External HD Multiple Partitions

[Slynk]

Will the PS3 recognize multiple partitions? Should I set the PS3 partition to active?

[Sylpher]

I don't see why not if the partition is formatted to FAT32... Also I'm not sure what exactly you mean by 'setting it to active' but from the sounds of things, if it causes the PS3 to default to that partition when reading your HDD, then that would be the way to go.

Let me know of how it goes, sounds like an interesting experiment

[Slynk]

Got it to work. Yeah setting it to active is essentially setting it as the first partition to boot up. Basically I have a HD partitioned as follows:

1. FAT32 WII_Stuff (For my wii loader settings/cover images)
2. RAW (For backuped wii games)
3. NTFS Backup (For my PC backups when I need to reformat)
4. FAT32 PS3 (For my ps3 Backups)

The first 3 were primary and I was worried the PS3 would only see the first FAT32 partition. But I set the NTFS Partition to active (since I can't for w/e reason set the PS3 one to active) and it found it. Haven't tried it with the first partition as active so it could just be a useless step on my part.

[crazycow]

i tried to create two FAT32 partitions on my 1TB drive and i can only see 1, and i can only set one to active do i just have to keep switching them or is there a way to activate both?

[kleptodathief]

so the ps3 will detect and see all your FAT32 partitions? right now i just have ONE big 1800gb fat32 partition

[AugustSKY]

Will follow this thread as this is exactly something I want to do. Have a 1TB NTFS Ext.HDD.

Would I have to format the whole HDD to FAT32 before making partitions or can I leave it as NTFS and make FAT32 partitions for my PS2/PS3 to read? Also which program do you guys reccomend in terms of partitioning formatting, swissknife good enough?

kelpto, read your other post, was your 2TB initially in NTFS format?

[bitsbubba]

I use Paragon Partition Manager, it get the job done. Oh yeah Wii back up game are not on a raw partition, it's formatted to WBFS just because PC don't see it doesn't mean it's not there.

[AugustSKY]

I use Paragon Partition Manager, it get the job done. Oh yeah Wii back up game are not on a raw partition, it's formatted to WBFS just because PC don't see it doesn't mean it's not there.

So with PPM, I wouldn't have to format my hdd. I could just simply make a partition thats FAT32 and however gb to my liking?

[crazycow]

so the ps3 will detect and see all your FAT32 partitions? right now i just have ONE big 1800gb fat32 partition

do you mean me?
i have 1 TB and split up into two 500GB i first used one to backup my mac and hooked the other 500gb to the ps3 but now. i need more space for games lol and i wanted to backup the ps3 in case i screw up something.
when i format the 2nd partition which was in HFS to fat32 only that one showed up and the one with the Gamez didnt so i read in the earlier post about making it active so i made the Gamez drive active however that did not change anything i could still only see the backup drive.

[kleptodathief]

Will follow this thread as this is exactly something I want to do. Have a 1TB NTFS Ext.HDD.

Would I have to format the whole HDD to FAT32 before making partitions or can I leave it as NTFS and make FAT32 partitions for my PS2/PS3 to read? Also which program do you guys reccomend in terms of partitioning formatting, swissknife good enough?

kelpto, read your other post, was your 2TB initially in NTFS format?

yes i , initially formatted my drive into NTFS first using vista x64 quick format in disk management,control panel

then i used that nifty small prog here, initialized the drive first then quick format, very fast!

Fat32Formatter