Using Win95b fdisk (7.1), I want to create a primary Fat32 partition in or around 380MB to keep the clusters' size to a sane number (4K). How can this be done? Also, is it OK to have FAT16 and FAT32 primary partitons for dual-booting on the same drive?

Just make sure that when it asks if you want to make the partition use the full drive you say no, then set the size. Also make sure you set the partition active otherwise cause it won't for you if you say no to the above question. You should be safe having FAT16 and FAT32 on the same drive. I've had three or four different OSs on the same drive at one with all different file systems and had no problems. You'll just have to flip the active bit between drives to boot seperate partitions or dual boot.

There's a way to make a primary partition FAT32 using fdisk 7.1; at the command prompt invoke fdisk with this command line: FDISK /FPRMT Create the partition as usual, and you'll get a prompt that reads: This partition is FAT16 by default. Convert to FAT32? [ ] Enter a Y here and it'll make it so; use the Win95B (7.1) FORMAT utility on your disk so as to format the partition to the desired flie system.

Windows 95B & 98 (Even 95 First Edition & Windows 95A) uses 4kb clusters on Hard Drives under 500MB. It is only on larger drives that FAT32 (Windows 95B onwards)reduces the cluster size from 32kbs to 4kbs. So the answer to your question is, YOU DO NOT NEED FAT32 - FDisk will not even offer you "Large Disk Support" for a 380MB Main Partition!

Mick, I did not know that about FAT32. I have had same problem in the past with small partitions, and this explains it in terms even I understand.

Mick C, Do your homework! While this surely isn't a critical topic, I'm sure you'll find the switch /fprmt added to fdisk 7.1 command-line gives optional large-disk (fat32) support to any size partition. See more info on this at website: www.fdisk.com Moreover, my disk-controller doesn't support 4K clusters over 256MB so you are applying generalities there too.