Should I Format a 2 TB Hard Drive to FAT32 in Windows and Why
Several days before, I got a 2 TB hard drive and wondered if I should format it to FAT 32 in Windows. My friends say FAT is out of fashion. Maybe I need to know more about the FAT 32. Need your help, and thanks a lot.
Best Answered by
Roxanne· Answered on Aug 09, 2023
The FAT32 file system was introduced in 1996 and is now obsolete as the modern drive's size grows. Besides, FAT32 does not journal, so it is more likely to experience data loss when the file system is not properly shut down. FAT32 has a 4 GB maximum file size, while NTFS or exFAT has larger maximum file and partition sizes. Here are the references for their usages:
- Format it if FAT32 is required for specialized purposes, such as a game drive or testing.
- Use NTFS if it will be used as an internal hard disk for data storage or backup.
- Use exFAT if it's going to be utilized as a portable external hard disk for storing or backing up data.
Generally, you can format your hard drive as NTFS, handling a 2 TB drive efficiently. If you require FAT32, you can make one partition on the drive FAT32. It's a little complicated, so we need professional partition software. EaseUS Partition Master allows users to format any hard drive to FAT32, no matter how big. In addition, it can also effectively format drives to NTFS.
Here are the specific instructions on how to format a 2 TB hard drive:
Attention: Formatting a hard drive will erase all your data, so creating a backup is important.
Part 1. Format a Partition to FAT32
Step 1. Launch EaseUS Partition Master after installation, enter "Partition Master," right-click the partition you need to format as FAT32, and click "Format."
Step 2. Customize the Partition label, File system (FAT32), and Cluster size, then choose "OK." (Click "OK" to confirm when there is a warning window.)
Step 3. Choose "Execute 1 Task" and "Apply" to begin formatting.
Part 2. Format the Rest Partitions to NTFS
Repeat the above three steps to format the reset partitions to NTFS on the 2 TB hard drive. This time, remember to set the files system as NTFS.
