To create a exFat partition which is compatible with all operating systems, I recommend using a drive with under 2TB.
This will allow you to use an MBR partition table instead of GPT, I've had issues mounting GPT exFat drives in Windows.
This could be partially because I don't know how to Windows anything.
fdisk -l
Mine for example is /dev/sdl, because I have many disks.
Disk /dev/sdl: 114.6 GiB, 123010547712 bytes, 240254976 sectors
Units: sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
I/O size (minimum/optimal): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
Disklabel type: dos
Disk identifier: 0xb2fdd74a
Device Boot Start End Sectors Size Id Type
/dev/sdl1 2048 2402549 2400502 1.1G 83 Linux
/dev/sdl2 2404352 2404999 648 324K 83 Linux
/dev/sdl3 2406400 240254975 237848576 113.4G 83 Linux
Note the Device list and Disklabel type which is the partition table.
fdisk /dev/sdl
Follow through with the prompts like:
Welcome to fdisk (util-linux 2.31.1).
Changes will remain in memory only, until you decide to write them.
Be careful before using the write command.
Command (m for help): d
Partition number (1,2, default 2): 3
Partition 3 has been deleted.
Partition number (1,2, default 2): 2
Partition 2 has been deleted.
Command (m for help): d
Selected partition 1
Partition 1 has been deleted.
Command (m for help): w
The partition table has been altered.
Syncing disks.
gdisk /dev/sdl
This will show something like this, sometimes it may throw an error, the goal is to get to the Command (? for help): prompt.
GPT fdisk (gdisk) version 1.0.3
Partition table scan:
MBR: MBR only
BSD: not present
APM: not present
GPT: present
Found valid MBR and GPT. Which do you want to use?
1 - MBR
2 - GPT
3 - Create blank GPT
Your answer: 3
Command (? for help): x
Expert command (? for help): z
About to wipe out GPT on /dev/sdo. Proceed? (Y/N): Y
GPT data structures destroyed! You may now partition the disk using fdisk or
other utilities.
Blank out MBR? (Y/N): Y
fdisk -l /dev/sdl
Should now show no Devices or Disklabel.
Disk /dev/sdl: 114.6 GiB, 123010547712 bytes, 240254976 sectors
Units: sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
I/O size (minimum/optimal): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
fdisk /dev/sdl
Welcome to fdisk (util-linux 2.31.1).
Changes will remain in memory only, until you decide to write them.
Be careful before using the write command.
Device does not contain a recognized partition table.
Created a new DOS disklabel with disk identifier 0x2a2a6e65.
Command (m for help): o
Created a new DOS disklabel with disk identifier 0xb2fdd74a.
Command (m for help): n
Partition type
p primary (0 primary, 0 extended, 4 free)
e extended (container for logical partitions)
Select (default p): p
Partition number (1-4, default 1): 1
First sector (2048-240254975, default 2048): 2048
Last sector, +sectors or +size{K,M,G,T,P} (2048-240254975, default 240254975): 240254975 (or just hit enter)
Created a new partition 1 of type 'Linux' and of size 114.6 GiB.
Command (m for help): t
Selected partition 1
Hex code (type L to list all codes): 7 (This should be HPFS/NTFS/exFAT, verify with L)
Command (m for help): w
The partition table has been altered.
Calling ioctl() to re-read partition table.
Syncing disks.
fdisk -l /dev/sdl
Should show one Device and dos Disklabel.
Disk /dev/sdl: 114.6 GiB, 123010547712 bytes, 240254976 sectors
Units: sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
I/O size (minimum/optimal): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
Disklabel type: dos
Disk identifier: 0xba873b20
Device Boot Start End Sectors Size Id Type
/dev/sdl1 2048 240254975 240252928 114.6G 7 HPFS/NTFS/exFAT
sudo mkfs.exfat -n meh /dev/sdl1
Where -n is your disk label, I didn't care so I used meh.
mkexfatfs 1.2.8
Creating... done.
Flushing... done.
File system created successfully.
mkdir /mnt/temp
mount /dev/sdl1 /mnt/temp
Good to go!
What does the entry look like in fstab, do you put the label, or the partition?