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I'm trying to create an ext4 file system on an external drive. The partition manager I usually use, EASEUS Partition Master, doesn't support ext4. What are some free alternatives?

Edit: It turns out MiniTools Partition Wizard supports ext4.

John2496
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3 Answers3

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MiniTool partition wizard is a free (for home use) partition manager that can format a partition as EXT2/3/4 from windows - http://www.partitionwizard.com

Grant
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Hmm, I haven't tried this, but Cygwin has mke2fs in the e2fsprogs package. Take a look at:

How to format Ext2 in Windows XP? and the caveat about special device names the Answer mentions: http://www.cygwin.com/cygwin-ug-net/using-specialnames.html

Cygwin is over at: http://www.cygwin.com/

Community
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cjc
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    wow, does this REALLY have to be more complicated than a simple utility allowing you to choose your drive and format it with a few clicks of effort? damn I'm lazy... – David Dec 03 '13 at 21:28
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    @David: Welcome to the world of power-user tasks on Windows :) – Mark K Cowan Aug 12 '14 at 10:05
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    @David: Welcome to the world of using Unix things on Windows, or Windows things on Unix, or any other cross-ecosystem things :) – RomanSt Nov 02 '14 at 02:18
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    @David have a look at https://chocolatey.org/, then it's just `cinst cygwin` away before you can utilize all it's filesystem types – Filip Dupanović Nov 27 '14 at 17:15
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I believe HP USB Disk storage format tools might help you out (http://files.extremeoverclocking.com/file.php?f=197). Also checkout Hiren (http://www.hiren.info/), I know they have a couple of formatting tools.

FrustratedWithFormsDesigner
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George
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