Prev: Trivia : the default desktop background for XP
Next: Windows doubles certain keystrokes after Update
From: John John - MVP on 12 Aug 2010 07:51
Paul wrote:
> Bill in Co wrote:
>
>>>
>>> If I insert my Kingston 1GB stick, then select "format" for the thing,
>>> the choices are:
>>>
>>> FAT (FAT12 or FAT16, as appropriate ?)
>>> FAT32
>>> exFAT
>>
>> FAT12 is offered? I thought FAT12 was only used by floppy disks, or
>> perhaps the older floppy disk formats like 5" (can't recall now).
>> (My guess is for all PC floppy disks, though).
>
> If the storage device you attempted to "format" was smaller than 32MB,
> it might try FAT12 for you. I'm guessing that is what you'll find on
> a floppy ?

The maximum volume size supported by FAT12 is about 16MB (32,680 sectors
x 512 bytes/sector), on Windows XP FAT16 supports volumes of 8MB to 4GB.
NT operating systems cannot (will not) format hard disk volumes
smaller than 8MB and FAT12 is pretty well reserved for floppy disks.

John



> If the storage device is larger than 32MB, then I think
> it'll do FAT16. It leaves a generic "FAT" in the menu, to surprise you.
> It would have made more sense, if they just named the specific option
> they planned to use.
>
> I used a utility that can identify file systems, and it said my floppy
> has FAT12 on it. So I can verify that one. If I was to plug the
> Kingston 1GB flash into the computer, and select "FAT" as the
> formatting option, I think it would use FAT16 for that.
>
> The "FAT" option is missing, when I plug in the 8GB flash, because
> even FAT16 isn't going to work for that. Only FAT32 could handle it,
> in the FAT family.
>
> Paul
 | 
Pages: 1
Prev: Trivia : the default desktop background for XP
Next: Windows doubles certain keystrokes after Update