Reference number: CH000452

How to create a FAT32 partition.

Question:

How to create a FAT32 partition.

Answer:

To utilize FAT32 you must be running Windows 95 OSR2, Windows 98, Windows 2000, Windows XP or above. Additional information about determining the version of your Windows can be found here.

Note: When creating a FAT32 partition you will need to delete the pre-existing partition and then create the FAT32 partition. If you do not wish to erase the information on the hard disk drive you can convert the partition using a utility such as Partition Magic, or if you are running Microsoft Windows 98 you can use the convert utility located under Start / Programs / Accessories / System Tools.

Once you are ready to create the partition, if a partition already exists on the computer it must be deleted first. Additional information about how to delete a partition can be found on CH000344.

Once no partitions are present on the computer, exit fdisk. Once back at the MS-DOS prompt, type fdisk to enter fdisk once again. The first fdisk screen should prompt about enabling large disk support, clicking YES to this will enable large disk support (FAT32). An example of this page as well as a simulation of fdisk can be found here. Once back in the fdisk main menu, create a primary partition. Additional information about creating a primary partition can be found on CH000345.

Additional information:

• Additional information about FAT32 can be found on our FAT32 page.