SD card partition for cross-platform - FAT32 or exFAT? - Microsoft Surface

I have a 64GB microSDXC and I want to use this between my Surface, Nexus 7 tablet, Windows 7 and OSX. What is the recommended partition I need to format the SD card?
I have MacDrive for Windows 7 (can read Mac partition in Windows) and NTFS Drive for OSX (can read NTFS in Mac). Obviously Android cannot read NTFS, so I am down to FAT32 (cannot read file larger than 32GB) or exFAT.
Is exFAT compatible with Android and OSX?

SDXC uses exFAT, so if your devices are SDXC-compatible, they should be able to read (and hopefully write) exFAT. However, unless you need to move files bigger than 4GB (which happens on occasion, but not *very* often) I'd go with FAT32; *everything* supports that.
Another option is UDF (which is a format intended for re-writable CDs and DVDs, mostly, but can be used on anything). Linux (and therefore hopefully Android) has supported that for years. I don't know if it has a 4GB or similar file size limit, though. I don't really know what filesystems Android supports, though... it might actually be able to handle NTFS, especially if you root it and install (an ARM compile of) the Linux NTFS drivers (either as a kernel filesystem, or using FUSE and ntfs-3g, which is how I'd recommend doing it if FUSE is available for Android).

Since when does the nexus 7 have a sdcard slot?

omaropa said:
Since when does the nexus 7 have a sdcard slot?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I use USB TO GO cable to connect a mini Micro SD card reader.

You should be able to get an NTFS driver for the N7 (I had one on my last Android tablet), though Fat32 will give the best compatibility. Fat32 can be on disks larger than 32GB, Windows just won't let you format them to that. Format them on the Mac or on the Android tablet.

