[Solved] How to Fix "Format FS=NTFS Taking a Long Time" Issue

Updated By

Sherly 

Written By

Tracy King 

Last Updated on April 22, 2024

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Formatting a drive to the NTFS file system is one way to enhance device performance and security. However, if your "format fs=ntfs" is stuck at 0%, how long should you wait? This article will delve into how long the formatting process typically takes and offer practical tips to address the issue of an excessively lengthy "format fs=ntfs." Let's get started!

How long does it take to format a drive to NTFS?

It depends on the size of the drive and how fast your computer is, but it should only take a few seconds to a couple of minutes, generally speaking.

According to Microsoft, the time it takes to format from FAT32 to NTFS can range from a few minutes to several hours or more. So how long does it actually take?

Why does formatting NTFS take so long?

Windows users often find themselves wondering why formatting with fs=ntfs takes so long. This could be due to various factors, ranging from the size of the disk to the extent of data fragmentation. Pinpointing exactly why NTFS formatting is time-consuming can be complex, but addressing the issue with the right tools or methods can help mitigate the problem.

NTFS is a widely used file system in Windows operating systems. It offers several features not available in other file systems. However, one drawback of NTFS is that formatting a drive can take a long time.

There are several reasons why formatting NTFS takes so long:

• Drive size: Larger drives take longer to format because there is more data to process and write.
• Degree of fragmentation: Data needs to be organized before it's written to the drive in an orderly fashion. If the data on the drive is highly fragmented, formatting will take longer.
• Computer speed: Slower computers may struggle more with processing and writing data, resulting in a longer time to format the drive compared to faster computers.

How to stop formatting FS NTFS?

Resolving the “format fs=ntfs” slow error or issue is not necessarily an easy task. You might find the process stuck at 0% for quite some time. However, it's not overly complicated either. There are a few options you can employ that can be quite effective and efficient in providing you with a solution to the slow formatting fs=ntfs performance.

There are several ways to prevent the formatting of FS NTFS. The most common method is to use a tool that lets you alter your computer's settings so it no longer automatically formats any connected drives. For this, you will need a reliable and professional-quality utility. You can even try built-in methods that don't require additional software installation. This can be achieved by modifying the registry key for the disk drive or using a program to make the alteration.

Another way to prevent the FS NTFS format is by deleting the registry key of the disk drive. This can be done by accessing the Registry Editor and removing the key. Lastly, you can use a program to clean the registry, then restart your computer. This process will remove all information stored in the registry regarding the FS NTFS format.

Fix 1: Format external hard drive with Partition Master

tools Partition Master is a comprehensive hard disk partition management tool that can be used to format external hard drives. The software is user-friendly and comes with numerous features, making it an all-in-one solution for managing disk partitions. It offers a wide range of partition management functions, including the ability to create, resize, and format partitions.

Step 1. Launch AOMEI Partition Assistant, right-click the partition of the external hard drive/USB/SD card that you want to format and choose "Format".

Step 2. Assign a new volume label, file system (NTFS/FAT32/EXT2/EXT3/EXT4/exFAT), and cluster size to the selected disk partition, then click on OK.

Step 3: Click Yes in the warning window to continue.

Step 4. Hit the “Run 1 Task” button on the top left to preview the changes and then click “Apply” to start formatting the external hard drive/USB/SD card.

Furthermore, Partition Master includes a powerful partition recovery tool that can be used to recover lost or deleted partitions. All in all, Partition Master is an excellent software option for reformatting Windows 11.

This powerful software helps you extend system partition to solve low disk space problem and maximize PC performance. It can also merge two SSD drives to fix the issue of insufficient disk space, convert dynamic disk to basic disk without data loss, convert MBR to GPT for Windows 10/8/7, etc. Besides, it allows you to format external hard drive to NTFS without losing any data. Additionally, it helps create bootable media to fix "Windows cannot complete the installation" error without data loss.

Fix 2: Check the disk for errors using CHKDSK command

If you encounter the issue "format fs=ntfs taking too long," it might indicate some issues with your hard drive. You can try to resolve this problem by using the CHKDSK command line to check for disk errors.

Here are the steps:

Step 1: Press the "Windows Key + X" and select "Command Prompt (Admin)" from the menu.

Step 2. Type chkdsk C: /f /r /x in the Command Prompt window, and press Enter to continue.

Check disk errors via the chkdsk command line

Step 3: The system will ask you if you want to scan the disk the next time you restart your computer.

Step 4: Type Y and press Enter to continue.

If you're not knowledgeable or confident enough about how to deal with the command line interface, this method might not be for you, as wrong steps carry a significant risk. You'll need to be extra careful when using the Command Prompt method. If you're unsure, we recommend going with third-party tools like Partition Master instead.

Conclusion

If you're wondering how to fix the "format fs=ntfs slow" issue, you can try the methods mentioned above. However, if the problem persists, you might need to consider using a program specifically designed to help resolve such issues. There are numerous programs available that can assist you with this problem, which you can find through an internet search. For optimal results, it's recommended to use the Partition Master tool. Before downloading any program, make sure to read reviews about it to ensure you get a legitimate solution that won't cause more problems.