When I try to install Windows 2000 Pro on my Western Digital WD800JB hard drive (7200rpm, 80GB), it only gives me the option of using the NTFS file system.

Does anyone know why it won't allow me to use the FAT32 file system?

Yeah

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;184006

Look at the last bullet

Nope

Win2k with a Sp3 slipstream doesnt correct that ... It has something to do with the Win2k utils such as CHKDSK .... memory escapes me with the particulars ... IIRC ?

It's likely an M$ attempt to force users not to use FAT32 most likely....it's amazing that they even allow partitions created with FDISK that are greater than 32gb to be used in 2K/XP. I guess they HAD to do this since Dell,Compaq, etc etc format their disks with one HUGE partition with FAT32 back when 98/ME/2K was released.

PartitionMagic solves this problem easily.. Create and format any size Fat32 partition... Why you would want Fat32 is another discussion all together.

Adam