The 32-bit version of the FAT file system. In wide use on PCs that run Windows 95/98, FAT32 was introduced with the OEM Service Release 2 (OSR2) version of Windows 95 in 1996. It supports larger disk partitions and file sizes and has more safeguards than the earlier FAT (FAT16). In the event of disk failure, FAT32 can relocate the root directory on the disk and use the backup copy of the FAT table. FAT32 also reduced cluster waste (see cluster). Starting with Windows NT, FAT32 was superseded by NTFS. See exFAT, NTFS and FAT.
FAT16 FAT32 NTFS
Maximum 4GB 2TB 2TB+
Partition 32GB on
Size Win2K/WinXP
Maximum Size of
File size 2GB 4GB Drive
OS DOS
Support OS/2
Win3x
Win95 Win95(OSR2)
Win98 Win98
WinNT WinNT WinNT(SP4)
Win2K Win2K Win2K
WinXP WinXP WinXP
WinVista
 | Reproduced with permission from Computer Desktop Encyclopedia. Copyright (c) 1981-2009 The Computer Language Company Inc. All rights reserved. |
Additional Resources
- HP USB Disk Storage Format Tool 2.1.8 (Windows)
- HP USB Disk Storage Format Tool utility will format any USB flash drive, with your choice of FAT, FAT32, or NTFS partition types. You can also make the disk bootable by specifying a file location.
- Software downloads 2009-11-17
- BDV SecretFolder 2010 (Windows)
- Copy BDV SecretFolder in any folder of your USB Flash Drive (it must be FAT or FAT32 formatted) and start from there. After first start program will create SecretFolder on this drive. You may put there any files and folders you want to keep from any prying eyes. There are...
- Software downloads 2009-11-13
- Cloud Engines Pogoplug
- Photo gallery:Cloud Engines PogoplugWouldn't it be nice to quickly access your data from anywhere without a complicated network setup? That's exactly what the Cloud Engines Pogoplug offers. Priced at $100, this tiny gadget turns any USB external storage devices--anything from a Seagate FreeAgent Go to a Western...
- Product reviews 2009-11-10
- BDV DataHider 3.1 (Windows)
- BDV DataHider is software for hiding of data. It can create Secret Storages where you will place your files and folders. Hidden data cannot be found in usual ways. Second kind is Disk Secret Storage. It may be created on NTFS, FAT and FAT32 drives. For example, you may create...
- Software downloads 2009-11-10
- Linksys WRT160N
- Basic functions OK but no USB storage!Router is advertised to allow the add-on of a USB external hard drive. I've spent 12+ hours on Linksys phone calls with tech people, supervisors, and customer service and still cannot get this feature to work. They replaced the router under warranty, but still...
- Discussion threads 2009-11-08
- DERescue Data Recovery Master 2.72 (Windows)
- DERescue data recovery master is a powerful data recovery software for recover data from damaged/lost/formatted FAT, NTFS, NTFS5 partition or recover data from damaged/lost/formatted hard drive. Data recovery software can recover the data that are lost by deleting or formatting or repartition or Ghost. Data recovery software supports IDE/SCSI/SATA/Usb-disk data...
- Software downloads 2009-10-09
- File Uneraser 1.4.5 (Windows)
- Let's consider one of the most useful file uneraser--RaidLabs File Uneraser software. This file recovery program has the main advantage--its simplicity is as far as the user is concerned. It means that the file uneraser scans a target drive automatically and selects the right solution in each given case. You...
- Software downloads 2009-10-08
- Cobra File Defrag 1.9 (Windows)
- File Defrag is a useful utility that performs file based defragmentation. Most defragmentation tools work on an entire disk or individual drives. File Defrag is different as it allows you, using an Explorer style screen, to see defragmentation of every file and folder on each of your disks. Each fragmented...
- Software downloads 2009-10-07
- DMGConverter 5.2.0.6 (Mac)
- DMGConverter is a disk image (.dmg, .cdr, .iso) creation and conversion tool which is simple and easy to use. It is a very useful tool for the collective processing of more than one file and every folder, and it can deal with all the fundamental processing with the drag &...
