Database Users

Formatting micro sd card help

how do you format it to FAT32
o yea one more question how to u flash with the sd card

any help? please i try formartint it to fat32 and nothing

anyone help you?
basically just pop the thing in your comp...let it find it
then go to my computer>right click on the SD disk>hit format...
it will ask you
the defaults are usually what you want. then click format.

or give pocketmechanics a try
or format it in a sdcard reader on the pc

cardriver said:
anyone help you?
basically just pop the thing in your comp...let it find it
then go to my computer>right click on the SD disk>hit format...
it will ask you
the defaults are usually what you want. then click format.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i dont have a sd reader i was looking for a program for ppc

SKTools has a utility that can format the SD card into various formats while inserted into your PPC. However SKTools is not free...

xweaponx said:
SKTools has a utility that can format the SD card into various formats while inserted into your PPC. However SKTools is not free...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yea my card is formated 32 but it still wont flash from sd any ideas why

64GB MicroSD Card - The how-to guide!

As you all hopefully know, the Note Can take up to 64GB MicroSDXC cards. But, what you may not know is the trouble that with comes with getting one to work. Its actually relatively simple When you know how to do it. l spent hours tonight trying to do it.
Originally the sd will probably be in the NTFS format created by Microsoft, which is understandable since its the biggest OS on computers.
Upon entering your SD onto the device, you should see that it wants you to format it. This is due to android not supporting NTFS. The only structure it supports is FAT32.
But, here's where your options come in! You have the choice of either making your device NTFS compatible (Note that this requires root), or reform making the storage device to FAT32. As my device is not yet rooted to test the NTFS support, l will only go over the reformatting process. Unfortunately, since I'm a new member I can't post links. Therefore, you'll need to trust google to guide you to what you want. But if you want to use the tool I used just Google "Kioskea HP USB Disk Storage Format Tool"
Disclaimer: I take no responsibility for any damage that you Cause to your device, computer or SD card while carrying out this method. It is your own decision to do this. This method should cause no harm to any system health, but, as with anything on a computer, errors can occur. Also, take note that the more you format something, the shorter its life will be.
Insert your SD card into the computer to format it. To format to FAT32, you will need to download a third party partition program, as windows withdrew the ability to format to FAT32 in an attempt to push more people on to NTFS. Only storage mediums with FAT32 as their default can format to it.
Once you've downloaded and installed the software, load it up and select your sd card and FAT32, as well as quick format then start. You should then insert it into your PHONE as the tablet doesn't seem to do this next step correctly. When inserted into your phone, it should say that the sd needs formatted. Do this then eject it and transfer it to your tablet and say yes to the dialogue that appears. And that's it in a nutshell! This can be applied for every android device possible.

Users report the newer note 10.1 updates will format 64gb cards into exFat which will allow for files bigger the 4gb (like HD movies).

Yes, i can confirm that if you update to the pulled ota update firmware, your tablet can format the 64gb sdxc to exFat and be read.
Sent from my GT-N8013 using xda premium

Sandisk 64Gb microSDXC cards comes preformatted with exFAT and not NTFS.
Brgds... /Tubgirl
Sent from my GT-N8000 using xda premium

I am using sandisk 64G sdxc card in my N8000 (Hong Kong version N8000ZSALI1 firmware) which natively supports exFAT format. It is fine so far. But I do not dare to copy large file from USB cable via Kies. I take out the card and put into SDXC card reader for large files copying.

Hi, I have some questions:
- What different between "HP USB Disk Storage Format Tool" and the Windows built-in format tool?
- Why your GNote 10.1 cannot format the SD card?

