Background: Win98 includes a more robust file structure than the File Allocation Table file system (FAT16) included with Win95a (before OSR2) and previous versions of Windows, Windows NT, and DOS. This new file structure is FAT32. Although FAT32 first appeared with Win95 OSR2, Win98 provides the added bonus of a FAT16 to FAT32 converter utility called FAT32 Drive Converter. A FAT32 file system allows data to be stored more efficiently, potentially creating up to several hundred megabytes of extra storage space on the drive. In addition, applications running under FAT32 can load up to 50% faster and use fewer system resources.

It is strongly recommended that you backup all data before changing the FAT system on a hard disc drive. Any major system change heightens the potential for data loss. Seagate cannot be responsible for data loss due to changing the file allocation system.

Frequently Asked Questions

• I just upgraded to Win98, should I stay with FAT16 or format the drive with FAT32? What are the Pros and Cons?

• I upgraded my system to Win98, and when I try to format a FAT32 file system partition, I receive the following error:

"Verifying ###.## MB
Invalid media or track 0 bad - disk unusable
Format terminated"

• When I try to partition a drive that is larger than 8.4 Gbytes with FAT32, the maximum partition size offered is still 8.4 Gbytes.

• When I check in FDISK to see if my partition is FAT32, it only shows FAT16. How do I get my drive to be partitioned in FAT32?

• How do I start Win98's FAT32 Drive Converter?

• I have used Win98's FAT32 Drive Converter on my drive and find that FAT32 does not fit my needs. How do I convert back to FAT16?

• I used Win98's FAT32 Drive Converter to make my removable drive system FAT32, and now it will not work on my other computer system (Win95a) correctly. What is wrong?

• I upgraded to Win98 from Win95 and used FAT32 Drive Converter on my drive. I now want to uninstall Win98, but this is not an option. What is wrong?

• When I try to dual-boot Win3.x on a computer running Win98 FAT32, I receive one of the following error messages:

"This version of Windows does not run on MS-DOS 6.x or earlier."

"You started your computer with a version of MS-DOS incompatible with this version of Windows. Insert a Startup diskette matching this version of Windows and then restart."

"The system has been halted. Press CTRL+ALT+DELETE to restart your computer."

"This version of Windows cannot be run on this version of DOS."

• When I try to compress my Win98 FAT32 drive with DriveSpace or DriveSpace 3, I get the following error:

"Drive C cannot be compressed because it is a FAT32 drive."

• After running Win98's FAT32 Drive Converter, the power management features on my computer no longer work. Why?

• When I try to defragment a Win98 FAT32 partition, I receive the following error:

"Windows cannot defragment this drive. Make sure the disk is formatted and free of errors. Then try defragmenting the drive again."

I just upgraded to Win98, should I stay with FAT16 or format the drive with FAT32? What are the Pros and Cons?

Pros: FAT32 is completely compatible with Seagate hard disc drives. FAT32 supports partitions larger than 2.1 Gbytes and hard disc drives larger than 8.4 Gbytes. FAT32 provides for reduced file cluster size (4K for partitions up to 8 Gbytes), freeing up disc drive storage space. FAT32 has the potential for speeding up some hard disc operations (such as reads and writes).

Cons: Older disc compression schemes are not compatible with FAT32, and FAT32 has some issues with drive overlay programs unless it was used during the original install. Dual boot programs will not work correctly with FAT16 operating systems. FAT32 partitions are not fully recognized by FAT16 programs and applications (such as FDISK, Scandisk, Defrag, AntiVirus and others).

I upgraded my system to Win98, and when I try to format a FAT32 file system partition, I receive the following error:

"Verifying ###.## MB

Invalid media or track 0 bad - disk unusable

Format terminated"

This error occurs if there is a non-DOS partition preceding the extended DOS partition and the primary DOS partition has been formatted using the real-mode FORMAT.EXE command. Restart the Computer in MS-DOS Mode or go to the DOS Prompt and format the partition.

When I try to partition a drive that is larger than 8.4 Gbytes with FAT32, the maximum partition size offered is still 8.4 Gbytes.

This can occur if the hard disc controller does not fully support interrupt 13 extensions. In order for a hard disc that is larger than 8.4 Gbytes to be fully addressed, system BIOS and the operating system must support interrupt 13 extensions. The file IO.SYS tests for the presence of interrupt 13 extensions and if they are not found, uses the default CHS LBA limit of 8.4 Gbytes. This information applies to both ATA and SCSI hard disc drives. Contact the drive controller manufacturer for information about a possible BIOS upgrade to a version of the BIOS that fully supports interrupt 13 extensions.