- Software downloads 2009-09-26
- MySecretFolder 4.4 (Windows)
- With MySecretFolder, you can hide or lock with password your personal folder on your computer, on both NTFS and FAT/FAT32 volumes. Supports hot key, protection from Windows and Office applications, as well as from MS-DOS programs. Highly customizable and user-friendly.
- Software downloads 2009-09-25
- Folder Guard 8.2 (Windows)
- Folder Guard is a Windows security program which you can use to restrict access to files, folders, and other computer resources. If you share your computer with your business colleagues, family, or roommates, you can use Folder Guard to stop other users from opening your personal files, or even completely...
- Software downloads 2009-09-25
- Netgear WNDR3700 RangeMax Dual Band Wireless-N Gigabit Router (Premium Edition)
- The new Netgear WNDR3700 RangeMax is a great upgrade from the Netgear WNDR3300. It now supports true dual bands, offering simultaneous Wireless-N performance in both 2.4Ghz and 5Ghz bands. The router also offers a decent network storage feature when coupled with a USB external hard drive. It includes a traffic...
- Product reviews 2009-09-23
- Win Data Recovery Free 1.0.0.1 (Windows)
- Win Data Recovery Free is a comprehensive data recovery software to recover data on major windows operating system. It recovers files emptied from the Recycle Bin, lost due to hard drive crash, formatted or damaged hard drive, virus infection and other unknown reasons. Support recovery of all major file types,...
- Software downloads 2009-09-16
- Today Western Digital has lifted the lid on three new My Passport portable drives.
- Anything above 500GB still not availableHow do you define "lift the lid"? I can think of a number of smart assed ways of answering that, but just like the laptop drives, the 640 GB and above drives are listed on the product page, but go to the web store and...
- Discussion threads 2009-09-11
- Easy File Undelete 2.4 (Windows)
- Easy File Undelete is the ideal rescue package for those who have accidentally deleted files, emptied the Recycle Bin, or even reformatted a disk or flash drive containing important data. The software is designed specifically to help recover lost or deleted files. Operation is simple?just select the folders or disks...
- Software downloads 2009-09-06
- Sondle File Recovery Assist 1.0.0.5 (Windows)
- File Recovery Assist is a comprehensive data recovery software to recover deleted file on major windows operating system. It is an easy to use data recovery program. It recovers files emptied from the Recycle Bin, deleted by press shift+dellost due to hard drive crash, formatted or damaged hard drive, virus...
- Software downloads 2009-09-05
- VMFS-3, How Do I Despise Thee
- Sounds bad... How about Red Hat's new stuff?A nasty experience... Have a glass of fine cognac to recover. No ice (the horror!), no mixing barbaric, at the perfect temperature of 18 degrees Celsius. Cheers. :-)How about Red Hat's new virtualization stuff in RHEL 5.4? Is that a better alternative?http://blogs.zdnet.com/virtualization/?p=1234Salut, Pjotr.RE:...
- Discussion threads 2009-09-04
- AnyFound Data Recovery 4.8 (Windows)
- AnyFound Data Recovery Software helps you to search, locate and recover all your inaccessible and lost data due to accidental format, software malfunction, file or directory deletion, virus attack, unexpected system shutdown and sabotage. Its advanced features like advance search, enhanced Music, Video recovery, File preview, Raw Recovery from hard...
- Software downloads 2009-08-27
- ProtectStar Data Shredder 2.0 2.0.09.08.19 (Windows)
- The new ProtectStar Data Shredder 2.0 ushers in an intelligent generation of solutions for secure deletion of sensitive data. This compact and user friendly software was designed with the data deletion needs of both business and private users, and allows all data to be deleted in such a way that...
- Software downloads 2009-08-19
- Digital Shredder 1.0 (Windows)
- Digital Shredder permanently erases data for deleted files on your devices so that it can't be undeleted. Hard Drives protocol FAT32 and NTFS delete by marking a deletion bit which leaves the actual data on the hard drive. Over time the area on the hard drive with deletion bits set...
- Software downloads 2009-08-14
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