What is the virtual disk service?
Windows built-in tool Diskpart is very useful. But when you try to format hard drive larger
than 32 GB to FAT32 file system, you may receive virtual disk service
error the volume size is too big. Now, here comes a question: what is
the virtual disk service?
Virtual disk service(VDS) is a set of application programming interfaces (APIs),
which provides a single interface for managing disks and volumes. It contains the
Disk Management snap-in, the DiskPart command-line tool, and the DiskRAID
command-line tool (Diskraid.exe).
Real case about the volume size is too big
Diskpart works as a Windows built-in tool, which can help you solve disk and
partition problems. However, sometimes, you may be bothered by Diskpart. Here
is a real case you may encounter.
Hey, I tried to format NTFS to FAT32 with Diskpart, but I get virtual disk service
error: the volume size is too big. I need 127GB of space for my PS3. And the file
system must be FAT32. Any help is appreciated.
Reason for the volume size is too big for FAT32
NTFS and FAT32 are both popular file system among computer users like all versions of
Windows, Mac, Linux or other game consoles etc. Both file system have its own
advantages and disadvantages. In some cases, computer users may change partition
type owing to a specific needs.
When you format hard drive larger than 32 GB, you may receive Diskpart virtual disk
service error the volume size is too big. That's because Microsoft does not
allow you to format the NTFS partition larger than 32 GB to FAT32.
To sum up, you cannot format an NTFS partition larger than 32 GB to FAT32 in
Diskpart.
Can you fix the volume size is too big for FAT32 using Disk Management?
If you fail to faormat hard drive, you may think about Disk Management for the first
time. After all, Windows built-in tool is free. It works proper with a few
exception. Diskpart virtual disk service error the volume size is too big is one of
the exceptions.
When you try to format hard drive larger than 32GB, you can only see NTFS in
drop-down menu of File system. But if you fromat hard drive smaller than 32GB, you
can see both NTFS and FAT32 file system. That's to say, you cannot use Disk
Management to fix this issue.

Want to know how to fix the volume size is too big for FAT32? See below and learn to
fix it with free partition managerAOMEI Partition Assistant.
The volume size is too big - how to fix?
Free Partition Manager: AOMEI Partition Assistant
AOMEI Partition Assistant is a free partition manager, which allows you to format
NTFS to FAT32 as you like. And you are not limited to format less than or equal to
32GB hard drive. At the same time, you can fix other problems caused by Windows
built-in tool, such as, extend volume size is disabled, new
simple volume greyed out, shrink volume greyed out, etc.
AOMEI Partition Assistant can satisfy the basic needs of the majority users. It
allows you to resize partition, move
partition, shrink partition, create partition, etc. But if you need to fix
problems the standard edition cannot or want more advanced features, you can upgrade to AOMEI Partition
Assistant.
Detailed steps
Step 1. Download AOMEI Partition
Assistant, install and launch it.
Step 2. Right-click the NTFS partition, and then selectFormat Partition.

Step 3. Input a partition label, then selectFAT32 as your file system. At last, click OK to
summon the next window.

Step 4. Preview and click Apply
> Proceedto finish the last step. After that, you will get a new partition with FAT32.

Tip: Aside by Format Partition, you still can choose to convert NTFS to FAT32.
Summary
Windows do not allow you to format hard drive larger than 32 GB to FAT32. Thus, when
you try to format a hard drive larger than 32 GB, you will receive the virtual disk
service error the volume size is too big in Diskpart. If you use Disk Management,
you can only see NTFS file system.
To fix it, I recommend you free AOMEI Partition Assistant. With it, you can fix this
issue within a few clicks. Besides this issue, it still can fix other problems
related to Windows built-in tool, including Diskpart list volume there are not volumes, marking
partition as active greyed out, Shrink Volume greyed out, etc.