When I check in FDISK to see if my partition is FAT32, it only shows FAT16. How do I get my drive to be partitioned in FAT32?

You are using the real-mode FDISK, which does not contain the "enable large disk support" prompt, or you did not answer "y" for yes to "enable large disk support", or the drive you are attempting to partition with FAT32 is smaller than 512 Mbytes. Run the FAT32 version of FDISK. FDISK will ask whether you wish to enable large disc support. If you answer "Yes", any partition you create larger than 512 Mbytes is marked as a FAT32 partition. Alternatively, run the FAT32 converter program available in Win98.

How do I start Win98's FAT32 Drive Converter?

You start FAT32 Drive Converter by clicking Start, pointing to Programs, pointing to Accessories, pointing to System Tools, and then clicking Drive Converter.

I have used Win98's FAT32 Drive Converter on my drive and find that FAT32 does not fit my needs. How do I convert back to FAT16?

Once you convert your hard disc drive to FAT32 format using FAT32 Drive Converter, you cannot return to using the FAT16 format unless you repartition and reformat the FAT32 drive. Running FDISK and FORMAT on a drive will destroy all data, so make a backup first. Additionally, If you converted the drive on which Win98 is installed to FAT32, you must reinstall Win98 after repartitioning the drive.

I used Win98's FAT32 Drive Converter to make my removable drive system FAT32 and now it will not work on my other computer system (Win95a) correctly. What is wrong?

If you convert a removable disc and use the disc with other operating systems that are not FAT32 compatible, you cannot access the disc when running the other operating system. You should always use the file system that is common to all applications, in this case, FAT16.

I upgraded to Win98 from Win95 and used FAT32 Drive Converter on my drive. I now want to uninstall Win98, but this is not an option. What is wrong?

Because most previous versions of Windows are not compatible with FAT32, you cannot uninstall Win98 using Add/Remove Programs if you converted to FAT32.  You must format and reload, which will permanently erase anything on the drive.

When I try to dual-boot Win3.x on a computer running Win98 FAT32, I receive one of the following error messages:

"This version of Windows does not run on MS-DOS 6.x or earlier".

"You started your computer with a version of MS-DOS incompatible with this version of Windows. Insert a Startup diskette matching this version of Windows and then restart".

"The system has been halted. Press CTRL+ALT+DELETE to restart your computer".

"This version of Windows cannot be run on this version of DOS".

Because FAT32 partitions are not recognized by FAT16 operating systems, dual booting on a FAT32 boot partition is not supported. Any FAT16 operating system (DOS, Win3.x, WinNT3.x/4.0 and Win 95a) must be booted from a FAT16 partition. One solution would be to define all boot partitions under FAT16. Any FAT32 data partitions would still be inaccessible to the FAT16 operating system. Another solution would be to use a boot management program to switch between FAT16 and FAT32 boot partitions. Programs such as V Communications' System Commander (www.v-com.com), BootMenu 3.11 (www.bootmenu.com/english), or Masterbooter 2.2 (www.vein.hu/~nagyd/mrbooter.html) can be used. These programs let you install a different version of Windows on each hard disc partition and choose which one to use each time you turn on the computer. Again, the FAT16 operating system would not have access to any FAT32 partitions. Please contact Microsoft (www.microsoft.com) for more information on dual booting Win98 and other operating system.

When I try to compress my Win98 FAT32 drive with DriveSpace or DriveSpace 3, I get the following error:

"Drive C cannot be compressed because it is a FAT32 drive".

Although included with Win98, DriveSpace 3 and older disc compression software is not compatible with FAT32. The version of DriveSpace included with Win98 will recognize FAT32 partitions, but it cannot compress FAT32 volumes. Additionally, if your drive is already compressed, you may not be able to convert to FAT32. DriveSpace was designed to work with FAT16 file systems and cannot be used with drives using the FAT32 file system. There is no solution at this time.

After running Win98's FAT32 Drive Converter, the power management features on my computer no longer work. Why?

FAT32 Drive Converter may turn off power management features. See your computer documentation for details. After conversion, try turning the power management features back on.

When I try to defragment a Win98 FAT32 partition, I receive the following error:

"Windows cannot defragment this drive. Make sure the disk is formatted and free of errors. Then try defragmenting the drive again".

This can be caused by running a FAT16 version disc utility. Run FAT32 versions of disc utilities on FAT32 drives. Although most programs are not affected by the conversion from FAT16 to FAT32, some disc utilities that depend on a FAT16 file system do not work with FAT32. You should be prompted if you are running a mismatched utility. Contact your disc utility manufacturer to see if there is an updated version that is compatible with FAT32.