How do I format the external drive as MS-DOS (FAT)?
I followed the instructions and have Disk Utility open for the external drive. Then > Erase > changed format from Mac OS to ExFAT and did the same with the RAID tab. But this does not change the Format from Mac OS Extended (Journaled).
Thanks in advance for any advice..........It's never easy is it?
MacBook Pro, OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.5)
biddymon wrote:
Snip snip...........and I appreciate your sense of humor. Unfortunately mine is in the sleep mode at this stage of the game.
😟
(3) Boot Camp 4. downloaded to 16-GB flash drive, which is recognized in Windows but will not install due to following prompt: "The version of this file is not compatible with the version of Windows you're running. Check your computer's system information to see whether you need an x86 (32-bit) or x-64 (64-bit) version of this program, and then contact the software publisher." This flash drive is formatted as MS-DOS (FAT), although ExFAT was an alternative.
OK, that does not suggest a disk format problem, but it does suggest that (as it says) you have the wrong Boot Camp version, or the wrong Windows version. ie, you have a 32bit version of Windows installed and you may have a 64bit version of Boot Camp on your Flashdrive.
I'll be back shortly, I'll get links for the various versions of Boot Camp, if there is no 32bit version for your Mac a reinstall of Windows is indicated, the 64bit version though.
OK
Even better, here is a link to a page with all the versions, if you click the version name a description will be displayed, find the correct one for your Mac and version of Windows.
Finally this page contains a model by model breakdown of which version of Windows will run on which model of Mac.
What are you trying to achieve and what does it have to do with Boot Camp? No it is never easy when you don't explain what it is you want to do besides format and you post in a Boot Camp forum.
If all you want to do is format an external drive as Fat, boot into Windows, right click on the drive, select format, choose the format you want.
Thanks for the response Bob. I am attempting to install Windows 7 on a MacBookPro using Boot Camp. After the installation of Windows, the instructions require that the Mac drivers and Windows support software be installed from an external drive that is formatted as MS-DOS (FAT).
I have been able to reformat the external drive to MS-DOS finally as Disk Utility did not really provide adequate directions.
We shall see how the installation proceeds now.
biddymon wrote:
If I erase the external drive and format as MS-DOS, then it will not open in the Mac OS.
Yes it will, please check your facts.
But you mention eXFat as well, and that should not be used for this purpose.
Tne mention eXFat was merely a typo, for which I apologize. Rather, I replicated the instructions exactly as same were written in the Boot Camp Installation and Set Up Guide. So why would the Boot Camp Installation and Set Up Guide provide instructions that should not be used for this purpose? But for the typo, that is.
And by the way, I did check the facts.
If you cannot provide construction criticism without being snippy, then perhaps you might elect to not provide such answers.
How did you attempt to format the flashdrive (by the way, Flash drives usually come formatted as MS DOS, you should not attempt to change it)
Insert the drive, go to Disk Utility and verify what format is actually on the drive now.
Either you missed a step when you formatted the drive, or you are missing one now.
But I can unsnippily leave this thread if you prefer.
Snip snip...........and I appreciate your sense of humor. Unfortunately mine is in the sleep mode at this stage of the game.
So here is the status as I head heavily into the cocktail hours (think long not short):
(1) MacBook Pro Intel Core 2 Duo - 64-bit running OX 10.9.1
(2) Windows 7 (32-bit) installed to a 20-GB Windows partition on the MB Pro.
(3) Boot Camp 4. downloaded to 16-GB flash drive, which is recognized in Windows but will not install due to following prompt: "The version of this file is not compatible with the version of Windows you're running. Check your computer's system information to see whether you need an x86 (32-bit) or x-64 (64-bit) version of this program, and then contact the software publisher." This flash drive is formatted as MS-DOS (FAT), although ExFAT was an alternative.
(4) Boot Camp 4 also downloaded to 100-GB external drive via fire wire that is not recognized by Windows. I am not significantly familiar with Windows to input a path to find the external drive within Windows. This flash drive is formatted as ExFAT, which is the only option other than Mac OS.
(5) I did not download Boot Camp 5, which is purportedly for Windows 8.
So it appears that I have a partition with Windows but not the Windows Support Software and am thoroughly frustrated, hence my snipping response.
I have no idea where to head other that calling Apple and paying the fee for support. I did notice a "Snipping" application on Windows, but did not go there yet.
Thanks for your advice and humor. To the extent that you may elect to respond, I will check it out in the morning as it is time to get away from this frustrating experience.
Thank you very much Csound. I came to that conclusion last evening after the last post. My first download was Boot Camp 5, but that is the 64-bit version. I then downloaded Boot Camp 4, but the most recent ones are also 64-bit.
I will definitedly follow your links today and revert back after hopeful victory.
Thanks again, I really appreciation your advice.
Yahoo Buckeroo. I downloaded Boot Camp 4.0.4033, which was the oldest version on the list just to ensure that it was 32-bit.
The installation was successful.
Thanks again Csound. Your comments were very much appreciated.
You're welcome.
If I erase the external drive and format as MS-DOS, then it will not open in the Mac OS.
You're (In my least snippiest manner) welcome 🙂
how to format external drive as MS-DOS (FAT)