Tubgirl said:
Sandisk 64Gb microSDXC cards comes preformatted with exFAT and not NTFS.
Brgds... /Tubgirl
Sent from my GT-N8000 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
@Tubgirl my one came formatted with NTFS, rather than exFAT. So, I had assumed the rest were like this. It's strange that mine exFAT. :s
Itchiee said:
Users report the newer note 10.1 updates will format 64gb cards into exFat which will allow for files bigger the 4gb (like HD movies).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
@Itchiee I'd seen reports of updates being able to support 64GB cards but that's all I was able to find. I only just got my Note 10.1 and it says on both the internal update and update via Kies that my tablet is up to date. Although, I am from the UK that may be why. I assumed my tablet was rolled out with the latest update. I tried exFAT on my tablet and it refused to work and was throwing the same error's at me.
vndnguyen said:
Hi, I have some questions:
- What different between "HP USB Disk Storage Format Tool" and the Windows built-in format tool?
- Why your GNote 10.1 cannot format the SD card?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
@vndnguyen I recommended the "HP USB Disk Storage Format Tool" as compared to the standard Windows one as Microsoft pulled formatting support for anything except exFAT and NTFS. The only time Microsoft will let you format to FAT32 is if it was the native of that device, such as a flash drive. So, the difference between the two programs, is that the "HP USB Disk Storage Format Tool" can format to FAT32, as where Windows cannot.

I have just ordered a 64 gb sandisk android sdxc card, if i am not to bothered about transfering large files, is there much difference between using exfat and fat32?

zaslamel42 said:
@vndnguyen I recommended the "HP USB Disk Storage Format Tool" as compared to the standard Windows one as Microsoft pulled formatting support for anything except exFAT and NTFS. The only time Microsoft will let you format to FAT32 is if it was the native of that device, such as a flash drive. So, the difference between the two programs, is that the "HP USB Disk Storage Format Tool" can format to FAT32, as where Windows cannot.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't have 64G sd card. I have 8GB sd card and I can format it as FAT32 on my Windows 7 PC

vndnguyen said:
I don't have 64G sd card. I have 8GB sd card and I can format it as FAT32 on my Windows 7 PC
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is because the native format of 32GB MicroSD cards and below were FAT32. Like I said, if the device is native FAT32, then Windows will allow a format of that.

james_lpool said:
I have just ordered a 64 gb sandisk android sdxc card, if i am not to bothered about transfering large files, is there much difference between using exfat and fat32?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry for not replying in my last post. I never seen your comment. There's some slight differences between FAT32 and exFAT. The main difference a common user should know is that FAT32 can only hold, and transfer a maximum of 4GB, as where exFAT does not have a size limit. That's why it's the "preferred" method. But, FAT32 is more popular as it's been around longer and is supported by more platforms than exFAT. If you want to know more about the differences, try a google search. Unfortunately I can't post links just yet to help you out with that. But, I'd recommend trying the exFAT wiki page. The stuff you'll find can get fairly technical. Just a heads up.

thanks for your reply, the sandisk card i am getting says its been made for android devices, will that means its probably already in the exfat format when i get it?
Would you know if the below card which i have ordered would probably work straight out the box?
http://www.amazon.co.uk/SanDisk-And...AJTO/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1348232652&sr=8-1

james_lpool said:
thanks for your reply, the sandisk card i am getting says its been made for android devices, will that means its probably already in the exfat format when i get it?
Would you know if the below card which i have ordered would probably work straight out the box?
http://www.amazon.co.uk/SanDisk-And...AJTO/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1348232652&sr=8-1
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is the one I got and I had to format on my Defy first. Then my tablet excepted it, for now I can only put movies, photos on. Any apps you want on doesn't work as of yet which was a big let down for me.

This appears to be the same one that I ordered. Mine came as NTFS but it may have just been a hiccup for mine as everyone else is apparently exFAT. One thing I also noticed is that the page says it is both class six and class 10. Just to clarify - It is class 10.
Sent from my GT-N8010 using xda app-developers app

jayjay* said:
This is the one I got and I had to format on my Defy first. Then my tablet excepted it, for now I can only put movies, photos on. Any apps you want on doesn't work as of yet which was a big let down for me.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Jayjay, there are apps that that allow you to do this. I would recommend trying App2SD, Link2SD and Directory Bind. DB can be found by searching the xda forums.
Sent from my GT-N8010 using xda app-developers app

zaslamel42 said:
Jayjay, there are apps that that allow you to do this. I would recommend trying App2SD, Link2SD and Directory Bind. DB can be found by searching the xda forums.
Sent from my GT-N8010 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes but you need to be rooted and im not, I did try them though but wouldn't work, wouldn't let me move to SD...:good:

jayjay* said:
Yes but you need to be rooted and im not, I did try them though but wouldn't work, wouldn't let me move to SD...:good:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah some require root. I tried some today, as well. They don't work due to the memory config. Seems to be happen to all new releases, as if they're trying to block stuff like that. With all the trouble Google and manufacturers are going to to stop us rooting and stuff like that, Android will soon be as non-combustible as iOS!

