before :lol:

Perseid · January 11, 2007, 04:37:33 PM

Ah. Sorry.

FORMAT <removable drive letter>: /A:64K /FS:FAT32

http://www.microsoft.com/resources/documentation/windows/xp/all/proddocs/en-us/format.mspx?mfr=true is where I'm getting all this from, BTW.

(I didn't even know FAT 64K was possible. LOL)

Joey Ravn · January 11, 2007, 04:44:02 PM

Still, I can't get it to work... It still tells me that "this cluster size is too big for FAT32". Damn Windows...

Perseid · January 11, 2007, 05:27:59 PM

Yeah. Same here. A more in-depth google search gives mixed results as to whether FAT32 can handle 64K clusters. It looks to me like it can but Windows format won't let you. But I have to admit at this point that I really don't know.

Really, though, the difference between 32K and 64K clusters isn't going to be that great for our purposes.

Joey Ravn · January 11, 2007, 05:46:25 PM

Quote from: "Perseid"Yeah. Same here. A more in-depth google search gives mixed results as to whether FAT32 can handle 64K clusters. It looks to me like it can but Windows format won't let you. But I have to admit at this point that I really don't know. Really, though, the difference between 32K and 64K clusters isn't going to be that great for our purposes.

Well, I'm trying to format it like that because I get freezes in PoR, even with the latest OS... :roll:
Meh, I'll try with 32K then

Same messege for 32K. Is it true that it can only handle 4K clusters?

JKivi · January 13, 2007, 08:43:55 AM

I have not tested this application but it seems to be application you might like to test.

http://www.compuapps.com/download/Swissknife/swissknife.htm

Other possibility is to find mkdosfs (from linux) application for windows. One forum suggested location http://www.mager.org/mkdosfs/ but my browser says "Can't find the server.."

in mkdosfs you can set any cluster size and format to any size partition. If someone finds working link to this application I would be interested about it

Other possibilities would be get live cd/dvd system from linux (run directly from cd/dvd and does not touch your hd) and use mkdosfs from there. This requires some knowledge about linux tho.

ratx · January 13, 2007, 08:52:25 AM

here's my mirror of mkdosfs.exe which I got from that same site a long time ago

http://l33t.spod.org/ratx/DS/SC/misc/mkdosfs.exe

JKivi · January 13, 2007, 08:57:24 AM

Quote from: "ratx"here's my mirror of mkdosfs.exe which I got from that same site a long time ago

http://l33t.spod.org/ratx/DS/SC/misc/mkdosfs.exe

Thanks!

Update:
http://www1.mager.org/mkdosfs/ seems to be working and contains later version.

Joey Ravn · January 13, 2007, 10:05:30 AM

Could somebody please tell me how to use the command line to format my TF card in FAT32 64K? I don't understand it, it's way to complex for me, hehehe.

And, BTW, SwissKnife doesn't work for me. I've got a 9-in-1 internal card reader, and the program doesn't recognize devices hooked on it. If I only had an external USB reader...

PS: I emailed the store twice. I hope they exchange this card for a good, quick one. I guess I'll have to get over it if they don't allow changes, but I'll be sure they don't get as many good reviews as I used to read about them...