Format the partition as exFAT

If your goal is to wipe this drive clean and format it as exFAT (so you can easily plug your Samsung T5 into Windows, Mac, and Linux without any lost+found or read-only issues), you can do so.

⚠️ WARNING: This will permanently erase ALL data currently on the SSD T5. ⚠️

If you have backed up your data and are sure you want to wipe it and format it as exFAT:

1. Unmount it (if it is currently mounted):

   sudo umount /dev/sdh1

2. Install exFAT tools (if you haven’t already):

   sudo apt install exfatprogs

3. Format the partition as exFAT (and name it “Smarty_T5”):

   sudo mkfs.exfat -n "Smarty_T5" /dev/sdh1

After running that last command, the drive will be completely empty, freshly formatted, and natively readable/writable by Windows, Mac, and Linux!

    jhuang@WS-2290C:/mnt$ sudo mkfs.exfat -n "Smarty_T5" /dev/sdh1
    exfatprogs version : 1.1.3
    Creating exFAT filesystem(/dev/sdh1, cluster size=131072)

    Writing volume boot record: done
    Writing backup volume boot record: done
    Fat table creation: done
    Allocation bitmap creation: done
    Upcase table creation: done
    Writing root directory entry: done
    Synchronizing...

    exFAT format complete!

Mount and umount the formated exFAT

Step 1: Install the exFAT FUSE driver

Open your terminal and run:

sudo apt update
sudo apt install exfat-fuse

(Note: If it says the package cannot be found, run sudo add-apt-repository universe first to enable the community repositories, then try the apt install command again).

Step 2: Reconnect the drive

Once the installation is complete, unplug the SSD and plug it back in. Your file manager should now automatically recognize and mount “Smarty_T5” without any errors.

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Alternative: Manual Mount (GUI is always failing, using console commands for mounting drive instead!!!!)

If the graphical file manager is still being stubborn (Unable to access “Smarty_T5” Error mounting /dev/sdh1 at /media/jhuang/Smarty_T5: unknown filesystem type ‘exfat’), you can bypass it and mount the drive manually via the terminal. This always works:

1. Create a mount point (a folder to act as the doorway to the drive):

   sudo mkdir -p /mnt/Smarty_T5

2. Mount the drive:

   sudo mount -t exfat-fuse /dev/sdh1 /mnt/Smarty_T5
   #or sudo mount.exfat-fuse /dev/sdh1 /mnt/Smarty_T5
   sudo umount /dev/sdh1

You can now access all your files by navigating to /mnt/Smarty_T5 in your file manager or terminal. (When you are done and want to safely unplug it, just run sudo umount /mnt/Smarty_T5 before pulling the cable out).

⚠️ What if it gives a “Dirty Bit” error?

If the commands above succeed in finding the filesystem, but then immediately fail with an error saying “Volume was not properly unmounted”, “dirty bit”, or “needs recovery”, Linux is blocking the mount to protect your data (because the drive wasn’t safely ejected from Windows/Mac).

To fix the dirty bit and mount it:

sudo fsck.exfat -a /dev/sdh1

Once the repair finishes, run your mount command again:

sudo mount.exfat-fuse /dev/sdh1 /mnt/Smarty_T5

For the vast majority of external drives (like your Samsung T5 SSD), exFAT is the better choice.

However, the “best” format ultimately depends on what devices you plan to plug the drive into. Here is the breakdown of why you would choose one over the other:

1. exFAT (The Cross-Platform Champion) 🏆

exFAT was designed specifically for flash drives and external SSDs/HDDs.

• Pros:
  • Universal Compatibility: It works natively (Read & Write) on Windows, macOS, Linux, ChromeOS, and most modern gaming consoles (PS4/PS5, Xbox) and Smart TVs.
  • No File Size Limits: Unlike the older FAT32 format (which caps files at 4GB), exFAT can handle massive files (like 4K movies or large backup archives) without breaking a sweat.
  • Lightweight: It doesn’t have the overhead of complex permissions or journaling, which makes it slightly faster and reduces unnecessary write-cycles on SSDs.
• Cons:
  • No Journaling: This is the biggest drawback. “Journaling” keeps a log of file changes before they happen, protecting against data corruption if the drive loses power. Because exFAT lacks this, you must always use “Safely Remove” or “Eject” before unplugging it, or you risk corrupting your files.
  • No File Permissions: You cannot set security permissions on folders (e.g., making a folder “Read-Only” for certain users), but this rarely matters for portable external drives.

2. NTFS (The Windows Workhorse) 🪟

NTFS is the default file system for modern Windows internal drives.

• Pros:
  • Journaling: It is highly reliable and resilient against data corruption from sudden unplugs or power outages.
  • Advanced Features: Supports file permissions, encryption, and file compression.
• Cons:
  • The Mac Problem: macOS can read NTFS drives, but it cannot write to them natively. If you plug an NTFS drive into a Mac, you can copy files off it, but you cannot put files onto it without buying third-party software.
  • Limited Device Support: Many Smart TVs, media players, and older consoles will not recognize NTFS.
  • Linux: Modern Linux can read and write to NTFS perfectly fine, but it is still a Microsoft proprietary format, making exFAT the preferred “neutral” standard for Linux users sharing drives.

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Summary Comparison

Feature	exFAT	NTFS
Windows	Read & Write	Read & Write
macOS	Read & Write	Read Only (Natively)
Linux	Read & Write	Read & Write
Consoles / Smart TVs	Excellent Support	Hit or Miss
Journaling (Data Safety)	No (Must Eject Safely)	Yes (Safer from sudden unplugs)
Max File Size	Virtually Unlimited	Virtually Unlimited

The Final Verdict

• Format as exFAT if: You want to plug this drive into a Windows PC, a Mac, a Linux machine, or a TV/Console without ever worrying about compatibility. (Highly recommended for your Samsung T5 SSD).
• Format as NTFS if: You use strictly Windows computers, you are using the drive as a dedicated Windows Backup drive, or you need advanced file security and permissions.

⚠️ The Golden Rule of exFAT: If you choose exFAT, make it a habit to always click “Safely Remove Hardware” on Windows or “Eject” on Mac/Linux before physically pulling the USB cable out. This forces the OS to finish writing any cached data and prevents the “Dirty Bit” error we discussed earlier!