Related

[Q]NTFS formatted microsd

i know the usb ports on the dock supprt ntfs read/write but has anyone tried ntfs formatted microsd? i wont be able to check mine til i get home. but i would't see why it can't. it would be nice to store an 8 GB video file on the sdcard. even if the tf wouldn't be able to play it
i'm pretty sue clockwork won't get along with ntfs though.
where did you hear the dock supported NTFS? to my understanding linux can't read that so nothing on the device should be able to support NTFS.
neok44 said:
where did you hear the dock supported NTFS? to my understanding linux can't read that so nothing on the device should be able to support NTFS.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Actually linux reads (and write) NTFS quite fine.
For NTFS support linux uses NTFS-3g (free) or Tuxera (commercial). The questions is - did Asus add NTFS drivers? Some users of Transformer say it did and that it works.
Magnesus said:
Actually linux reads (and write) NTFS quite fine.
For NTFS support linux uses NTFS-3g (free) or Tuxera (commercial). The questions is - did Asus add NTFS drivers? Some users of Transformer say it did and that it works.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
interesting. I just figured that since all the android devices have never supported NTFS, at least the ones i've owned.
if i had a blank SD card i'd try it for you, but all mine have way to much data on it to try.
If at least the USB ports work thats nice cause i can then move my HD movies onto a 32GB flash drive. instead of trying to somehow get them under 4GB.
Honeycomb does not have native NTFS support built into the kernel but there is a custom ROM available that has this feature quoted "The Transformer's first custom kernel with CIFS/TUN/NTFS compiled in"
See: "[ROM] PRIME! v1.2 | Fast | Rooted | Deodexed" in the dev section of this forum
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1052380
I have no idea if this would help with the NTFS microSD access you asked about.
I just formatted to NTFS on a class 10 wintec 16gb microsd. Doesn't work. I'm on stock honeycomb.
Back to fat32 i go!
3DSammy said:
Honeycomb does not have native NTFS support built into the kernel but there is a custom ROM available that has this feature quoted "The Transformer's first custom kernel with CIFS/TUN/NTFS compiled in"
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Maybe the people that reported NTFS working used this kernel. I didn't pay attention to what they were writing much because am not using NTFS. But I was almost sure they were talking about a Transformer with stock firmware. Well aparently I was wrong, sorry for spreading misinformation.
ntfs formatted western digital passport does work very well on the usb port though....strange that microsd doesn't
At the time of my initial test i was using paul's rom from modaco. There wasn't any mention of ntfs support in the notes. Eifher i missed the note or he corgot to include the change.
Fyi archos tabets support ntfs read.
From what I read the NTFS support was add in the v1.2 release of that PRIME custom ROM. Maybe you were using an earlier version. The last edit of that forum post was "6th May 2011 at 12:55 AM" which I assume was when the new PRIME ROM v1.2 version was released.
i didn't try th prime rom til yesterday.i was on modaco while doingthe exthd test.
did a noob thing hereand posted efore searching .someon else asked the question and said the stock tf bas ntfs support otb according to the manual. i havent pulled mine out yet to verify.
Bump, trying to figure out if prime 1.3 will support NTFS SDCARD.
I am running Stock TF101 with 3.1 Android and the dock supports NTFS USB Media and Sd-Card NTFS Media very well.
So NTFS with any media that connects to the dock works, at least all i could get hold of these included some USB-Sticks from 512 MB to 8 GB and USB 3.0 2.5" 1TB HDD. Also SD-Cards and my microSD in an SD Adapter works.
But here comes the strange part if i remove the microSD out of the Adapter and put it into the tablet it won't work. Yes the same card that worked 10 seconds before in the dock.
For anyone that finds this thread in the future: The MicroSD card is expected to be FAT formatted and therefore, will not automatically mount if it is NTFS. But, since NTFS is supported on the tablet, you can manually mount the MicroSD and it will work fine when formatted as NTFS. You'll need root and someway to run the below commands.
Mount:
Code:
mkdir /data/Removable/MicroSD
mount /dev/block/vold/179\:9 /data/Removable/MicroSD
rtadams89 said:
For anyone that finds this thread in the future: The MicroSD card is expected to be FAT formatted and therefore, will not automatically mount if it is NTFS. But, since NTFS is supported on the tablet, you can manually mount the MicroSD and it will work fine when formatted as NTFS. You'll need root and someway to run the below commands.
Mount:
Code:
mkdir /data/Removable/MicroSD
mount /dev/block/vold/179\:9 /data/Removable/MicroSD
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've tried entering the script in Terminal Emulator, but get
"Usage: mount [-r] [-w].... etc.."
This means there's something wrong with the code?
Found this thread through google search. I have a 32gb patriot class 10 micro sd card - just formatted to ntfs and android 3.2 reads it natively. Not yet rooted either.
I too, am on a stock Android 3.2 with a NTFS formated 32 GB class 10 microSDHC. My Asus Transformer tablet works fine, and can read files off of the memory card. I haven't tried the dock's memory card reading slot, but I presume it'll just work the same.
hyperxi said:
I've tried entering the script in Terminal Emulator, but get
"Usage: mount [-r] [-w].... etc.."
This means there's something wrong with the code?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You should be able to navigate into the actual directory:
/dev/block/vold/179 ...
If not, it might be elsewhere, slightly different location, like
/dev/block/vold/<another number?>
or
/dev/block/<another directory>/179
etc.
Once you find the actual flash directory it should be easy to mount to a known location. I am not rooted so I can not look on mine for differences.
What this implies... it might require a script or configuration to auto mount in any configuration. On LINUX this is handled a bunch of different ways depending on the kernel version, and likely similar on Android OS.
Good luck.
hoang51 said:
I too, am on a stock Android 3.2 with a NTFS formated 32 GB class 10 microSDHC. My Asus Transformer tablet works fine, and can read files off of the memory card. I haven't tried the dock's memory card reading slot, but I presume it'll just work the same.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Confirmed! Same here I have 16GB ADATA class 10 microSDHC, NTFS formated. Works on my tablet not root just stock 3.2.

