Format a USB drive with NTFS file system
By default, Windows XP will not allow you to use anything but the FAT and FAT32 file systems to format your USB drives. With a little fiddling you can also enable the NTFS file system on your removable devices though. As for whether you would want to, there are pros and cons.
On the positive side, enabling NTFS allows you to encrypt your documents with Windows XP’s built in file encryption (though you should only do this in a Windows 2000 or 2003 domain network). It also allows the use of file compression to stretch the capacity of your disk. You can also use NTFS to allow and deny permissions for individual files and folders within XP, something you can’t do with FAT file systems. You can also set disk quotas. In short, enabling NTFS on flash drives might have several benefits for IT departments that use or issue these devices as standard.
One potential negative of using NTFS on your flash drive is the additional data writes that are necessary. NTFS is a journaling file system, which means that disk transactions are logged separately on the disk as they occur. This adds up to a considerable amount of extra disk activity, which could mean wearing out your USB drive faster in the long run. As the life span of intensively used flash memory is still measured in years, this is unlikely to be much of an issue. Also, Windows 98/ME systems, and most Linux systems cannot read NTFS partitions.
As we mentioned, using the EFS file encryption is not really recommended unless your home or office uses a Windows domain with centralized user accounts. The reason for this is that the encryption depends on the user account to unlock it. Even if your user account on your other computer has the same name, it has a different ID as far as the encryption is concerned.
The upshot of this is that you will not be able to open your documents when you get home, as your ‘home’ user account does not possess the right credentials. While it is possible to get around this with ‘recovery agent’ certificates, the procedure is time-consuming and complicated. You’d be better off using a third-party program to encrypt your files, like the one we detail below.
To enable NTFS on your drive, right click ‘my computer’ and select ‘manage’ then open ‘device manager.’ Find your USB drive under the ‘disk drives’ heading. It should be listed as ‘generic storage device USB device’ or something similar.
Right click it and select ‘properties’ then go to the ‘policies’ tab. Select the ‘optimize for performance’ option. Click ‘ok.’
Now open ‘my computer,’ right click on the removable drive and select ‘format.’ You will have the option to format to NTFS in the ‘file system’ dropdown box.
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Dave on 28 Nov 2007 at 8:15 am #
I have a 16BG flash drive that uses the FAT32 so I can’t put files larger than 4gb on the drive. This method didn’t work I just keep getting “…unable to format drive” at the end of the formatting process.
I’ve tried on Vista x64 and Win XP (32bit)
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Johnno on 25 Mar 2008 at 1:51 am #
i have an 8gig flash drive
keep encountering the same message “unable to complete the format”
i’ve also tried HP USB Disk storage format tool still no success, anyone have any idea whats going on?
nick on 26 Mar 2008 at 3:31 am #
I had the same problem until i downloaded paragon partition manager. It formated my 8gb usb to ntfs with no problems.
ry on 14 Apr 2008 at 7:45 am #
You could also do the same thing via command prompt by typing format X: /FS:NTFS /Q where X is letter of your USB flash drive.
How to format USB drive and memory stick with NTFS on 17 Apr 2008 at 6:01 am #
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kadija on 19 Apr 2008 at 9:13 pm #
can you help my usb please can you show me how to fix it please thank you i’m kadija
Shaydon on 24 Apr 2008 at 2:02 am #
nice works 100%
Eches » How to format USB drive with NTFS on 02 May 2008 at 7:15 am #
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simon on 19 May 2008 at 4:59 am #
hi guys..i have a 16 gig ub drive.i tried optimize for performance, it says unable to format drive, i tried also in the command prompt,it says the second NTFS boot sector is unwriteable.Format failed.any other ideas?
moe on 19 Aug 2008 at 3:08 am #
i got a 2 gig usb hard drive and the capacity dropped down to 2mb its crazy I dont know how to fix it can anyone help me
vesarious on 19 Sep 2008 at 8:39 pm #
NTFS on a USB drive is just plain stupid. Windows can’t release drives properly in NTFS and if the meta data gets adjusted in transit then the USB drive is toast. Most format the drive to alleviate the error but this just damages the drive faster.
Its like adding oil to your gas to give the engine more lubrication. Leave it the way you got it.
eddie corzova on 24 Sep 2008 at 3:37 am #
“NTFS on a USB drive is just plain stupid. Windows can’t release drives properly in NTFS and if the meta data gets adjusted in transit then the USB drive is toast. Most format the drive to alleviate the error but this just damages the drive faster.
