what is max size of fat32 partition?

[chrisjor]

Can I make an 80 gb hard drive into one fat32 primary partition or will i have to divide it?

Thanks!

 

[RGN]

do it.

 

[BlueApple]

32 GB?

 

[JC]

I think it's like 132GB max.

 

[chrisjor]

huh, I mounted the drive in an external enclosure (USB 2.0) and decided I wanted to use it at work, home etc. I need for it to be fat32 so all systems can read it. For some reason Win2k stop the format and reported that the "partition is to big".......rebooted and restarted format...we will see.

 

[Logix]

Approximately 128GB

 

[Vic]

From ^^ above link:

"You cannot format a volume larger than 32 GB in size using the FAT32 file system in Win2K/XP. The Win2K/XP 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 behaviour is by design. Microsoft recommends using NTFS for partitions greater than 32GB.

If you need to format a FAT32 partition greater than 32GB, you will need to do it under Windows 98/SE/ME."

 

[dakata24]

there's always partition magic..

 

[chrisjor]

Thanks PSYWVic,

I love the person who delivers the bad news!!!!! What ticks me off is Win2k waits until the format is ~90+% done (20 minutes) to decide to announce that fact!!!! I will have to do this in basement on my WinMe system, plus load at USB 1.1 speed!!

 

[chrisjor]

I have partition magic 6.0, good thinking!!! thx dood!!