problem with 64 gb sd
hello
i bought my note 10.1 and a microsd sandisc 64gb. it was exfat by default.but my note did not recognise that.so i take it of,i put it in my laptop and i reform it to exfat also.but again nothing.my note is not recognising it.does anyone have any idea why is that?and what can i do to make it work?
thank you for your time

kostasmag said:
hello
i bought my note 10.1 and a microsd sandisc 64gb. it was exfat by default.but my note did not recognise that.so i take it of,i put it in my laptop and i reform it to exfat also.but again nothing.my note is not recognising it.does anyone have any idea why is that?and what can i do to make it work?
thank you for your time
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is because Samsung claim that their Note 10.1 can support exFAT. In reality, the support for it doesn't work at the moment. What you will need to do is reformat it to FAT32, and it should work. If it still doesn't work after this, put the SD into your mobile phone then use the reformat option on the phone. The reformatting does not work on the Note 10.1, so you can't reformat it on that.
Let me know how it goes.

zaslamel42 said:
This is because Samsung claim that their Note 10.1 can support exFAT. In reality, the support for it doesn't work at the moment. What you will need to do is reformat it to FAT32, and it should work. If it still doesn't work after this, put the SD into your mobile phone then use the reformat option on the phone. The reformatting does not work on the Note 10.1, so you can't reformat it on that.
Let me know how it goes.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
when i put the sd in my laptop,the 2 options that let me choose is ntfs and exfat.how can i reformat it to fat32?

[Q] Max SD supported by recovery?

Hi,
I've noticed that my 64GB Class 10 Micro-SD is not mountable in recovery but have validated that a 8GB Micro-SD is mountable.
Is there a way to mount a 64GB in recovery? What is the max supported size in recovery?
Thanks!

reTARDIS said:
Hi,
I've noticed that my 64GB Class 10 Micro-SD is not mountable in recovery but have validated that a 8GB Micro-SD is mountable.
Is there a way to mount a 64GB in recovery? What is the max supported size in recovery?
Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Recovery does not care what size your sd card is. It does care how it is formatted.

lafester said:
Recovery does not care what size your sd card is. It does care how it is formatted.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the response.
I let my S4 format the card. Is there a better way or so you know which format would be best.

reTARDIS said:
Thanks for the response.
I let my S4 format the card. Is there a better way or so you know which format would be best.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The 64GB card comes exFAT formatted which is likely not supported yet by the recovery you are using.
If you can mount the sd card in a Windows PC you should be able to format it to FAT32 using the Windows disk management utility.
The downside to FAT32 is the 4GB file size limit.

Get EasyUS Partition Masters (GREAT PROGRAM and EASY to use) it can format your 64gb to FAT32. I did that with mine and it runs great in recovery. I had to do this on the SIII because i had like 5 roms i jumped from and these roms are not tiny.

kyhassen said:
Get EasyUS Partition Masters (GREAT PROGRAM and EASY to use) it can format your 64gb to FAT32. I did that with mine and it runs great in recovery. I had to do this on the SIII because i had like 5 roms i jumped from and these roms are not tiny.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Awesome. Thanks!

reTARDIS said:
Awesome. Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Your welcome

So is FAT32 the ideal format (sans file size limits)? I just bought a Sandisk 64GB SDXC last night & it was immediately not recognizable by the phone when installed. I formatted it to FAT32 & phone still doesn't recognize it. Looking for feedback ASAP!

LAYGO said:
So is FAT32 the ideal format (sans file size limits)? I just bought a Sandisk 64GB SDXC last night & it was immediately not recognizable by the phone when installed. I formatted it to FAT32 & phone still doesn't recognize it. Looking for feedback ASAP!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I actually ended up using my Mac to format as FAT and that did the trick.
Been a fully usable and recognized by the phone amount now.
Also fully recognized in recovery mode, which was important to me.

reTARDIS said:
I actually ended up using my Mac to format as FAT and that did the trick.
Been a fully usable and recognized by the phone amount now.
Also fully recognized in recovery mode, which was important to me.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok, well, I just let the phone format the card, it formatted it as FAT32. I'm backing all the stuff off my 32gb card from my laptop back onto the card . . . then my music . . . after I verify it'll read the contents.

