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Format any SDHC compatible card to FAT32 with variable cluster size

Seems some people have had problems formatting 32GB or larger SD cards on Windows to FAT32. Sure, it will format to "FAT", but that is exFAT, a proprietary filesystem. But have no fear, download the latest TAQOZ binary in TAQOZ./binaries/_BOOT_P2.BIX or TAQOZBOOT.zip

Load it onto a working FAT32 SD card and boot up with the terminal set to 921600 8N1 and preferably ANSI/VT100 without any CRLF translations.
I use minicom on Linux but TeraTerm on Windows. Both of these are proper ANSI/VT100 terminal emulators.

You can now load up the Flash with a copy of the boot which will have boot priority so you don't need the old BOOTP2.BIX now.
Insert your new card and type:
RWS FORMAT

The RWS read/write/system permission is also a safety just in case.
If you want to specify the cluster size to say 64kB then:
RWS 64 KB CLUSTERS FORMAT

NOTE: ignore webspertise regarding decprecated minimum clusters -
modern O/S will check info sector for FAT32 name - not minimum clusters

It's as simple as that and it will print out a .DISK report too! There's a FLAT32.TXT file detailing this and also including disk reports from Linux, WINXP, and WIN10.

You can check a card with .DISK or these individual commands:

.CID
.OCR
.CSD
.SPEEDS
.SD
.MBR
.FAT
Posted by Peter Jakacki 2024-01-07

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