Circumventing the FAT32 4gb file limitation

I love everything about Android, other than the fact that I can't watch any of my blu ray rips because they are over 4gb. I can format my ext SD into NTFS or eXFat but then the transformer wont see the card when I put it in. Same goes with it recognizing my external hard drive.
I have tried formatting the drive into some Mac format because I read it was a work around, but it wasn't detected when formatted as a mac drive. Is there a trick that I don't know about?
Sent from my MB860 using XDA App
i have not tried, but you could possibly format the card in a linux file format (ext3, ext4, etc) and then use a windows app that will allow you to read the linux file format.
or just split your larger files.
xformulax said:
i have not tried, but you could possibly format the card in a linux file format (ext3, ext4, etc) and then use a windows app that will allow you to read the linux file format.
or just split your larger files.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am trying to get honeycomb to read and play the movies though. Not another comp running windows.
Sent from my MB860 using XDA App
i believe some of the kernels on the dev section supports ntfs if you want to go that route...
other than that, you'd have to wait for ASUS to implemente NTFS themselves (i believe they just got a license from a 3rd party co. to use their NTFS driver, for th purpose of implementing it into their android devices)
I don't need a signature.
seh6183 said:
I am trying to get honeycomb to read and play the movies though. Not another comp running windows.
Sent from my MB860 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
right, and honeycomb is *nix at its core and should be able to read and play the files on a linux formatted memory card... the challenge is getting windows to read that same card to load it, but that can be done with some opensource software.
xformulax said:
right, and honeycomb is *nix at its core and should be able to read and play the files on a linux formatted memory card... the challenge is getting windows to read that same card to load it, but that can be done with some opensource software.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ah I see! Can anyone comment on this that has tried it before I go through the agony and possible waste of time?
Sent from my MB860 using XDA App
Not much more to comment on, there are linux (ext3) filesystem drivers you can install on windows that should let you be able to load the SD card from within windows. As Android has *nix underneath it all, it should recognize the ext3 card no problem, and ext3 doesn't have the same 4GB limitation.
it does support ntfs for external hard drives.
seh6183 said:
I love everything about Android, other than the fact that I can't watch any of my blu ray rips because they are over 4gb. I can format my ext SD into NTFS or eXFat but then the transformer wont see the card when I put it in. Same goes with it recognizing my external hard drive.
I have tried formatting the drive into some Mac format because I read it was a work around, but it wasn't detected when formatted as a mac drive. Is there a trick that I don't know about?
Sent from my MB860 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
In another thread i heard NTFS works, but i personally couldnt get it to work with my MicroSD cards
you might want to check out this thread also
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1069360
My best guess is to root and install a kernel that supports NTFS
Or format to ext3 or ext4 and give that a try
I use this to access ext3 and ext 4 partitions on my Windows 7 machine
http://www.ext2fsd.com/
Works pretty well
i have a USB flash drive with NTFS. tried harry potter 720p mkv at 6.7GB and though it did see and load the file, it lagged to the point where it was unwatchable. This was on 3.01 and 3.1
I've played a 6 GB mkv off of my 320GB NTFS formatted hard drive, so shouldnt be an issue off of a card.
I'l try it later with one of my 8gb cards.
Anonnie said:
I've played a 6 GB mkv off of my 320GB NTFS formatted hard drive, so shouldnt be an issue off of a card.
I'l try it later with one of my 8gb cards.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
well NTFS support from a usb HDD is different from having NTFS support on the internal card reader... could also depend if NTFS is built into your kernel.
my TF works with a 8gb usb pendrive and my 750gb and 3tb external usb drive formated with windows 7 and plays dvd under 4gb
but did locked up when i opened a folder with a 9gb bluray file in it
Hmm I hope the file system for the TF isn't fat32, because like the previous poster said it would allow me to open my blu ray rips. Or would it? If the 6gb movie was located on another drive I don't see why it wouldn't play straight off the secondary drive.
I also can confirm that ntfs works just fine with external hard drives and usb thumb drives. Just not external SD cards.
Sent from my MB860 using XDA App
seh6183 said:
Hmm I hope the file system for the TF isn't fat32, because like the previous poster said it would allow me to open my blu ray rips. Or would it? If the 6gb movie was located on another drive I don't see why it wouldn't play straight off the secondary drive.
I also can confirm that ntfs works just fine with external hard drives and usb thumb drives. Just not external SD cards.
Sent from my MB860 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
the file system for the TF isn't fat32.... but it formats the uSD to fat32 for compatibility between the tablet and windows.
ntfs support for uSD and for external HDD are 2 different things.
NTFS and HFS+ filesystem support
I have recently tried this:
Paragon NTFS & HFS+
(can't post link as I am a noob :| so google it up or find it in the App Store)
It is free and it seems to work well with both Win (NTFS) and Mac (HFS+) disks. As far as I know it looks like an Android implementation of FUSE.

[APP] Paragon NTFS & HFS+. Mount NTFS and HFS+ formatted SD card and USB sticks.

!!!Requires root!!!
To verify root access please use Root Checker app.
Easily mount NTFS/HFS+ formatted USB drives or SD cards.
Forget about incompatibility issues between your mobile handheld and its big brothers PC and Mac! The software was successfully tested by nearly 50,000 Android enthusiasts!
Get full and unlimited access to the most widespread file systems in the world on your smartphone by mounting USB sticks or SD cards formatted to Windows NTFS or Mac OS X HFS+.
Now you can easily copy, transfer and modify data previously unsupported by Android volumes.
This is an official thread on XDA. Please post your questions and feedback here.
NTFS SD partitions will be recognized at boot in recovery (4EXT recovery)
Sent from my HTC Sensation Z710e
Thanks, will there be any actual performance improvements using NTFS over FAT32? File transfers, access...
Integration to rom
Can binaries be integrated into rom for out of the box automatic mounting?
Can you provide script for this if needed?
It's wonderful
SD format
If I format my sd card to ntfs using windows and mount it on my tablet, will it read it without corruption?
will it work on samsung galaxy grand????
this works on galaxy grand???
Is there any chance to unlock the exFAT support for OEMs?

