WinXP: FAT32 supports only 32GB?

[MrCoyote]

I was reading the manual for WinXP and under the section, choosing a file system, it states that FAT32 supports drives up to 32GB. Is this a typo or what? I thought FAT32 supports up to 2TB. I've always had my 60GB drive formated with it and it works fine.

 

[SnowPunk98]

Its a typo

 

[Damascus]

I recently learned that it is referring to the old version of FAT32.

 

[Agent004]

There was an 'old' version of fat32?

 

[AndyHui]

I've written a FAQ on this, yes?

FAT32 vs NTFS

Windows XP cannot format a FAT32 partition greater than 32GB, although it will be able to mount a partition greater than 32GB.

This means that if you want a larger partition, you must partition it with Win98/SE/ME, or go with NTFS.

Damascus: the differences between FAT32 and FAT32X do not apply in this situation; it is a limitation of both Windows 2000 and Windows XP.

 

[AkumaX]

damn Andy.. you up late! 😛 dont you ever rest!?

uh.. On Topic: FAT32... yah. NTFS is good?

EDIT: now that i think about it... if people were ACTUALLY to listen to you and read the FAQ 1st, there would be a LOT less messages on this board... wouldnt you be out of a job? 😀

 

[azPNG]

OK, I am currently running XP on 40 gig with NTFS. If I wanted to go back to FAT32, will XP support it or not?? Someone please clear this confusion up.

linman

 

[Athlon4all]

Andy's got it. 2000 and XP can't format FAT32 above 32GB but as long as you use Partiton Magic or 98/Me to format it, XP will read it fine.

 

[AndyHui]

AkumaX: Well, not really, since there are always new questions to answer.

And while we are on the subject, make sure you check out the latest FAQs. I've added heaps over the last week.

 

[MrCoyote]

Andy, thx for pointing to the FAQ. Yes I should've searched first for it. 🙂 I noticed the links to NTFSDOS Pro and NTFS for Win98 are not working. Also, I want to also dual-boot DOS/WinXP. I have old DOS games I want to play. Will I have any problems using FAT32 for the DOS partition and NTFS for WinXP? I'm going to put all the DOS programs on the same partition as DOS, using about a 4-5GB partition.

 

[Athlon4all]

<< using FAT32 for the DOS partition >>

You most certainly will. Any MS OS before Win 95 B does not support FAT32. FAT16 is limited to a 2Gb partition size btw

 

[MrCoyote]

The dos version I'm going to use is from Win98 or ME cdrom. So from what I have read recently, this should work with FAT32.

 

[BuddyHolly]

I have had a strange problem lately, so I have some observations. Last night I was able to format a drive using the IBM Disk 2000 software under WinXP. I had to have the disk manager software in place or it only saw 32gb. It runs my 45GB drive under WinXP fine. What I cannot figure out is why my Shuttle ak31 r3.1 does not recognize my hard drive but up to 32GB. I thought we were past this limitation. New BIOS was no help. Sorry, off subject, but thought I would add to the conversation. Nice FAQ by the way..