LAYGO said:
Ok, well, I just let the phone format the card, it formatted it as FAT32. I'm backing all the stuff off my 32gb card from my laptop back onto the card . . . then my music . . . after I verify it'll read the contents.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I actually did the same exact thing initially.
I put my 64GB micro-sd in, let the phone format it, loaded it up but then started to get errors reading the card and corruption warnings.
I couldn't see it or mount it when in recovery.
Android could still use it though.
If it took it out and connected it to a Mac or PC it'd not see it as a valid readable drive and would say it needed to be initialized.
It must be something about the way allowing the phone to format it but after formatting from my Mac it's been solid. No issues.

reTARDIS said:
I actually did the same exact thing initially.
I put my 64GB micro-sd in, let the phone format it, loaded it up but then started to get errors reading the card and corruption warnings.
I couldn't see it or mount it when in recovery.
Android could still use it though.
If it took it out and connected it to a Mac or PC it'd not see it as a valid readable drive and would say it needed to be initialized.
It must be something about the way allowing the phone to format it but after formatting from my Mac it's been solid. No issues.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, phone formats it as FAT32. I stuck it back in my laptop, it was working. I copied a bunch of files to it, put it back in the phone, it was working, now back in the laptop copying my 30gb of music over. It seems to be working fine in the laptop. I hate messing with formatting/copying as it is just time consuming. I remember I thought I'd be sneaky & format some discs for a Synology NAS & copy the files over via SATA. That went over like a turd in a punchbowl because as soon as I plugged that formatted/loaded drive into the NAS, it didn't recognize it . . . and I had to do it all over again!

Ok, all 30GB copied music successfully & the apps see it no problem. I hope I don't have these problems others have had with these cards.
Thanks!

Help with 64GB SDcard

Just got a SanDisk microSDXC 64GB card from Amazon for my Galaxy S4. I don't want to mess anything up, so I've got a few questions.
Are these cards formatted with exFat? How can I tell? Do I need a special kernel to have it work? Will the stock kernel work?
Should I format it from within the phone before use?
Any other problems/concerns I should have before I copy all my music and ROMS over to the card?
Thanks in advance,
Foulwx...in Atlanta tonight where there really is some foul weather.

I recently purchased a 32GB SanDisk Ultra, and followed the instructions at these two links, for moving apps to the sd card:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2142844 - mini partition tool guide
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2285221 - link2sd and foldermount
If you have some way to connect the card to your PC, the mini partition tool guide is really easy to follow. If you don't plan on moving apps to the card, you could just toss it in the phone and format it there. I screwed up the partitions a couple of times on my own (formatted the card 5 or 6 separate times, trying out different filesystems and partition sizes), before I found the mini partition tool guide, so I don't think there's much chance of permanently ruining the card.

If you formatted the card into fat32, then it would be more compatible without modifying anything on the phone.

Foulwx said:
Just got a SanDisk microSDXC 64GB card from Amazon for my Galaxy S4. I don't want to mess anything up, so I've got a few questions.
Are these cards formatted with exFat? How can I tell? Do I need a special kernel to have it work? Will the stock kernel work?
Should I format it from within the phone before use?
Any other problems/concerns I should have before I copy all my music and ROMS over to the card?
Thanks in advance,
Foulwx...in Atlanta tonight where there really is some foul weather.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can connect the microSD to your PC to determine what format it currently is. If you stick in the phone, it'll format to exFat. The exFat format can be recognized by the stock kernel as well as the agat kernel and the ktoonsez kernel.

I have the same one. Just put it in my phone and went from there. Guess it auto formats it to exfat that way.
I flashed bluKuban and had to switch to agats kernel to see it. But otherwise works well.
Sent from my SPH-L720 using xda premium

Is there an advantage to exFat over FAT32?

flu13 said:
Is there an advantage to exFat over FAT32?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
exFat can have files over 4gb.