Its like adding oil to your gas to give the engine more lubrication. Leave it the way you got it.”
actually there is a reason why they want to format it to NTFS, since some USB thumbdrive are unable to store file more than 2GB size ( for some 4GB/8GB/16GB) , so it’s a must for them to format it to NTFS format, I suggest u try paragon partition manager, since i’m successfully convert all my 8GB Kingston to NTFS using this software.
random guy on 03 Oct 2008 at 9:55 am #
Ppl, remember that formting to NTSF will actually utilize th space you have on your stick better then FAT and FAT32 can. that means less cluter and more managable files (ie faster file fetching ^_^ )
neophyte on 12 Nov 2008 at 11:54 am #
on my 32Gb usb flash drive kingston, i have tried to format to NTFS, because i want to copy files larger than 4Gb. with paragon partition manager it finally works to format drive to NTFS, but the flash drive ” is not accesible “after that process. when i format it back to FAT32 it works fine. so how can i format it to NTFS?? help
slider_buck on 16 Nov 2008 at 12:31 am #
anyone get this figured out? i’m having the same issues. i cannot get vista to format the dang flash drive to ntfs format…….uuurrrrrggghhhhhh.
Hugo Pombo on 15 Dec 2008 at 7:44 pm #
Works 100% with a 8GB kingston usb traveller… tks
carl fox on 27 Dec 2008 at 4:41 pm #
Works like a charm!!!!!!!
momoitaly on 27 Dec 2008 at 5:21 pm #
i have wd external hardisk with 160 gb
i can’t coy any file more than 4 gb i tried windows visa and xp
i try this method didn’t work
Sachin on 31 Dec 2008 at 4:07 am #
I tried format thru windows & windows disk management, but it is unable to perform format as it shows drive still in use.I think i have a virus on my drive too, how do i fix this??
Pheidias Bourlas on 11 Jan 2009 at 8:22 am #
Why are you bothering with FORMAT? No need to FORMAT. Just open a DOS (Command Prompt) window, give (e.g. if your USB is volume F: and has label “my_volume”):
CONVERT F: my_volume /FS:NTFS
and that’s it!
Simple, quick, safe and always working!
emilio raul on 15 Jan 2009 at 3:11 pm #
Thanks to Pheidias! CONVERT worked, even though none of the other ways did.
psilofski on 22 Jan 2009 at 11:34 am #
Hi, I also tried to convert a 16GB flash drive unsuccesfully, in varius ways:
format : unable to complete
convert fs:ntfs : NTFS boot sectors not writable
linux, gparted: Managed to do it after workarounds, but drive was screwed up -> windows chkdsk /f created 5GB of useless files, but drive was readable -> reboot -> drive not accessible.
Adding the above comments concerning 16GB & 32GB drives, it seems that if above 8GB, are stuck to FAT (haven’t yet tried EXT file systems), possibly due to manufacturing details (ex. not permitting flags, or problem with the more than 1 ram platter used for >8GB drives).
My generalization here is mainly statistical (based on above comments) and I am waiting for someone to prove me wrong, as I am not a linux guru.
If I am wrong, then all drives that failed with the convert fs:ntfs method, are inconsistent and should be returned to manufacturer.
psilofski on 22 Jan 2009 at 12:22 pm #
I just found out that many ppl with 16 or 32GB have done NTFS, so ignore my prev. comment, us 3 failed guys may just have crappy flash drives (mine is noname).
Anyway, crappy or manufacturing issue, I could get back to you in 2 weeks that I will have a 32GB drive from the same manufacturer (while I can’t contact him for manufacturing details), so again with no better than statistical assumptions.
In a more serius manner, the “neophyte” with the Kingston drive should contact Kingston for this issue, as the “NTFS boot sectors not writable” resulting to the “CONVERT my_volume /FS:NTFS”, according to microsoft, reveals inconsistency problems.
peter dick on 26 Jan 2009 at 11:09 am #
i have just used this article to reformat a usb disk to ntfs. thanks for the help.
bilo on 01 Feb 2009 at 12:33 am #
This is going to sound dumb as hell, but for my situation it has a use. I have a 32gb flash drive (currently FAT) that I’d like NTFS for metadata/permissions and all that jazz, BUT.. I have a philips DVD player with a USB slot that plays pretty much any format of media I can throw at it with no conversion required, and it only accepts FAT flash drives… sooo..
is it possible (or bad news for whatever reason) do do a multiple partition job on the flash drive so I can use it for both?
Naseem on 01 Feb 2009 at 4:59 am #
for all who wanna copy file larger than 4gig on USB drive simply use a compress tool and split the fat file into 2 or 3 parts so it can be copied.