Marshmallow SD Card Issues

Hey guys,
I was hoping someone with some experience with Android M could help. After installing the OTA update and upgrading to Marshmallow, it seems that the OS makes you format microSD cards as either portable or internal storage. The issue that I'm running into is that after formatting the memory card as portable storage, the system formats it as Fat32 so I can no longer transfer large MKV files to play in Kodi. Prior to installing the 6.0 OTA, I had no issues transferring the files to my microSD card.
As a workaround, I tried using my USB OTG drive to play the videos but I can't get Kodi to recognize the drive as a source for my video files. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to get around these new memory card complications that Android 6.0 has introduced?
I would greatly appreciate some help on this as this was one of the main reasons I purchased this tablet so that I could use it as a temporary HTPC when I'm traveling. Thanks in advance!
Have you tried removing the SD CARD and formatting on a PC?
Seems that Marshmallow's not all it's cracked up to be.
Don't have marshmallow, but have you tried reformatting the SD card on your PC using exFat or NTFS instead?
I don't know if marshmallow will prompt you to reformat again when you put the card back in the Shield though...
Sent from my SHIELD Tablet using XDA Free mobile app
You didn't mention what size of card, but if it is larger than 32gigs you will need to put the sd card in a computer and format as NTFS. Android doesn't support exfat, only fat32 and NTFS. Try that and let us know what happens!
hbar98 said:
You didn't mention what size of card, but if it is larger than 32gigs you will need to put the sd card in a computer and format as NTFS. Android doesn't support exfat, only fat32 and NTFS. Try that and let us know what happens!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Funny...running a 64GB SDCard formatted exFat right now on my original ST8 (Lollipop)...and also a 16GB SDCard formatted exFat on my old Samsung S4 (also Lollipop).
Sent from my SHIELD Tablet using XDA Free mobile app
Try to restart tablet? The best is using es Explorer to transfer files. Fat32 do not accepted file over 4gb. Try format back exfat
Sent from my SHIELD Tablet K1 using Tapatalk
An Droid said:
Funny...running a 64GB SDCard formatted exFat right now on my original ST8 (Lollipop)...and also a 16GB SDCard formatted exFat on my old Samsung S4 (also Lollipop).
Sent from my SHIELD Tablet using XDA Free mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
(sarcasm)
Oh, wow! Your personal experience with two different phones made by two different manufacturers running an old system that was never designed for what Marshmallow does obviously contradicts and demolishes what I said.
(/sarcasm)
ExFat support can be added to android kernels, if the manufacturer decides to do so. Samsung, a maker of sd cards ranging from 4gigs to 200+gigs, has an interest in making sure that their devices work with their cards that also work in a variety of consumer computers. ExFat support can also be added in customer kernels, should the maintainer decided to do so (in fact, many kernels that I see for modern devices that also support an external sd cards proudly show that they support ExFat).
Android AOSP, without any mods or other built in support, does not support ExFat well, if at all. It may or may not work. The fact that nVidia has written that any cards over 32gig must be formatted to NTFS tells me that they have not chosen to build in ExFat support into their devices. Should someone desire to flash a different rom or custom kernel that support ExFat, that is their business. But since the OP didn't list what size of card they used, or if they were using any mods or a different kernel, I had to go with the most basic support.
hbar98 said:
(sarcasm)
Oh, wow! Your personal experience with two different phones made by two different manufacturers running an old system that was never designed for what Marshmallow does obviously contradicts and demolishes what I said.
(/sarcasm)
Android AOSP, without any mods or other built in support, does not support ExFat well, if at all. It may or may not work. The fact that nVidia has written that any cards over 32gig must be formatted to NTFS tells me that they have not chosen to build in ExFat support into their devices. Should someone desire to flash a different rom or custom kernel that support ExFat, that is their business. But since the OP didn't list what size of card they used, or if they were using any mods or a different kernel, I had to go with the most basic support.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
ST8 = Shield Tablet 8" (original vs. K1 model).
Point is, this goes against your open ended and incorrect "Android doesn't support exfat, only fat32 and NTFS" statement.
Supporting exFAT in Android makes sense as it's the recommended file system by the SDCard association for SDCards larger than 32GB.
NTFS is in the same boat - it's also not officially supported by all Android implementations.
Marshmallow formats SDCards to Ext4 (and encrypts) when configured as internal storage. When configured as portable both exFAT and NTFS (and Fat16/32) may all be an option - OP can try both if using the portable option.
Sent from my SGH-I337M using XDA Free mobile app
Similar problem with lg g2 on marshmallow
Hi,
Having a related problem with kodi on my phone.
On lollipop, kodi found my 16gb Fat32 otg USB drive as a source, but won't show up now I'm on marshmallow. I can still play video through mx player, fx explorer media viewer, and os video player. I searched around storage and mount folders, but can find no access to the external drive browsing the file system unless I'm using the native file browser.
Marshmallow detects partition very different with Lollipop. on Marshmallow your device can use sdcard with 128 GB like internal
its mean sdcard needed change partition format to another type (not FAT, NTFS or exFAT) the matter here then you plug that sdcard to windows, windows wont detect your sdcard but you can see it through another program like MiniTool Partition Wizard.
The problem with marshmallow and this partition used to drop out connect with your sdcard. only one way to fix it reboot your device. also, sometime they cant turn wifi on then you just needed to reboot again to let your device working normally.
We needed to wait for a new patch.

