Re: Is FAT32 format gone?
- From: "HEMI-Powered" <none@xxxxxxx>
- Date: Thu, 16 Aug 2007 12:32:48 -0000
Anna added these comments in the current discussion du jour ...
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/windows2000serv/rThank you immensely, Anna, I've saved your excellent reply for
eskit/core/fncc_fil_tvjq.mspx?mfr=true>> -->> Tim Slattery>>
MS MVP(DTS)>> Slattery_T@xxxxxxx>>
http://members.cox.net/slatteryt"Anna"; <myname@xxxxxxxxx>
wrote in
messagenews:%23s0v%23N03HHA.5424@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> As
Tim has pointed out, for all practical purposes there really
is nolimit> to partition size re FAT32-formatted partitions.
If, for one reason or> another, a user desires to use the
FAT32 file system in a WinXPenvironment,> he or she can do
so. As we all know there is that 32 GB limitationinvolving>
*creating* FAT32 partitions from within XP, i.e., through the
Disk> Management utility, however these > 32 GB FAT32
partitions can be created> through other means, primarily
using the FDISK/FORMAT commands from a> DOS boot disk, e.g.,
a Win9x/Me "Startup Disk". And then the XP OS will> happily
use those > 32 GB FAT32 partitions.>> There was (and is) a
problem with large-capacity disks, i.e., > 127 GB> binary,
when used with a Win9x/Me OS. For one thing problems arise
inthose> operating systems with using the defragmentation &
disk scanningutilities.> We've also run into serious disk
corruption errors in general which we> attributed to those
large-capacity FAT32-formatted drives. Our general>
recommendation to users of those operating systems is to
install no HDD >> 120 GB.>> Like virtually all other
commentators, for a variety of reasons, we> ordinarily
recommend using the NTFS file system in an XP environment.>
However, as one or more posters has commented, we too have
run into> situations - primarily involving custom-designed
programs specialized for> use in a business - where the
program simply refused to work or worked> erratically within
an NTFS file system but had no problem when installedin> a
FAT32 file system in an XP environment. So in those cases the
user had> little or no choice to use the FAT32 file system.>
Anna"HEMI-Powered" <none@xxxxxxx> wrote in
messagenews:Xns998D6B1668A8ReplyScoreID@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> I
still don't understand, Anna, why I can't get Partition
Magic> to format larger than in the 150 gig range. Is it
wounded or> defective? As you know, Symantec bought it but
never ever updated> it. And, other competitive products seem
to have similar> problems, although I cannot personally vouch
for any limits on> partition size.>> Just for the record, how
would I format a FAT32 partition on,> say, a 500 gig external
to over 150? I know and understand FDISK> but am very
skittish about it because a minor mistep can wipe out> my
primary. Yes, I am cautious, some would say overly cautious,>
but I've found in my 60 year life that it pays to not lead
with> my chin.>> Thanks for your comments.(SNIP)> Incidently,
do you have an opinion on my observation that FAT32> is much
faster on read/writes than NTFS as well as far faster to>
just bring up a folder tree? For awhile, NTFS on my extended>
partitions (I have two) and my external were SO slow, many>
minutes to just get a tree, that I reformatted them as FAT32.
For> other reasons, primarily the need to store very large
Acronis> True Image image files, I was forced to go back to
NTFS. It was> as if a miracle had occurred. I've had little
trouble since,> although my Maxtor 300 gig with 2 NTFS
partitions (I wanted 2 to> separate the data on the drive
logically) normally works fine,> there ARE occasions when
it'll go away for a minute or two trying> to access one of
the partitions in Explorer.>> Again, thanks for your
observations. Am I correc that you are the> same "Anna" that
posted that excellent True Image tutorial some> time back?
Very nicely written and quite helpful.> --> HP, aka
JerryJerry:I honestly don't know why you're having trouble
using the Partition Magicprogram (I assume you're using the
8.01 version) to create one or more FAT32partitions. It's
usually a very "cut & dried" procedure with PM. Although
Ihave to admit it's been a very long time since we used that
program tocreate large FAT32 partitions. In the event we *do*
find it necessary, weinvariably use the FDISK & FORMAT
commands from a DOS boot floppy disk or CDto create FAT32
partitions.As to formatting a FAT32 partition on your
external 500 GB HDD...I'm assuming it's a USB external HDD,
right? If so, you really won't be ableto use the FDISK/FORMAT
commands in that situation because of the USBinterface. It
will be necessary to install the disk as an *internal* HDD
inyour system and then boot to the DOS boot disk to invoke
the FDISK/FORMATcommands. Then, of course, reinstall the disk
in its USB enclosure.Now, there *is* ostensibly a program
that purports to format FAT32partitions > 32 GB from *within*
WinXP. It's a Linux-based program - themkdosfs.exe program
that you can download in ZIP format
fromhttp://www.mager.org/mkdosfs/Basically the process is to
create the partition on your USB external HDDusing the Disk
Management utility in XP and format the > 32 GB partition
inNTFS. Then use the mkdosfs.exe program which will be
installed in your XPsystem to format that partition FAT32.
We've used this program a number oftimes and for the most
part it "worked". But I have to tell you that in acouple of
cases we later ran into some data corruption issues which,
whilewe couldn't *prove* they were caused by the mkdosfs
FAT32-formattingprocess, we were (and continue to be) uneasy
about using the program again.So you may first want to
experiment with this program by testing it withsome
non-critical data. But I would be cautious about using it
without anyreservations until you're confident of its
effectiveness.In any event, if you are able to uninstall the
500 GB HDD from its USBenclosure and then install it as an
internal HDD in your XP system, I wouldgo ahead and use the
FDISK/FORMAT commands as indicated above. As youprobably know
it's a rather straightforward process and shouldn't cause
youany difficulty. Just take your time and understand those
commands' optionsas you go through the process.As to your
questions re the differences between the FAT32 & NTFS
filesystems as to performance (speed of read/writes). I
really can't concludethe FAT32 file system is faster in this
regard. As I previously stated,unless the user has some
special need to use the FAT32 file system becauseof some
program/system compatibility issues, we strongly recommend
employingthe NTFS file system in an XP environment.And yes,
I'm the very same "Anna" and thank you for your nice comment.
I'mglad to hear you found those Acronis True Image
step-by-step instructionshelpful. I might mention in passing
that we've actually been using anotherdisk cloning program
since earlier this year and we've been quite impressedwith
it. To the point where it's our disk-cloning program of
choice and weprefer it over the ATI program. It's the Casper
4.0 program (seehttp://www.fssdev.com)Perhaps you've come
across a couple of my postings in which I extolled thevirtues
of this program and provided some details as to using it.
It'scertainly worth looking into. In this connection you
might want to take alook at my post to this newsgroup of
August 7 - the subject being "Re: needa good backup method or
program".(BTW, I'm leaving for a two-month overseas
assignment tomorrow morning andwill not have access to this &
other newsgroups during that time. I mentionthis only because
I probably won't have an opportunity to respond to anyfurther
posts over the next few months.)Anna
future reference.
--
HP, aka Jerry
.
- References:
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- Re: Is FAT32 format gone?
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- Re: Is FAT32 format gone?
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