Is there a FAT32 partition limit?

[OS]

I can't seem to format my 45 gig hd to FAT32. Computer says something about "volume size too big"

 

[minendo]

my 60gigers are partioned using fat32 with no problem. see if there are any windows updates available

 

[OS]

hmm, that's odd. I'm running win2k sp2

 

[minendo]

<< hmm, that's odd. I'm running win2k sp2 >>


same here

 

[OS]

MS knowledge base

"You cannot format a volume larger than 32 GB in size using the FAT32 file system in Windows 2000. The Windows 2000 FastFAT driver can mount and support volumes larger than 32 GB that use the FAT32 file system (subject to the other limits), but you cannot create one using the Format tool. This behavior is by design. If you need to create a volume larger than 32 GB, use the NTFS file system instead.


NOTE : When attempting to format a FAT32 partition larger than 32 GB, the format fails near the end of the process with the following error:
Logical Disk Manager: Volume size too big."

huh, MS says that's normal. Naturally now I'm wondering how you managed to format 60 gig partitions in win2k?

 

[minendo]

<< huh, MS says that's normal. Naturally now I'm wondering how you managed to format 60 gig partitions in win2k? >>


ok im a dumb@ss. i used the WD floppy disks and did the partioning through Floppy Boot. sorry about that. i think im too tired to be giving advice or trying to help out😱

 

[AndyHui]

All FAT32 limitations are listed here: FAT32 vs NTFS

 

[Electrode]

Hmm...

I can't think of any free tools for DOS/Windows that can make a >32GB FAT32 partition. I know Partition Magic can do it (it's what I use most of the time) but not only is it not free, it's outrageously expensive.

If you have or can make a Linux boot disk, you can make the partition with cfdisk and then format it with (assuming it's the first or only partition on first or only IDE hard drive) mkdosfs /dev/hda1

I know I didn't help at all, but I tried. 🙂

 

[Bulk Beef]

Ranish Partition Manager might work. Grab it here. I can't try it since I don't have any drives that big.

 

[CraigRT]

The max is like 30 gig... during win2k setup on a 40gb drive, the only option was to format using NTFS
had there been 2 20gb partitions, i could have formatted them in FAT32.

 

[AndyHui]

If you want to format a FAT32 partition greater than 32GB, you have to do it in Win98(SE) or WinME. See my FAQ above.

If you have Windows 2000 or Windows XP only, then I suggest that you download a Win98 boot disk from www.BootDisk.com and use the FDISK.EXE and FORMAT.COM from there.

If you have a hard drive that is larger than 64GB, you will need a new version of FDISK if you are using the Win98(SE) bootdisks. WinME's FDISK can handle drives larger than 64GB.

In any case, to get the new version of FDISK that handles >64GB drives, look for the link at the bottom of my FAQ as linked above.