Query abt FAT32 ...

vinayrulz · n00b Joined: 26 Sep 2006 Posts: 8

I have found out that Windoze XP cant create FAT32 partitions greater than 32gb. But can they at least see them ?

I mean, if i create one using gentoo, will it be usable in windoze in case i decide to dual boot ... ??

ciao

NeddySeagoon · Posted: Thu Sep 28, 2006 2:34 pm Post subject:

vinayrulz,

FAT32 works to 137Gb but as the filesystems get bigger, so do the File Allocation Tables they are named after.
Ths means mainipulating them when space is allocated and freed becomes more time memory and time consuming.

To avoid the above issue, Windows limits FAT32 to 32Gb, its an artifical limit imposed to avoid lots of complaints from windows users about system speeds and to encorage the use of NTFS.

When you make a larger FAT32 filesystem under linux, windows will use it all. The slowdown/memory issues the 32GB limit was imposed to fix have been addressed by faster CPUs with more memory. You are not likely to notice the issue on modern hardware.
_________________
Regards,

NeddySeagoon

Computer users fall into two groups:-
those that do backups
those that have never had a hard drive fail.

Corona688 · Veteran Joined: 10 Jan 2004 Posts: 1204

In short: Yes. I've personally created 80GB FAT32 partitions and used them in XP.
_________________
Petition for Better 64-bit ATI Drivers - Sign Here
http://www.petitiononline.com/atipet/petition.html