Formatting a drive (a partition) into the latest exFAT file system can be little tricky but its really quite easy at the same time!
Even though Microsoft has enabled the new latest exFAT file system in Windows Vista it hasn't enabled it yet to be in the FORMAT Menu as a choice of a file system you like to format it in!
That means we'll have to be little techy using Command Prompt (a.k.a. DOS)
So after you decided what drive you like to format into the latest exFAT file system then I recommend that you go to "Computer" folder to verify the drive letter(D:\, E:\, F:\ or etc...), because if you format the wrong drive you might lose valuable data! Keep the "Computer" folder open it might become Handy Later
in my case it was drive letter E:\ so lets pretend that yours is E:\ as well for now!
1. Click the Start Button(Windows Logo) and type in the empty search box CMD
2. When Windows finds CMD right click over it with the mouse and select "Run as Administrator", If you've setup password then you type it out and press "Yes"
NOTE: Step Two is critical because in my video I have already disabled "User Account Control Access" that's why you don't see me right clicking the command prompt to run it as Administrator!
3. When Command Prompt opens then type FORMAT E: /FS:exFAT /Q and press Enter
NOTE: Notice that /FS stands for File System that's why we specify it with exFAT! /Q stands for Quick Format which I normally don't recommend but I did it because I wanted the video to be quick and easy for my viewers. Nothing Bad will happen if you do a quick format but it simply means that it doesn't really delete the files but it breaks the addresses of the location files and folders on the drive and it allows them to be overwritten! that's why when you check the drive after quick format it looks empty even though its not when you use recovery tools like RECUVA to recover formatted drives!
4. Remember when I recommended to keep the "Computer" folder Open because now you can Verify how your Formatting Drive is currently labeled. In my case it was Labeled DOWNLOADING! Type the Label Name of the drive you like to format and press ENTER!
5. Warning all Data on Removable Disk(if usb connected)/Non Removable Disk(internal hard disk) DRIVE E: WILL BE LOST! Proceed with Format (Y/N)?
Type Y as in Yes and Press Enter
6. Volume Label (11 Characters, ENTER for none)?
This Simply suggests a New Label that you would like to name your new formatted drive, just type it out and press ENTER! If you dont want to name the drive then leave it blank and press ENTER and YOU ARE DONE!
If you are still in the command prompt you can close it out by typing EXIT once and PRESS ENTER.
Even though Microsoft has enabled the new latest exFAT file system in Windows Vista it hasn't enabled it yet to be in the FORMAT Menu as a choice of a file system you like to format it in!
That means we'll have to be little techy using Command Prompt (a.k.a. DOS)
So after you decided what drive you like to format into the latest exFAT file system then I recommend that you go to "Computer" folder to verify the drive letter(D:\, E:\, F:\ or etc...), because if you format the wrong drive you might lose valuable data! Keep the "Computer" folder open it might become Handy Later
in my case it was drive letter E:\ so lets pretend that yours is E:\ as well for now!
1. Click the Start Button(Windows Logo) and type in the empty search box CMD
2. When Windows finds CMD right click over it with the mouse and select "Run as Administrator", If you've setup password then you type it out and press "Yes"
NOTE: Step Two is critical because in my video I have already disabled "User Account Control Access" that's why you don't see me right clicking the command prompt to run it as Administrator!
3. When Command Prompt opens then type FORMAT E: /FS:exFAT /Q and press Enter
NOTE: Notice that /FS stands for File System that's why we specify it with exFAT! /Q stands for Quick Format which I normally don't recommend but I did it because I wanted the video to be quick and easy for my viewers. Nothing Bad will happen if you do a quick format but it simply means that it doesn't really delete the files but it breaks the addresses of the location files and folders on the drive and it allows them to be overwritten! that's why when you check the drive after quick format it looks empty even though its not when you use recovery tools like RECUVA to recover formatted drives!
4. Remember when I recommended to keep the "Computer" folder Open because now you can Verify how your Formatting Drive is currently labeled. In my case it was Labeled DOWNLOADING! Type the Label Name of the drive you like to format and press ENTER!
5. Warning all Data on Removable Disk(if usb connected)/Non Removable Disk(internal hard disk) DRIVE E: WILL BE LOST! Proceed with Format (Y/N)?
Type Y as in Yes and Press Enter
6. Volume Label (11 Characters, ENTER for none)?
This Simply suggests a New Label that you would like to name your new formatted drive, just type it out and press ENTER! If you dont want to name the drive then leave it blank and press ENTER and YOU ARE DONE!
If you are still in the command prompt you can close it out by typing EXIT once and PRESS ENTER.
