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On Mon, 20 Dec 2010 15:15:10 +0000 tom wrote: > On 20/12/10 12:22, Gordon Henderson wrote: > > On Mon, 20 Dec 2010, tom wrote: > > > >> On 20/12/10 11:50, Gordon Henderson wrote: > >>> On Mon, 20 Dec 2010, Grant Sewell wrote: > >>> > >>>> So how is it that I can create a FAT32 filesystem without hassle > >>>> under most Linux systems? In order to play MP3s or watch DVDs I > >>>> have to jump > >>>> through hoops, but I seem to be able to create Microsoft-owned > >>>> filesystems without having to jump through any hoops or pay > >>>> anybody any > >>>> money. > >>> > >>> AIUI - FATxxx is so "open" and widely adopted that it's patents > >>> aren't that enforcable, but what MS does keep a tight grip on is > >>> the extended filename mechanism that's an extension to FAT.. So > >>> if you're happy with uppercase 8+3 filenames, then feel free, but > >>> if you want nice mixed case long filenames then pay MS... > >>> > >>> Of-course IANAL ... > >>> > >> Google for Tom Tom Fat and save on heating with the boiling blood > >> of righteous indignation this winter. > > > > I remember it well - and my understanding is that it was the > > long-filename extensions that they were penalised for.. > > > > But maybe I need to read it again. > > > > Gordon > > > And do you know of anyone that would be happy with 8+3 on a USB - the > irony being that Tom Tom could probably have modified their > requirements so the Tom Tom would work with 8+3 and avoided any > requirement to pay MS. But they obviously worked out it was cheaper > to pay MS than expect their programmers to be able to remember/cope > with it/somehow backdate all those ones already sold with fat32 on > out there. Could you cope with using a FAT disk to write to? > Tom te tom te tom Is it possible to get mkfs.vfat to create a FAT32 filesystem but without the long filename support? I couldn't find the relevant options in the man page. Or is "long filename support" an inherent attribute of FAT32 (whereas it wasn't for earlier FATs)? Grant. -- The Mailing List for the Devon & Cornwall LUG http://mailman.dclug.org.uk/listinfo/list FAQ: http://www.dcglug.org.uk/listfaq