[nzlug] Does FAT32 imply long file names?

[Warren Boyd]

On 2006-08-15, at 06:13 , Johann Schoonees wrote:

>
> Warren Boyd wrote:
>> On 2006-08-15, at 03:31 , Johann Schoonees wrote:
>>> If I put FAT32 on an external drive partition with something  
>>> like  `mkdosfs -F32' for subsequent use with a Windows machine,  
>>> will long  file names work?  IOW does FAT32 imply VFAT?
>> IIRC, it's actually up to the OS to determine the detail for long   
>> file names - i.e it's not specific to FAT32.
>> FAT32 essentially removes some of the barriers for number of files  
>> etc.
>> You may want to have a look at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fat32
>
> Yes, I looked at that page.  It says "Max filename size: 8.3 or 255  
> characters when using LFNs" which is not exactly helpful.  What  
> happens when I write files with long names to it from Linux?  Does  
> Linux create the necessary VFAT entries (mimic VxD) when it sees a  
> FAT32?
>

I'm yet to experience issues with vfat - which is what I've formatted  
under Linux before ... the only problem I've experienced so far is  
when the OS (From memory, it may have been something like DR-DOS)  
see's all the files as 8.3 entries.  The LFN's still exist - move  
back to Linux and all good.

You don't mention which version of windows - but back when I was  
doing all this neither Win95 nor Win2k had any issues with the disks.

Of course, there's the old saying "format the disk with the OS that  
will primarily be using the disk".

Perhaps you need to look a little closer as to why your friend can't  
format the drive?

... of course, a copy of the live version of ubuntu might be  
something worth sending his way ;) ...

HTH,
Warren.