Reference number: CH000713

How do I determine what type of file system is running on my hard disk drive?

Question:

How do I determine what file system is running on my hard drive?

Answer:

Windows 2000 and Windows XP users

Microsoft Windows 2000 and Windows XP can also determine the type of file system that is running on the computer by following the below steps.

1. Open My Computer
2. In my computer, right-click the drive you wish to see the file system for.
3. Click Properties
4. The Properties window should list the type of file system in the General tab.

Microsoft Windows 2000 and Windows XP users who administrative privileges can also see what file system is running on their computer by following the below steps.

1. Open Control Panel
2. Open Administrative Tools (XP Professional users need to open Performance and Maintenance and then Administrative Tools).
3. Open the Computer Management.
4. In Computer Management under Storage click Disk Management, which will display all drives and each of their file systems and other important information about the drives.

Windows 3.x, Windows 95, Windows 98, and Windows ME users

Users who are using Microsoft Windows 3.x, Windows 95, Windows 98, or Windows ME can determine the type of file system (FAT version) on their computer by running the fdisk command and display the partition information. See our fdisk command page for additional information and help with this command.

Users using Microsoft Windows 98 or Windows ME

Users running Microsoft Windows 98 or Windows ME can also determine the type of file system that is running on the computer by following the below steps.

1. Open My Computer
2. In my computer, right-click the drive you wish to see the file system for.
3. Click Properties
4. The Properties window should list the type of file system in the General tab.

Additional information:

• See our file system dictionary definition for additional information about file systems as well as related links and terms.