How to Set Permissions on the FAT32 for XP Home

The FAT32 file system is an old DOS partition format still configured on some computers. To use permission settings on your Windows computer and share your folders, you must convert your FAT32 file system to NTFS and set permissions using the Windows Control Panel. Conversion to NTFS is a quick and easy step, and Windows has a graphical interface to help you manage permissions for network shares.

Instructions

1. Click "Start" and type "cmd" into the text box in the popup menu. Press "Enter" to open your "Documents and Settings" command prompt.

2. Type "convert drive_letter: /fs:ntfs" where "drive_letter" is your FAT32 partition. Press "Enter" to convert your file system. This takes a few minutes. Reboot your computer when the file system conversion completes.

3. Click the Windows "Start" button again after your system completes the reboot. Click "Control Panel" and "Administrative Tools," then double-click "Computer Management."

4. Click "Shares" in the "Shared Folders" section. This lists all your shares on the computer. Right-click a share name and select "Properties."

5. Click "Add" to open a configuration dialog box. Select a user from the list of accounts. This is the user you want to allow or deny access. Check "Allow" or "Deny" in the section labeled "Permissions for group or user." Click "OK" to save your permission settings.

References

• Microsoft: How to Convert FAT Disks to NTFS
• Microsoft: Set Permissions for Shared Folders