Solved Fomatting a 4gb compact flash card to Fat 16

The wrong card was bought for me to use with my Fuji camera.
It`s a Sandisk Ultra Compact Flash 4gb card, Fat 32, but I found out that my camera only can take Fat 16.
I tried to Format it to Fat 16, but Vista doesn`t let me. The Formatting options I get are: fat32, fat, exfat, NTFS.
I`ve read that I might be able to create partitions, so the card memory will be reduced to 2gb, & fat16, so I might be able to still use it.
Is this possible on Windows Vista? and what does the formatting option fat (without number) mean?

Thanks in advance!

Hi,

First fat = 16 bit, fat32 = 32 bit etc.

So, I would delete the current partion & then create two half partions & format both in fat, if you have that option or you could let the camera do it.

Hi cosmicpeace,

While I agree with Lottie on how to do it, keep in mind that I'm not certain the camera will be able to read or access both partitions (so you may only have access to half the card). Also, depending on the camera, I'm not 100% certain it will be able to read or access a card with multiple partitions at all (though I'm inclined to think it will do so but only with one of them) - but I suppose you have nothing to lose by trying. You can always reformat the card back to fat32 and 4GB if you need to do so to be able to exchange it (if that is still or ever was an option).

Good luck!

Ok. Please, bear with me, I've never done this before!
Would I be able to just format my 4gb card to Fat 16, as windows vista gives me fat (which now I know it's fat16) as an option? I don't mind losing 2gb.

If this is not enough, could you please help me partition my card.

First, I need to delete the current partition. I guess this is in Control Panel > System and Maintenance > Administrative Tools > Computer Management > Disk Management?

Exchanging the card would have been a lovely option, but the person that bought it for me can't find the purchase ticket!

It's possible 4GB will work with FAT16 - give it a try and see if it works. It will do it or it won't. Then you'll know. It is possible (it wasn't with older Windows OS on any device, but may now be possible but I think only up to 4GB - which is no issue here). If it works, you should have access to the full 4GB.

If it doesn't work, I assume this is an SD card. Here's the procedure on how to partition a SD card (NOTE: you would not be using Vista but another OS Ubuntu to which you would boot and then follow the directions): How to Partition a SD Card | eHow.com.

I hope this helps.

Good luck!

Hi,

As a last try do this: -

format ?: /FS:FAT

Change the ? (Question mark) for the current drive letter of the card in your system.

Hi,

Found this free disk partioning software & it formats in Fat 16.

http://software.lsoft.net/PartManFree-Setup.exe

http://www.lsoft.net/disk_utilit.aspx

Thanks to everyone for all their help!
I formatted the card with Windows Vista, & chose FAT. But the camera still doesn`t recognize it, when I put the card in, it says: "Card not initialized"
So, I should now go for the second option, that was to delete the partition & create two new partitions of 2gb each, right?

I found out my previous instructions to delete a partition weren`t right for Vista. I found this way of deleting the partition. Is this right?

Click Start-Right click on Computer-Select manage-In the left pane, under Storage category, click on Disk Management-Now select and rt click on the partition I wish to modify

Once the partition is deleted, then I should download the free disk partitioning software, & create two 2gb partitions & format them in FAT16?

Oh, & the card is definitely a compact flash card, not an SD card. It`s written on it on BIG letters

I'd try the option and software Lottie proposed in the post before yours next - first trying to format the entire thing to FAT16 (just in case FAT doesn't really mean FAT16 as we've assumed and to see if a different program does the trick) using that software and if that doesn't work, then use that software to partition the card into two 2GB partitions and format each as FAT16 and see how that goes.

Good luck!

P.S. It is possible that this card will not accept a FAT16 format since it wasn't designed to use that - I don't know this for sure, but it's possible. Can you give me the manufacturer, make, and model of the card?

Lorien said:

I'd try the option and software Lottie proposed in the post before yours next - first trying to format the entire thing to FAT16 (just in case FAT doesn't really mean FAT16 as we've assumed and to see if a different program does the trick) using that software and if that doesn't work, then use that software to partition the card into two 2GB partitions and format each as FAT16 and see how that goes.

Good luck!

P.S. It is possible that this card will not accept a FAT16 format since it wasn't designed to use that - I don't know this for sure, but it's possible. Can you give me the manufacturer, make, and model of the card?

Click to expand...

yeah, I tried to format the whole thing in FAT, & that didn`t work.
I`m gonna use Lottie`s software now to partition the card. Just a question: Do I need to delete the current partition on the card before I use this software to create two new partitions of 2Gb, or not?
Thanks for your patience!!

edit: The card is a Sandisk Ultra Compact Flash 4gb card

The software should guide you through the process - I'm not entirely certain. I suspect if it is fully formatted, that should be sufficient.

Also, before partitioning, I'd try using that software to format to FAT16 (the whole 4GB) and see if that works (even if it didn't with Vista). It shouldn't take much longer and we may be surprised to find it works (even if I don't really expect it).

I'd still like the requested info on the card when you have a chance.

