Format a drive as NTFS, but Windows shows exFAT as the only option

exfatntfswindows-server-2003

The operating system is Windows Server 2003 R2 x64 with all updates applied.

I have an external hard disk enclosure (one of these) with a 1 TB drive (garden-variety Seagate). When I right-click in Explorer and choose “Format…” the only option is exFAT. I really want NTFS.

  • If I do try to format as exFAT, I get a generic error message: “Windows was unable to complete the format.”
  • Other external drives give me a choice of NTFS or exFAT.
  • Problem occurs over both USB or Firewire.

Workaround: I was able to use diskmgmt.msc to format as NTFS.

But I am wondering:

  • Why wouldn’t Explorer offer NTFS as an option? Is this a red flag for problems?
  • If NTFS is not a formatting option in Explorer, should I do anything with the disk? Re-partition?

Best Answer

To me it sounds like a Windows bug. There are a few things that you can do one place but not others, and in my experience a few more of those crept in with 2008 R2. You may have found another one. The fact that an NTFS partition could be put on there at all, especially in diskmgmt, suggests that there is no problem with it. That MMC is as close to the One True Disk GUI for Windows as Windows gets, so that option not being available in the Exlorer Format menu is not a red flag for me.