formatting a 4tb drive to read on Android

Hi All,
I'm trying to get my new 4tb drive to work with my android device. I know that out of the box it requires FAT32 to be read, and no I am not interested in rooting my device to install drivers to support other options. I already have another 4tb working :
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00HXAV0X6/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1
this drive formatted just fine using the guiformat tool to fat32.
however the recent drive does not accept a fat32 format:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0196J3UZ2/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1
gives me a format error and restricts me to a 2tb volume.
I believe the problem for this is that the first drive is a raid0 format with 2 drives built in. The second drive is a single 4tb, slower but more "dependable" (and also $70 cheaper).
I'm sure my success with the first drive is that the fat32 partition is able to create > 2tb because the physical devices are split between 2 2tb drives, though this does not make a ton of sense to me.
Regardless, what are my options here for the second drive? Again, i'm not interested in rooting my device. 2 partitions are ok, but i've experimented w/that and found that the second partition is ignored in the android file system. Did some reading and found that part1 needs to be vfat, and part2 needs to be fat32, AND you need to possibly be on root and run a special script to even mount that setup. I'm not interested in all that, i just want to be able to turn my device on and have the drive mounted w/o root.
All that said, what is the simplest solution for me to set up this drive to be read on my Samsung and s2 tablet devices w/o root? Is FAT32 the only solution, and if so, can i some how FORCE this partition style on my 4tb drive? I read somewhere that a Linux boot can handle this, though i don't even know where to begin with that being a windows man.
Please help!
anyone have an idea? dont want to spend an extra 70 bucks just because i cant format a drive to fat32 ;/
p64impp said:
Hi All,
I'm trying to get my new 4tb drive to work with my android device. I know that out of the box it requires FAT32 to be read, and no I am not interested in rooting my device to install drivers to support other options. I already have another 4tb working :
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00HXAV0X6/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1
this drive formatted just fine using the guiformat tool to fat32.
however the recent drive does not accept a fat32 format:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0196J3UZ2/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1
gives me a format error and restricts me to a 2tb volume.
I believe the problem for this is that the first drive is a raid0 format with 2 drives built in. The second drive is a single 4tb, slower but more "dependable" (and also $70 cheaper).
I'm sure my success with the first drive is that the fat32 partition is able to create > 2tb because the physical devices are split between 2 2tb drives, though this does not make a ton of sense to me.
Regardless, what are my options here for the second drive? Again, i'm not interested in rooting my device. 2 partitions are ok, but i've experimented w/that and found that the second partition is ignored in the android file system. Did some reading and found that part1 needs to be vfat, and part2 needs to be fat32, AND you need to possibly be on root and run a special script to even mount that setup. I'm not interested in all that, i just want to be able to turn my device on and have the drive mounted w/o root.
All that said, what is the simplest solution for me to set up this drive to be read on my Samsung and s2 tablet devices w/o root? Is FAT32 the only solution, and if so, can i some how FORCE this partition style on my 4tb drive? I read somewhere that a Linux boot can handle this, though i don't even know where to begin with that being a windows man.
Please help!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Android likes ext4 more than fat32. You should try with it, but it is a bit problematic as windows does not support ext4 at all. You need to get a live Ubuntu USB or something and you should be running linux in a matter of minutes (it won't uninstall Linux unless you explicitly tell it to)
From what I understand if your drive has mbr it is limited to 2 TB. Whereas gpt can exceed 2 TB. You will want to convert to gpt. If you search google there are articles that go step by step. I experienced a similar issue with my 4 TB Seagate external usb 3.0 drive. I deleted my partitions using a Windows computer and reinitialized the drive for gpt. Afterwards I formatted it in exfat.

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