Cannot Convert a FAT16 Partition to the FAT32 File System

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This article was previously published under Q197627

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SYMPTOMS

If you attempt to convert a File Allocation Table (FAT or FAT16) partition to the FAT32 file system using the "drive:\convert drive: /fs:fat32" command-line switch, where drive is the drive from which you are running the convert utility and the drive you are trying to convert to FAT32, you may receive the following error message:

The type of the file system is FAT.
Convert cannot gain exclusive access to the drive drive, so it cannot convert it now. Would you like to schedule it to be converted the next time the system restarts. (Y/N)

When you restart your computer, the conversion process seems to start, and then the following error message is displayed:

FAT32 is not supported

If you attempt use the "drive1:\convert drive2: /fs:fat32" command- line switch, where drive1 is the drive from which you are running the convert utility and drive2 is the drive you are trying to convert to FAT32, the following error message is displayed:

FAT32 is not a valid file system

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CAUSE

This behavior occurs because Windows 2000 does not have a process for converting a partition from FAT16 to FAT32. The only conversion process that Windows 2000 supports is converting from FAT16 or FAT32 to the Windows NT file system (NTFS).

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STATUS

This behavior is by design.

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MORE INFORMATION

If you type convert /? at a command prompt, there is not an option to convert to the FAT32 file system.

If you dual boot, you can use the Microsoft Windows 95 or Microsoft Windows 98 drive converter tool in System Tools, or the following command-line tool:

cvt drive: /cvt32

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