Thanks and good luck!

Lorien said:

The software should guide you through the process - I'm not entirely certain. I suspect if it is fully formatted, that should be sufficient.

Also, before partitioning, I'd try using that software to format to FAT16 (the whole 4GB) and see if that works (even if it didn't with Vista). It shouldn't take much longer and we may be surprised to find it works (even if I don't really expect it).

I'd still like the requested info on the card when you have a chance.

Thanks and good luck!

Click to expand...

Ah! Ok, thank you. I`ll format it to FAT16 with the software, Thanks!
the card info is on my last post: Sandisk Ultra Compact Flash 4gb card (is that what you need?)

http://www.amazon.co.uk/SanDisk-Ultra-CompactFlash-Memory-Card/dp/B0007QU6ZQ

This is a screenshot of the first screen on the partition software. It states that my compact flash card is formatted to FAT 16. When I try to format it to FAT 16 again with this software, it doesn`t give me the option. Only format to Fat 32.
And it seems to have a small part of the card which is unallocated. Is this a partition?

Thanks so much to everybody!! I managed to do the partitions with the software, & It has worked.

Sorry about taking a bit to get there....I learnt something new doing this. Now I have some form of understanding.

Thanks again for your patience & help!!

Edit: The other partition (unallocated),I didn`t manage to format it. the program didn`t seem to give me the option, So, I guess those 2gb are the ones I`m losing

Here's something I found on the Sandisk site: Device fails to read CompactFlash cards over 2GB.

So it seems that you are limited to 2GB unless there is a firmware upgrade for the camera (and that explains the problems we were having). Perhaps you may want to check into that firmware upgrade with the camera manufacturer to see if they offer anything like that so you can upgrade the camera and then reformat the disk to 4GB, use FAT32, and have full access to the entire disk. But if you're satisfied, that's fine too.

It was our pleasure - I'm glad we could help and I'm happy to hear that things are pretty much sorted out for you. I will request that this thread be marked solved (so others with the same problem will know it contains an answer).

Good luck and best wishes.

EDIT: That tiny part at the beginning wasn't 2GB. Are you saying you now have a disk with a 2GB partition and 2GB unallocated and cannot format that additional 2GB? Can you send me a screenshot of that? Of course, it doesn't really matter since you can only use 2GB at the moment, but you should be able to format the unallocated space as FAT16 (or anything) even if it can't be used by the camera.

We can leave well enough alone (since it's working) - or we can try a different program to try to format that unallocated space if this one won't do it. It's entirely up to you.

Thank you so much for the info!! I`ll look for that firmware update.
Yeah, definitely mark as solved!!:D
Thanks again!

Check out the edit to my prior reply based on the edit to yours. We can pursue this further or leave well enough alone - it's entirely up to you.

Lorien said:

EDIT: That tiny part at the beginning wasn't 2GB. Are you saying you now have a disk with a 2GB partition and 2GB unallocated and cannot format that additional 2GB? Can you send me a screenshot of that? Of course, it doesn't really matter since you can only use 2GB at the moment, but you should be able to format the unallocated space as FAT16 (or anything) even if it can't be used by the camera.

We can leave well enough alone (since it's working) - or we can try a different program to try to format that unallocated space if this one won't do it. It's entirely up to you.

Click to expand...

The little unallocated part at the beginning, I guess it went when I deleted the partition, as I know have got: 1 partition of 2gb that`s been formatted FAT16, & another 2gb unallocated partition that can`t be formatted.
To be honest, if I can`t use the 2gb on the unallocated partition, then is it worth trying to format it?

Thanks

Hi,

You can do/ did all you need to in the free software as you should achieve you goal with this option.

Yu shuld be able to create two partitions & format them. The unallocated bit is because of the primary disk set-up & is required for a bootable CF partition etc.

WOW that happened quick! Ah missed a page, that's why!

Paul H.

The thing is, even if the other 2GB is formatted, I'm not sure how to get the camera to recognize it - it will probably only see the first 2GB partition it finds (but I don't know for sure as I don't know how the camera operates or reads these disks - it may be possible for the camera to switch partitions but I have no idea how to do it).

In the meantime, if you formatted that unallocated part you might be able to use it with your computer to save other data or files (even if it couldn't be used by the camera) - though I probably wouldn't do that as it means handling it a bit more than than maybe should be done (and you probably would rather keep it in your camera most of the time) and it isn't as sturdy as a standard USB flash drive which is more appropriate for things like that. I think that might be a bit too much handling for such a device.

If you still want to try to format it (I'd make sure the camera can access it first before trying but that's up to you - perhaps their technical support department can answer that), and if Lottie thinks the unallocated part can be formatted with that software, then it probably can be done - though if you decide to go that route it's best he explain how as I use different software myself and if you're having trouble doing it, then he's better equipped to answer your questions as he recommended the software and I'm not familiar with how it works or how to troubleshoot problems with it if you can't get it to format the unallocated part. I believe I can do it with other free software, but I don't know how to do it with this software.

Good luck!