Can't format NTFS on non-system partition

[Tobias Ordosch]

Hey folks,

I got a problem with my VeraCrypt.

I'm using a Win 10 (1909) PC and the current version of VeraCrypt 1.24 Update6, 64bit.

I'd like to encrypt a new non system partition/drive (it's a dynamic vhdx file of 64 TB). If i get to the point Volume format (my settings are as seen in the screenshot) I got the following request (screenshot2).

I've googeld and found a similar problem (https://www.reddit.com/r/VeraCrypt/comments/andmyy/cannot_format_container_as_ntfsexfatrefs/) My problem is, that I dosen't have any applehfs.sys file in "\Windows\System32\drivers" to change or delete.

Is this a common problem and how coul I avoid that?

Anyone could provide some tips?

Thanks in Advance!

[Adrian Kentleton]

I have suddenly started to encounter this problem; I'm also running W10 1909. The workaround I use is as suggested in the error message, to 'format' without a file system ie choose 'None' (tho' I specify my preferred cluster size, 4KB), then to format it (NTFS my choice) from within Windows when mounted (only a 'quick format' is required, using same 'allocation unit size').

No idea why it happens!

[Tobias Ordosch]

Anyone got a solution for this problem? Or is working on a fix?

[paco]

I also encountered this issue on Windows 10 Pro, VeraCrypt 1.25.9 . I was trying to create a 500Gb NTFS non-system partition on an external hard drive. It would start formatting, run for 1-2 hours and then freeze the system requiring me to turn the power off to the PC to recover.

After several attempts I tried formatting with a file system of "None", mounted and did a quick format - worked like a charm.

Should this be lodged as a bug?

I would suggest that this workaround become the actual method of formatting for windows NTFS as it seems to be more reliable.