I killed my sandisk 32gb ultra card ...created the fat 32 partition and then the exfat and it won't be ready by the phone at all. When I put it into the computer it shows it only has 30.6 MB...I'm unable to format it through windows or with another app. Any help would be appreciated

majid25 said:
I killed my sandisk 32gb ultra card ...created the fat 32 partition and then the exfat and it won't be ready by the phone at all. When I put it into the computer it shows it only has 30.6 MB...I'm unable to format it through windows or with another app. Any help would be appreciated
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Insert it into your phone, and format it there. That "may" fix it for you.

jj14 said:
Insert it into your phone, and format it there. That "may" fix it for you.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Its not being read by the phone it doesn't even mount..

I'd try plugging it into the computer and running a partitioning program. It should see the card no matter what. Partition it to whatever format you want.

oscarthegrouch said:
I'd try plugging it into the computer and running a partitioning program. It should see the card no matter what. Partition it to whatever format you want.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Theres one computer where it sees it and I connect it through an HP printer that had an SD slot.. Windows shows it as 30.6MB and asks me to format it but the format fails. I tried SD card formatter, HP USB disk tool..I don't know what to do

OK, I loaded all my music, pictures, and roms onto my 64SDCard from my laptop. Windows says it is exFat. Booted and seems to work fine.
Then I went into OUDhs recovery to try and make a nandroid. It can't mount the external_sd. Suggestions? Do I need a different recovery or kernel? I'm on the stock kernel.
Thanks again.
Edit: I installed TWRP 2.5.0.3 and it worked fine, I think. I haven't tried a restore yet.

I finally gave up with exFat and, after some research here on XDA, used Mini Tool Partition Wizard Home Edition to format my SDCard to fat32. I just made a Nandroid with OUDhs recovery. Hopefully, everything will continue to work OK and I don't need any 4GB files on my card.

[Q] Question about format the sd card as exFat

so I was looking at that new root post. and it request us to format the sd card to exFat.
so I was looking around in my house. and finally I found a sandisk 2GB micro sd. and I insert it to the phone, and format it. I thought it will ask me to format as exFat or something else. but it didn't. It just format by itself.
and I was thinking is there another way to format a sd card to exfat. or it is not possible for a 2G micro sd?

ksj0823 said:
so I was looking at that new root post. and it request us to format the sd card to exFat.
so I was looking around in my house. and finally I found a sandisk 2GB micro sd. and I insert it to the phone, and format it. I thought it will ask me to format as exFat or something else. but it didn't. It just format by itself.
and I was thinking is there another way to format a sd card to exfat. or it is not possible for a 2G micro sd?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Google "format exfat xda" But a 2 gig is pretty small to do anything with. Bet you want to root mf3?

jd1639 said:
Google "format exfat xda" But a 2 gig is pretty small to do anything with. Bet you want to root mf3?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
XD you right!!!
well, I still can't find anyway to do it.

ksj0823 said:
XD you right!!!
well, I still can't find anyway to do it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Formatting it through the phone wont work, at least i have yet to see it done. At least on newer Android devices that wont allow you to mount the card. Essentially, formatting it while its being accessed via MTP really only erases the card, it doesnt change the file system...i believe.

cloudraker said:
Formatting it through the phone wont work, at least i have yet to see it done. At least on newer Android devices that wont allow you to mount the card. Essentially, formatting it while its being accessed via MTP really only erases the card, it doesnt change the file system...i believe.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I put it into my phone. and connect it to my laptop. and I formatted it on the laptop. it doesn't work. so maybe I need to format it from the sd card reader or find a adapter?

ksj0823 said:
I put it into my phone. and connect it to my laptop. and I formatted it on the laptop. it doesn't work. so maybe I need to format it from the sd card reader or find a adapter?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yes, you need to put it in an adapter or find an older Android device that allows you to mount the SD card as storage. Those are the only methods i know that will work.

Did you set the usb debugging before you connected the phone to the computer?

easiest way just get the 64gb samsung class 10 card on Amazon--already exFat--not that expensive and works perfectly on everything I have flashed so far--
just a thought

rugmankc said:
easiest way just get the 64gb samsung class 10 card on Amazon--already exFat--not that expensive and works perfectly on everything I have flashed so far--
just a thought
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That is not allways the case. I purchase one 2 months ago and did not had exFat. But it works perfectly.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using xda premium

If you get the one here from Amazon that I am referring to it will be exFat.
Samsung Electronics 64GB Pro microSDXC Extreme Speed (UHS-1) Class 10 Memory Card (MB-MGCGB/AM)
Mine has been flawless and super fast--