Formatting to MS-DOS (FAT)

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Level 1

9 points

Formatting to MS-DOS (FAT)

I've just tried to format a 4 TB external hard drive to MS-DOS (FAT) using Disk Utility and it's telling me that I've used 2.2 TB and I only have 1.88 TB left to use! I need to use this version as I have various movies and things on my iMac that I would like to put on my external hard drive and play on my blue ray player. When I try using Ex-FAT it only uses 98.8 MB and I'm left with the 4 TB. I would use this version, but it doesn't work with my player. Am I doing something wrong or is it normal for MS-DOS to take up so much storage? Please can you keep your answers simple ...

iMac 27" 5K, macOS 10.15

Posted on Jan 16, 2020 2:30 PM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

Kurt Lang

Level 9

70,009 points

Jan 17, 2020 5:57 AM in response to LezBizt

Use eXFAT instead. Not only does FAT32 only support a maximum 2TB drive, it also tops out at a 4GB file size. Anything larger than that and you won't be able to write it to the drive.

eXFAT can handle both large drive and file sizes. It's also read/write supported by both Windows and the Mac OS without the need for any special software.

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Answer 2

dialabrain

Level 10

136,739 points

Jan 17, 2020 5:48 AM in response to LezBizt

FWIW, if you partition the drive into two 2TB volumes, you should be able to format one or the other or both.

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Answer 3

BDAqua

Level 10

250,673 points

Jan 16, 2020 6:00 PM in response to LezBizt

MS-Dos has a 2.2 TB limit.

Can you explain in more detail what you need?

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Answer 4

dialabrain

Level 10

136,739 points

Jan 17, 2020 5:16 AM in response to LezBizt

As BDAqua explained, MS-DOS (FAT) does not support 4TB drives.

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Answer 5

LezBizt Author

Level 1

9 points

Jan 17, 2020 12:44 AM in response to BDAqua

I need to know why MS-DOS (FAT) takes up so much storage room. 2.22 TB of a 4 TB external hard drive seems a bit excessive? Would I be better to partition the drive?

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Answer 6

dialabrain

Level 10

136,739 points

Jan 17, 2020 5:59 AM in response to Kurt Lang

Indeed. I suppose BDAqua or myself should have mentioned it. 😎

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Answer 7

Kurt Lang

Level 9

70,009 points

Jan 17, 2020 6:06 AM in response to dialabrain

Worse (and I've done it more than a few times here) is when you've made such a suggestion numerous times yourself, but for some reason it completely escapes your brain on the next similar topic.

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Answer 8

dialabrain

Level 10

136,739 points

Jan 17, 2020 6:09 AM in response to Kurt Lang

In my case I was trying to support BDAqua's reply. I actually thought of exFAT when I first posted. 😎

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Formatting to MS-DOS (FAT)

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