[SGVLUG] FileSystem Limitations?

[Claude Felizardo]

What partition type did you use?    I installed Linux on my computer
here at work (it originally came with winXP) and I created an extra
FAT32 partition so I can transfer files between the two OS's.   I used
0x0b for "W95 FAT32" but you could also use 0x0c for LBA.  Perhaps you
used 0x1b or 0x1c which would make it hidden?  What tool did you use?
I use fdisk.

Also, for windoze, you might need to make sure you are using a primary
partition (partition number 1-4) instead of a logical partition on the
extended partition (partition #5 or greater).

Here's part of the output from fdisk -l /dev/sda:

Disk /dev/sda: 250.0 GB, 250000000000 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 30394 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes

   Device Boot      Start         End      Blocks   Id  System
/dev/sda1               1           6       48163+  de  Dell Utility
/dev/sda2   *           7        3139    25165822+   7  HPFS/NTFS
/dev/sda3            3140        8368    42001942+   b  W95 FAT32
/dev/sda4            8369       30394   176923845    5  Extended
/dev/sda5            8369        8890     4192933+  82  Linux swap / Solaris
/dev/sda6            8891       10978    16771828+  83  Linux

According to wikipedia, the filesystem limit for FAT32 is 8 TB with a
max file size of 4 GB.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vfat

btw, what's with the ballistic missile address or are you into geocaching?


On 7/13/07, Mic Chow <zen at netten.net> wrote:
> So the thread about weapons and the results are interesting, but how
> about something different.
>
> I am curious how do they commercially format large drives with the File
> System FAT32, specifically drives greater than 200 gigs.
>
> The situation is that I am help a friend recover data from an external
> drive.  I have recovered the data using my Linux box.  I have replaced
> it with another drive.  The new drive is also an external drive; both
> drives are EIDE in an USB enclosure.  The drive is 250 (marketing)
> Gigs.  This user would more than likely connect this drive to various
> systems, of course the predominant system with be some variation of
> Microsoft.  I used Ubuntu Linux to format the drive as a single
> partition with a FAT32 File System.  I intended this external drive to
> be the same easy connection as most commercial drives so that the user
> can connect it to any system, Microsoft, Mac, Linux, etc.  After
> formating the drive is seen in Linux as a single 250 Gig Partition in
> FAT32 just fine.  Data can be saved and deleted from the drive like it
> should.  However, on a Windows 2000 Pro or XP (SP2) box the drive is
> seen, but the File System is not understood.  I could easily chalk it of
> to stupidity of Microsoft and their attempts at File Systems.  Since
> they created FAT32 several years ago, you'd think they actually know how
> to read the damn thing.  So besides mounting the 250gig drive on the
> Windows box and reformatting it as NTFS what are my options.  I'd really
> like to know how companies such as Seagate, Maxtor, Western Digital,
> IOmega, etc. format their drives and ship them out the door in FAT32.
>
> Thanks in Advance.
>
> Mic
> North Hollywood, CA
> N34° 8'33.02"
> W118° 21'39.62"