How to format a usb memory stick to FAT!

Hi all!

in this instructable i will tell you how to format a usb memory stick to FAT(not FAT32)

you will need:

USB memory stick(everything under 8gb works)(duh)
computer(duh)
command prompt

Great lets get started

p.s. sorry for low qaulity images i took them with my cellphone

Remove these ads by Signing Up

Step 1: Step 1

Put the memory stick into your computer(duh!)

open command prompt ( start > all programs > accesories > command promt. or start > run > cmd)

type:

format x: /fs:FAT

PLEASE NOTE X IS WHERE YOU MEMORY STICK IS LOCATED WHERE THE X IS YOU SHOULD PUT THE LETTER OF YOU MEMORY STICK IN MY CASE E ; AND PLEASE DO NOT ACCIDENTLY FORMAT YOUR HARD DRIVE ITS NOT MY FAULT IF YOU FORMAT YOUR HARDDRIVE SO BE VERY VERY CAREFULL!!!!!!!

Step 2: Step 2

Well done you have just formatted your memory stick into FAT!!

PLEASE COMMENT AND VOTE FOR ME IN THE USB CONTEST!!!!;)

variances8 months ago

Thanks .. needed FAT for my car to recognize

timothyspirit1 year ago

great tips!!

ronakasolanki1 year ago

I have an old pen drive, it's not reading in my computer the following message is shown when connected:

"USB Device Not Recognized"

What should i do?

chorusofweasels2 years ago

I was hoping you would explain why I would want to format a flash drive to FAT instead of FAT32. What are the advantages?

dwathen chorusofweasels2 years ago

Some of the classic DOS games don't get along with the modern file systems. I just got done doing pretty much the same thing for a friend because the game couldn't read it's own save files from a FAT32 or NTFS hard drive. I'm sure there are other legacy programs that have the same problems and this makes a handy workaround for those time that you can't use a more up to date program.

ViperSniper (author) chorusofweasels2 years ago

i dont really think there are any advantages its just if you need 1 to be formatted in FAT

S33PlusPlus2 years ago

You can't format the system partition while it's still active. I'd be more worried about nuking other detachable storage you might have connected; for example, my old dell has a card reader that maps to E, F, G, and H weather I have cards in it or not, so always triple check the drive letter.

ViperSniper (author) S33PlusPlus2 years ago

thanks S33PlusPlus, yeah thats true but u can install like a backup linux system or so on a removeable hdd or enven on a memory stick, but thanks anyway:)