FAT32 File System

Use FAT32 File System

When saving files, the computer usesFile SystemControls how files or folders are saved on the hard disk. Older versions of MS-DOS and Windows use the unique fat16 file system. By default, fat16 is used for Windows 98, but FAT32 is used. The FAT32 file system is an enhanced file system that can improve disk performance and increase available disk space.

I. Understanding how information is stored

When saving files or setup programs, the computer stores the information to a small area called a cluster on the hard disk. The smaller the cluster, the higher the efficiency of hard disk storage information. The cluster size depends on the partition size, and the partition size depends on the file system in use. By default, most computers use a partition.

The following table describes the larger partition sizes and smaller cluster sizes that can be used in the FAT32 file system. Fat16 does not support partitions larger than 2 GB, and FAT32 does not support partitions smaller than 512 MB.

Partition size	Fat16 cluster size	FAT32 cluster size
32 MB	2 kb	-
128 MB	2 kb	-
256 MB	4 kb	-
512 MB	8 KB	4 kb
1 GB	16 KB	4 kb
2 GB	32 KB	4 kb
3 GB-7 GB	-	4 kb
8 GB-16 GB	-	8 KB
16 GB-32 GB	-	16 KB
Larger than 32 GB	-	32 KB

If the hard disk is less than 2 GB and the computer is using the fat16 file system, the performance will not be significantly improved after the conversion to FAT32. However, if the hard disk is between 2 GB and 2 TB, You need to convert it to FAT32 to improve efficiency.

Compared with fat16, FAT32 has the following advantages:

• The program can be opened faster (up by 50% ).
• The cluster used is smaller, so it can increase the disk space utilization by 15%.
• You can format A 2 TB hard disk as a single drive, eliminating the trouble of Hard Disk partitioning.
• You can relocate the root directory and use fat to back up copies to improve computer reliability.

Ii. Convert to FAT32

The FAT32 conversion tool can be used to easily convert the hard disk to the FAT32 file system. Read the following article carefully before converting the file system:

• If you do not have a Windows 98 boot disk, follow the steps described in the "use boot disk" section before converting to FAT32 to create a boot disk.
• Drivers that want to run operating systems that do not support FAT32 on them should not be converted to FAT32. Also, if you run Windows 98 and another operating system in a dual-boot environment, converting the primary disk to FAT32 may paralyze another operating system. This is true even if another operating system is installed on another drive.
• If the anti-virus software is running, it detects requests to update the partition table and Boot Record, and prompts to allow updates. If so, allow updates to the anti-virus software.
• After being converted to FAT32, you cannot compress the stored information or re-convert it to fat16 unless you use a third-party partition management utility designed for this purpose.
• If you have a removable drive that uses another operating system, do not convert it to FAT32.
• The sleep feature cannot work on the FAT32 drive. The so-called "Sleep" feature allows some computers to be suspended and shut down all power supplies.
• If you convert the hard drive to FAT32, Windows 98 cannot be detached.
• Although most programs are not affected by the transition from fat16 to FAT32, some old disk utilities dependent on fat16 cannot work on the FAT32 drive. Contact the disk utility vendor for the FAT32 compatible version.

The FAT32 drive can be shared by Internet MS-dos, Windows 3.1, Windows 95, Windows NT Workstation Version 4.0, and Windows NT Server Version 4.0. In addition, MS-DOS version 7.1 (which is available with Windows 98) also supports FAT32.

Convert to FAT32 File System

1. Click Start, point to programs, point to attachments, point to system tools, and then click drive converter (FAT32)".
2. After reading the screen information, click "Next ".
3. In drive, click the drive you want to convert.

   A message is displayed, reminding you that the old versions of MS-dos, windows, and Windows NT cannot access the FAT32 drive.

4. Click OK to continue, or click Cancel to exit the drive conversion wizard.

   The drive conversion wizard searches for anti-virus software and disk utilities that are not compatible with FAT32. If the driver conversion wizard discovers incompatible programs, you can click "details" to view the description of these programs. If no incompatible program is found, click "Next ".

5. To back up the file before converting to FAT32, click Create backup ". If the Windows 98 backup program is not installed, the system prompts you to install it.
6. After you are ready to continue, click "Next" and click "Next" again ".

   Restart the computer and start the conversion. It takes more than an hour to complete fragment and conversion on a large or very full drive.

   After the conversion is complete, a message indicating that the conversion is successful or failed appears.

   Note:Your anti-virus software may have detected that the partition table and Boot Record have been changed and then submitted for "Repair ". Don't fix it! If repaired, the Boot Record and partition table of the machine will be changed again, and your drive and all data will be inaccessible.

7. If the conversion is successful, click "finish ". The conversion ends.

   If the conversion fails, a message explaining the cause of the conversion fails.

　 Return Win98