Why can I only format in NTFS?

[GoingUp]

I just got a new 200gb HD... my mobo does support it and Im running winxp.

I have 2 primary partitions and an extended parition with 3 paritions on it. My problem is that I want to format the partitions in fat32, but when I go to format the partition, I can only do so in NTFS. Any ideas at all?

 

[GoingUp]

I am trying to make a new logical drive.

 

[helpmeout]

On my last clean re-install of XP Home (the 3d install) I was not given a choice, and it automatically went NTFS. Don't understand this, but have seen other posts on various sites where the same thing happened. I know this doesn't help you, but wanted you to know it appears to be a common occurrance. I'm OK with NTFS so never searched, but possibly if you search some of the many forums you'll find an answer.

 

[videobruce]

There is no choice in setup as 2k has?

Sounds like another reason I will stick with 2k though I just converted over to NTFS myself, but that was by choice, not because M$ dictates it!

 

[PrincessGuard]

XP doesn't let you format FAT32 on partitions larger than 32GB.

 

[13black]

If you format it with a 9x bootdisk you can create a fat 32 partition larger than 32 meg. Then install XP with the use current file system option.

 

[fergiboy]

It is probably due to the limitations of FAT32. If you make a smaller partition you should be able to format the drive using FAT32 under windows XP. Use the following command:
C:\>format <drive letter>: /fs:fat32

 

[helpmeout]

Thanks for posting that, Princess Guard. It explains my last install. I had just added a large HD.

 

[rutchtkim]

i would assume its already been formatted in NTFS, so simply typing format C: will not work. As fergiboy states, you must specify which file system to format in, otherwise it will format in its current file system.