Disk Utility for FAT32 Only Works With FireWire?

[kevhui]

Hi,

I have a new USB external drive. I am trying to create 3 partitions with one of them being FAT32, but I could not see the FAT option. I saw FAT option when I specify 1 partition.

Previous with a FireWire external drive I was able to create 2 Mac partitions and 1 FAT32 partition.

What has gone wrong?

 

[merl1n]

Hi,

I have a new USB external drive. I am trying to create 3 partitions with one of them being FAT32, but I could not see the FAT option. I saw FAT option when I specify 1 partition.

Previous with a FireWire external drive I was able to create 2 Mac partitions and 1 FAT32 partition.

What has gone wrong?

Simple problem.

You stated this is a "new" usb drive. It probably came pre-formated for Windows (it may state "master boot record" for the partition map when you select it and do a "Get Info" on it.

Here's how to fix it...

In Disk Utility, select the device itself, not the volume beneath it.

Go to the Partitions Tab. Change "Current" to 1 Partition. Now click the "options" button. Select the GUID Partition Map and click OK. Now click Apply and it will format the drive using the correct Partition Mapping.

Now change "Current" to 3 Partitions. You can now configure each partition as to size and file system type including DOS (FAT) for one of them. Name each partition by selecting each and click Apply again.

 

[kevhui]

Thanks now I got it!