usb drive

[snodogg21]

i have a sandisk 256mb usb2.0 drive, my question is this: Is it better to format it using FAT16 or FAT32? or does it make any difference? should i do fat16 since its a small drive?.
thanks

[Midknyte]

by default, it should already be FAT16.

Theoretically, FAT32 would be better because of the cluster size.
http://www.tiplord.com/hardware/cluster_size.html

Just for kicks I formatted my 256MB drive (also Sandisk) in both FAT16 and FAT32. I actually lost some drive space by going to FAT32.

[snodogg21]

interesting, thanks midknyte

[Midknyte]

did you just get the drive from compusa too? I just sent my rebate form out today. I was waiting for the sandisk drive to go on sale because I like the fact that it is so thin. I've had problems with other brands where the thumbdrive is too wide and I can't get it into the usb slot next to the mouse/keyboard ports. And who wants to carry around an extension cable just for a usb thumbdrive? grr!!

btw, you can download win98se drivers and an encryption program from the sandisk website. I haven't tried the encryption software yet, though.

http://www.sandisk.com/

[snodogg21]

yeah i use to have a smaller (MB) drive that was alot bigger and it was gettin to me, so when i saw this drive at staples (im fairly certain it was mismarked) for 45 bucks i picked it up. Very nice to have for my classes and such, taking files to the labs, i dont have to rely on a floppy disk , good info on the encryption software might give it a try.

[Eric Legge]

Surely you should use the same file system that the version of Windows uses or it won't be able to access the files stored on the drive?

That means FAT32 for Windows 9.x and NTFS for Windows XP.

If you have a FAT16 floppy disk, you can't use it on a FAT32 system.

Eric,
http://www.legge40.freeserve.co.uk/BuyerBeware.htm

[snodogg21]

all of my drives are ntfs... but for the usb drive ntfs is not an option that xp provides, i have tried fat16 and fat32 on the usb drive and both work, i think i will stick with fat32 though, although i am curious, if it comes from the factory formatted in fat16 maybe that is what i should stick with... oh well not a big deal

[Dirtnapper]

Usually, most devices that use memory cards state that it is best to format the card in the device only. There are horror stories from those who have done otherwise. My GPS and digital camera make it very clear this is the way to format the card. IT is tempting while it is in the reader..but...