Can WinXP Pro format a 160 G Partition with Fat32 correctly?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Clark
  • Start date Start date
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Clark

What I think I know:

Most Bios can handle the larger drives, if not an update probably will.

WinXP can handle a 160 G partition using NTFS file system.

WinXP can handle a 160 G partition using Fat 32 only if SP1 is installed.

The question is, can WinXP correctly format a 160 G partition using Fat 32
on a new installation where the formatting is done without SP1?

Thanks,
Clark
 
Limitations of the FAT32 File System in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;314463&Product=winxp

Benchmarking on Windows XP
http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/hwdev/platform/performance/benchmark.mspx

NTFS Preinstallation and Windows XP
http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/hwdev/tech/storage/ntfs-preinstall.mspx

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows XP - Shell/User

Be Smart! Protect your PC!
http://www.microsoft.com/security/protect/

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------


| What I think I know:
|
| Most Bios can handle the larger drives, if not an update probably will.
|
| WinXP can handle a 160 G partition using NTFS file system.
|
| WinXP can handle a 160 G partition using Fat 32 only if SP1 is installed.
|
| The question is, can WinXP correctly format a 160 G partition using Fat 32
| on a new installation where the formatting is done without SP1?
|
| Thanks,
| Clark
 
In
Clark said:
What I think I know:

Most Bios can handle the larger drives, if not an update probably
will.

WinXP can handle a 160 G partition using NTFS file system.

WinXP can handle a 160 G partition using Fat 32 only if SP1 is
installed.

The question is, can WinXP correctly format a 160 G partition using
Fat 32 on a new installation where the formatting is done
Click to expand...
without SP1?


It's not a matter of "correctly" and it's also not a matter of
SP1. Windows XP, SP1 or not, will not create a FAT32 partition
larger than 32GB under any circumstances.

However, it will happily use a larger FAT32 partition if it is
first created externally (for example with fdisk from Windows 98
or Me).
 
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