FAT32 Hard Disk Format

I read a discussion:

Topic: Format Lacie hard disk to use with mac & pc HELP

"Format as FAT32 both the Mac and the PC will be able to read and write to the disk. However note that there is a 4GB file limit with FAT32 and use the Mac to format as an XP PC can only format a 32GB partition though it can read bigger FAT32 partitions."


I have a 80GB Samsung external hard disk. Can I format it as FAT32? How do I format it as FAT32? What exactly should I do?


I just wanted to explain a few things as it might be related to my problem.

When I first bought the external hard disk, a guy at the shop formatted the hard disk as MSDOS File System using the Disk Utility. I was able to use the hard disk with both Mac and Windows.

A few weeks ago, I formatted my 60GB startup disk and reinstalled my Mac OS. I backed up all my files into the external hard disk. There was some prob because I accidentally disconnected the hard disk while I was verifying the hard disk using Disk Utility.

Later on, whenever I connected the external hard disk to my Mac, a message saying that "You have just inserted a disk containg a format that is not recognised my Mac" comes up.

A friend of mine managed to rescue all my files (backup of the startup disk) in the external hard disk using DiskWarrior. All the files were put back into my startup disk.

But now, when I format my external hard disk as MSDOS File System, this message comes up. "You have just inserted a disk containg a format that is not recognised my Mac". Both Mac and Windows can't read nor write the external hard disk.

I can only format it as Mac OS Extended (Journaled) and use it only with Mac.....or......format it in a Windows PC and use it only with a Windows PC.

I'm not sure how to format it as FAT32 because there is no such format in the Disk Utility. How do I format it?

I hope you guys can help me.