sony format memory stick problem (fat,fat16, fat 32)?

Question

hi thankyou all who answered my previous questionregarding this matter, BUT when i get to the part in choosing 16, 32... the computer only allows me to chose FAT no number the drop down menu offers no choice just fat. i was also told not to use quick format, BUT this is all the computer offers other options dont respond, many thanks, system in use is sony vgn-s2xp laptop with XP-profesional

Answer 1

When the hard drive in a computer isn't big enough then the computer chooses the best format for the job. Most laptops wont have a large enough drive to need NFST Most common format for hard drives running XP). Your computer is thinking the memory stick is a hard drive. And so it is tring to put these files on. And the memory isn't big enough to hold the files for FAT32. My dad builds computers and thats how I know. Its not supposed to recognise it as a hard drive.

So the computer must be recognising that its too small for FAT32 and is therefore putting it to FAT. It thinks you want to run window xp.

I would read the instrustion first and see what it say about formatting your memory stick.

Another way would be to go to windows explorer and right click on the icon for your memorystick then find format (Quickformat would then stop the computer thinking its a hard drive and treat it like a CD-WR and away you go. I have not got a sony laptop but have had several different makes of memory stick. They all work in the same way unless they came with a disk ( if your did but you lost it, go to the website for your memory card and usually there's a free download.

If it still doesn't work (pressuming that your computer is reading it, I would manually delete the files on it.

Failling that get a PNY memory stick (dead easy no download needed, no format needed).

And take your frustrations out with a big hammer and the old m-stick

Good luck

Evany

Answer 2

That is correct your only meant to be able to format the memory stick in FAT only.

Answer 3

can you somehow format it in another computer, say at work? you need to use FAT only and ignore quick format as that only creates a "partition" on the card and will take up space.....

Answer 4

so just pick fat. there really isn't any difference you're gonna notice anyway. All fat is the same up to a certain disk size.