How to Access the FAT32 files or filesystem from Linux system

Posted by Vivek Gite [Last updated: September 12, 2006]

Q. I have a dual boot system with Windows XP (FAT32) and Debian Linux. How do I access all files from Windows XP FAT31 partition?

A. You can access it under using mount command. You need to mount it as the vfat partition.

VFAT supports the use of long file names (LFNs). The version of the file system with this extension is usually known as VFAT after the Windows 95 VxD device driver.

Use fdisk -l command to get name of vfat partition:
# fdisk -l
Output:

Disk /dev/hda: 20.0 GB, 20060651520 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 2438 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes

   Device Boot      Start         End      Blocks   Id  System
/dev/hda1               1        1024     8225248+   b  W95 FAT32
/dev/hda2   *        1025        2438    11357955 83 Linux

/dev/hda1 is FAT partition.

Create a mount point:
# mkdir -p /mnt/d

Next type the mount command as follows, to mount partition
# mount -t vfat /dev/hda1 /mnt/d

Now access vfat file system:
$ cd /mnt/d $ ls -l

Subscribe to our free e-mail newsletter or RSS feed to get all updates. You can Email this page to a friend.