H E L P :: Formatting M3 40GB under XP

[slaterss]

Hi,

I need to format my M3 40GB Model urgently, has its been corrupted and I am unable to delete some files...

I have tried on multiple PCs running Windows XP. and in Windows itself (Windows Explorer) It only gives me the option to format as NTFS. In JetShell 3.2 it only gives me the option to format as NTFS.

Therefore I am unable to format as FAT32 which is what it needs.

Is there a way around this without using something like partition magic.

many thanks for your help

Stu

[wizard044]

Try this one on a DOS command prompt:

Z:\>format <letter>: /FS:FAT32 /V:<volumename>

Goodluck!

[booth99]

Any luck? I am curious because I also have a 40GB M3 and using XP. It would be nice to have Cowan produce a program/instructions for this situation.

[Lestat]

Sorry,

You cannot create a FAT32 volume larger than 32 GB by using the Format tool. You will need Windows ME or 98, or 3rd part sotfware

[slaterss]

Many thanks all for your great help... and quick responses..

What a Con and failure by Cowon... there instructions say its possible under XP and jetshell... I even downloaded the manual before purchasing one... So there manual is inaccurate...

so I have to fork out yet more money now on a 3rd party piece of software...

Cowon should produce a utility to do this as STANDARD !!

[Terry]

im sure you could find a free prgram on the web. or atleast a trial.

Terry

[En_croute]

To be fair the need to format the drive is fairly unusual, and while it's clearly a problem, there is plenty of trial software on ZDnet and other shareware sites that should do the trick.

[Terry]

yes i agree.. cowon cannot make a program for every situation its users may be in. I would rather see them foccus on firmware because programs such as these are (as mentioned above) already available.

[En_croute]

Have you tried to contact Cowon - presumably the inability to delete a file, and therefore your need to format the drive is an error and should be fixed under warranty.

[Terry]

you sure a program isnt using these files? tried a restart?

[wizard044]

FAT32 can handle around 268 million maximum clusters, the 4 kiB cluster size is technically able to support a disk volume 1 TiB (1,024 GiB) in size.
So, there's no problem, as i said boot dos and format the drive.

[lollypork]

I have the exact same problem! On my newly arrived M3 there is a folder called "?? contents", which I cannot delete, access or do anything with - but the player plays the files within it, some demo mp3s or something. Do I really have to format the player? And what do I do afterwards, is the system erased or something? Need help, quickly if possible, I want to use this nice player as soon as possible. :)

Regards

[lollypork]

Hmm. Problem solved. I installed JetShell, which was able to delete the folder. Sometimes non-standard-compliant software helps. ;D

[stimpee]

So you need to boot the machine in Windows9x? bummer. Didnt know that. Wonder if it would work in VirtualPC... surely with a dos boot disk you'd need the DOS USB2 drivers on there too wouldnt you?

[wizard044]

@stimpee, enough options to format, there are several way's to do the job, do you agree? Everyone knows something about computers, and know to use USB 1.1/2.0 drivers.

[IG88]

I tried formatting a 40GB player under XP but at the CMD prompt (ie DOS) and it returned an error saying that the drive was too big for FAT 32...

Has anyone actually done this? There is a lot of talk of 'supposed' 'should' etc but has anyone here actually formatted a 40GB drive yet?
I have XP and ME at my disposal. The ME system wouldn't even recognise the player.

[En_croute]

You'll need the drivers on the CD for Win 98/Me to recognise the M3.
Sorry I haven't had any problems like this, so can't help.

In XP, try Start/Programs/Administrative Tools/Computer Managemnt and click on Disk Management, and try from there.

Good Luck!