Parveez Ali on 10 Feb 2009 at 5:22 am #
Converts FAT volumes to NTFS.
CONVERT volume /FS:NTFS [/V] [/CvtArea:filename] [/NoSecurity] [/X]
volume Specifies the drive letter (followed by a colon),
mount point, or volume name.
/FS:NTFS Specifies that the volume is to be converted to NTFS.
/V Specifies that Convert should be run in verbose mode.
/CvtArea:filename
Specifies a contiguous file in the root directory to be
the place holder for NTFS system files.
/NoSecurity Specifies the converted files and directories security
settings to be accessible by everyone.
/X Forces the volume to dismount first if necessary.
All opened handles to the volume would then be invalid.
jiss on 02 Mar 2009 at 6:57 am #
I have a 1GB flash drive that uses the FAT32 file system.when i try to open it a messege showing “insert a disk in to drive.how can solve this prblm.
ashtreex on 19 Mar 2009 at 7:03 am #
Wonderful, worked perfectly. Thank you!
the oob on 31 Mar 2009 at 7:26 pm #
Thanks
lexart on 13 Apr 2009 at 9:59 am #
I have a Western Digital Mybook 1Tb and is currently fat32. It doesn’t accept files Larger than 4gb. You see one dvd disc is around 4.3gb and i copy the entire disk using iso tool. Its kinda messy to look at when you’re files are spanning so I’ll be formating it to NTFS. Somebody suggested of using the “HP usb disk storage format tool.” Does anyody had a bad experience with the tool that would like to share? THANKS
joshkrz on 28 Apr 2009 at 11:32 am #
works brilliantly thanks
Arvinder on 02 May 2009 at 11:59 am #
Please don’t just reformat your entire q TB hard disk. You’ll loose everything on it. I converted my FAT32 500 GB hard disk from FAT32 to NTFS after I had already put a lot of files on it. The conversion wizard says you might loose your files but I did not loose anything.
mparsos on 09 May 2009 at 2:01 pm #
worked like a charm, thanks
Daniel on 22 May 2009 at 10:19 pm #
Another problem with FAT32 is time stamps: If you use a USB drive to move files from a PC to another PC that is in a different time zone, the file time stamps will not take the change in time zones into account
darek on 30 May 2009 at 12:22 pm #
any other ideas it did not work for my data travel of 64G
Tony on 01 Jun 2009 at 9:25 pm #
i will work on this. I never had these problems with 4,8,or 16G usb sticks but on the 32g I just bought it looks like I’m in the same boat as you.
Nexa on 05 Jul 2009 at 9:30 am #
I just got as present 120gb USB Sony Vaio (made in China).
Its fat32 and i have tried HP tool buth it wouldnt convert to NTFS. Also i have tried other thing but nothing.
Is there secure way to convert to NTFS?
kkreuk on 22 Jul 2009 at 2:10 am #
try using these in your command prompt
–>>start>>run>>cmd
convert i: /fs:ntfs (Where “I” is your USB drive latter)
Lefkos on 05 Aug 2009 at 3:02 am #
Work perfect. Thanks
kmath on 14 Aug 2009 at 6:43 am #
Worked very well on my new 16GB Kingstons and I can now store copies of my virtual machines (which are bigger than 4 GB) on (and run them from) USB sticks! Thank you!!
Alex on 18 Aug 2009 at 12:37 pm #
Another way around is to insert your disk into Windows 7 machine and format it there
melissa on 04 Sep 2009 at 11:24 pm #
i need help asap!!!! my laptop crash by compressing the c: drive now it wont do anything but restart, my cd rom is mess up too. i need to reformat using a usb. but dont know how… plz help me…..
Prashanth on 09 Sep 2009 at 10:56 pm #
Thanks! it worked.
Kim on 10 Sep 2009 at 6:58 am #
I have a 64gb Kingston DT150 Datatraveler – I can’t format it in either XP or Vista – keep getting the format did not complete succesfully message.
I try via cmd prompt and get:
The volume does not contain a recognized file system!
HELP!
lion on 13 Sep 2009 at 2:12 am #
if using over 4GB of file is your only requirement and NTFS formatting is failing then use the new exFAT format its available in vista
jokerscrowbar on 28 Sep 2009 at 5:19 pm #
Three steps that just worked on a generic 32GB.
(Removable disk E: or whatever your machine lists the unit as)
CHKDSK /F E:
FORMAT E:
CONVERT E: FS/NTFS
>> Thanks Pheidias Bourlas for the original idea. <<
geerry on 03 Nov 2009 at 7:54 pm #
What ths mean RAW
I trying to format may USB Unit but I cant