Is vfat like fat32 and if so can windows read and write into it. What i'm trying to do is set up a partition where i can swap things in between windows and linux because my windows partition is ntfs.

OK, you're not doing much research but I'll attempt to help. vfat and Fat32 are one and the same to Linux. Using this would tell you that much quicker than posting and waiting on LinuxQuestions.
Now if you're using SUSE, Libranet, or Mandrake, you can mount NTFS partitions as read only out of the box. If you're using Redhat, you can install an rpm to do the same.
I would strongly advise again to buy a good book on Linu. It will save from wandering down blind alleys and waiting on posts to very simple questions on LinuxQuestions.org