Re:File System in Windows XP

While trying to format my hard disc, I found that, I could not format my
hard disc in FAT32 file system.

Have microsoft stopped FAT32 file system with SP2 or I am doing something
wrong?

In case MS has stopped FAT32 file system is there any way I can change NTFS
to FAT 32 type?

Thanks.

"J.C" <rup@invalid.com> wrote in message
news:Xns9A5FC11D88033JagChan@207.46.248.16...
> While trying to format my hard disc, I found that, I could not format my
> hard disc in FAT32 file system.

And why would you want to in the first place? NTFS is a far better file
system than FAT for many reasons.
If your HDD is larger than 32GB then you can't anyway. FAT32 only recognises
disks up to 32 GB....

FAT32 has a size limit. I think it's 2 gigs. So you may need to partition
the drive to several 2 gig partitions.

Why not NTFS?


--
Don
Vancouver, USA


"J.C" <rup@invalid.com> wrote in message
news:Xns9A5FC11D88033JagChan@207.46.248.16...
> While trying to format my hard disc, I found that, I could not format my
> hard disc in FAT32 file system.
>
> Have microsoft stopped FAT32 file system with SP2 or I am doing something
> wrong?
>
> In case MS has stopped FAT32 file system is there any way I can change
> NTFS
> to FAT 32 type?
>
> Thanks.

"Don Schmidt" <Don Engineer@PNB.Retired_1987> wrote in message
news:13tfnb9rmbcfm72@corp.supernews.com...
> FAT32 has a size limit. I think it's 2 gigs.

Bit small that! It's THIRTY 2......

You can only format FAT32 disks or partitions up to 32GB with the
built-in XP format utility. If you require FAT32 on disks or partitions
of a greater size than 32GB then you will have to use other formating
utilities (like W98 or third party utilities). While Windows XP cannot
format disks or partitions larger than 32GB to FAT32 it can mount and
use FAT32 volumes of any supported FAT32 file system size created by
other utilities. For most parts NTFS is a better choice for the XP file
format and you should usually only use the FAT32 file system if you have
specific compelling needs for it.

John

J.C wrote:

> While trying to format my hard disc, I found that, I could not format my
> hard disc in FAT32 file system.
>
> Have microsoft stopped FAT32 file system with SP2 or I am doing something
> wrong?
>
> In case MS has stopped FAT32 file system is there any way I can change NTFS
> to FAT 32 type?
>
> Thanks.

Gordon wrote:

> "Don Schmidt" <Don Engineer@PNB.Retired_1987> wrote in message
> news:13tfnb9rmbcfm72@corp.supernews.com...
>
>>FAT32 has a size limit. I think it's 2 gigs.
>
>
> Bit small that! It's THIRTY 2......

No, it's 2 terabytes.

John

On Wed, 12 Mar 2008 06:29:03 -0700, "J.C" <rup@invalid.com> wrote:

> While trying to format my hard disc, I found that, I could not format my
> hard disc in FAT32 file system.


Probably because you were trying to create a FAT32 partition larger
than 32GB.


> Have microsoft stopped FAT32 file system with SP2


No. It has nothing to do with SP2. That limit was always there.
Windows XP can not create a FAT32 volume larger than 32GB, but will
happily use one if created externally.


> or I am doing something
> wrong?
>
> In case MS has stopped FAT32 file system is there any way I can change NTFS
> to FAT 32 type?


Why would you want to do this? Unless you are dual-booting and need
compatibility with a non-NTFS-aware operating system, it's far better
to have NTFS.

--
Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience
Please Reply to the Newsgroup

"John John" <audetweld@nbnet.nb.ca> wrote in message
news:eOL1M2EhIHA.1132@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
> Gordon wrote:
>
>> "Don Schmidt" <Don Engineer@PNB.Retired_1987> wrote in message
>> news:13tfnb9rmbcfm72@corp.supernews.com...
>>
>>>FAT32 has a size limit. I think it's 2 gigs.
>>
>> Bit small that! It's THIRTY 2......
>
> No, it's 2 terabytes.


Not for Windows XP. Try formatting a drive over 32 GB with the Windows XP
format tool.

--
Frank Saunders MS-MVP IE,OE/WM
www.fjsmjs.com
Do not reply with email

Frank Saunders MS-MVP IE,OE/WM wrote:

> "John John" <audetweld@nbnet.nb.ca> wrote in message
> news:eOL1M2EhIHA.1132@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
>
>> Gordon wrote:
>>
>>> "Don Schmidt" <Don Engineer@PNB.Retired_1987> wrote in message
>>> news:13tfnb9rmbcfm72@corp.supernews.com...
>>>
>>>> FAT32 has a size limit. I think it's 2 gigs.
>>>
>>>
>>> Bit small that! It's THIRTY 2......
>>
>>
>> No, it's 2 terabytes.
>
>
>
> Not for Windows XP. Try formatting a drive over 32 GB with the Windows
> XP format tool.

Reread the posts, Frank. FAT32 does not have a size limit of 2GB, nor
does it have a size limit of 32GB. Windows XP cannot format FAT32
volumes larger than 32GB but it can mount much larger volumes than that.
The FAT32 size limit is not 32GB, that is the size limit for the
Windows 2000/XP formating utility.

John

J.C wrote:
> While trying to format my hard disc, I found that, I could not format my
> hard disc in FAT32 file system.
>
> Have microsoft stopped FAT32 file system with SP2 or I am doing something
> wrong?
>
> In case MS has stopped FAT32 file system is there any way I can change NTFS
> to FAT 32 type?
>
> Thanks.


How large is the hard drive/partition in question? By design, WinXP
cannot create and format a new FAT32 partition greater than 32 Gb. This
is because NTFS is the superior file system, and not nearly as wasteful
of drive space. (If you make a FAT32 partition larger than 8 Gb, you're
"throwing away" significant amounts of storage capacity.

If you're choosing FAT32 because the drive will be sometimes
connected to a Win98 machine, why not simply use that Win98 computer to
format the drive?


--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/555375

They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. ~Benjamin Franklin

Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. ~Bertrand Russell

The philosopher has never killed any priests, whereas the priest has
killed a great many philosophers.
~ Denis Diderot