Introduction Windows Me includes support for an enhanced version of the FAT file system, FAT32, that supports drives up to 2 terabytes (approximately 2,000 GB). It also allocates space on the drive in smaller units (called clusters) than did earlier versions of FAT, resulting in more efficient use of space on the drive.
This section addresses some of the known issues with FAT32 and answers some of the questions you might have.

Compatibility FAT32 is designed to be fully compatible with existing computers and programs designed to run on earlier versions of MS-DOS and Windows. However, some older disk utilities may need to be updated in order to work with FAT32 drives. The system tools contained with Windows Me, including ScanDisk, Backup, and Disk Defragmenter, fully support FAT32 drives. FAT32 drives cannot be compressed by using DriveSpace, however.

In addition, operating systems other than Windows 95 version 4.00.950 B, Windows 98, or Windows 2000 are unable to access information stored on FAT32 drives. This includes the original version of Windows 95, Windows NT version 4.0 and earlier, and previous versions of MS-DOS and Windows.

Windows Me does support accessing FAT32 drives in MS-DOS mode. In addition, FAT32 drives can be shared over a network and accessed by remote computers in the same way as older-style FAT drives, even if the remote computers don't support FAT32.

Known Problems

Running Interlink on a FAT32 drive If you are running Interlink as a server on a FAT32 drive, all connections and inquiries (such as DIR) result in the following error message: "File allocations table bad, Drive X." Also, the Interlink "manager" shows the incorrect total drive size.

This problem does not occur on FAT16 drives. To gain access to your FAT32 server, start your computer in protect mode with Interlink running.