Convert NTSF to FAT32?

  • Thread starter Thread starter ~Sage
  • Start date Start date
S

~Sage

Hi Group, I have a crashed e-machine T3092 with a 160 gig HD, came
with WinXP home on a recovery disk, recovery didn't work, so I
borrowed an XP cd from a friend and it won't install with the XP code
that came with the PC. Hubby uses this PC, mainly for email and a
little surfing and didn't have much to lose so I deleted the C
partition, formatted it but couldn't get an option to format with
FAT32. I deleted the partition again and in the recovery console on
the XP cd, when I try formatting it from the command prompt, I get a
message *cannot format a removable drive*. I am trying to convert it
back to FAT32 from NTSF so that I can install Win98 on it, (a new copy
of XP just isn't an option right now). How can I, or is it even
possible to do this successfully? Any help will be most appreciated,
thank you!

~Sage wired_auntie at hotmail dot com
 
You cannot use the product key for a preinstalled copy of Windows with a
retail XP cd. Have you contacted eMachines Support on the procedure and
troubleshooting for using the recovery disk? Even if you install Win98 on
it you will likely run into driver problems because eMachines only lists XP
drivers for the T3092
(http://www.e4me.com/support/product_support.html?cat=Desktops&subcat=T-Series&model=T3092).
If the recovery software is damaged see if you can order a replacement from
eMachines or from http://www.restoredisks.com/.
 
FAT32 is limited to 32GB partition size using Windows, so you have two
options.
1) Create a partition 32GB or less in size.
2) Use a third part tool to format the drive as FAT32.

JS
 
You mean using Windows XP to *create* them (it's not limited to 32 GB using
windows).
 
Thank you Colin, and everyone. Driver problems would have been my
next question. I contacted emachines, they aren't too helpful with a
4 year old machine, after sending a requested, very detailed email,
their reply was one of those *is your monitor plugged in?!*. At this
point, I'll hold out till budget allows for a fresh copy of XP.

I do have one question that I need to be certain of. Right now, I
have no operating system running on the machine, a Win98 cd allowed me
to use the borrowed copy to try to load XP, so when I get ready to buy
and load a new XP Upgrade, will it work ok having a Win98 cd only, or
would Win98 *have* to be actually running on the PC? Thanks again!

~Sage
 
Thank you Colin, and everyone. Driver problems would have been my
next question. I contacted emachines, they aren't too helpful with a
4 year old machine, after sending a requested, very detailed email,
their reply was one of those *is your monitor plugged in?!*. At this
point, I'll hold out till budget allows for a fresh copy of XP.

I do have one question that I need to be certain of. Right now, I
have no operating system running on the machine, a Win98 cd allowed me
to use the borrowed copy to try to load XP, so when I get ready to buy
and load a new XP Upgrade, will it work ok having a Win98 cd only, or
would Win98 *have* to be actually running on the PC? Thanks again!

~Sage

You cannot use the product key for a preinstalled copy of Windows with a
retail XP cd. Have you contacted eMachines Support on the procedure and
troubleshooting for using the recovery disk? Even if you install Win98 on
it you will likely run into driver problems because eMachines only lists
XP
drivers for the T3092
(http://www.e4me.com/support/product_support.html?cat=Desktops&subcat=...).
If the recovery software is damaged see if you can order a replacement
from
eMachines or fromhttp://www.restoredisks.com/.







- Show quoted text -
Click to expand...
An XP CD is bootable. All you need a Win98 CD for would be to satisfy XP
that you do qualify for an upgrade.
Jim
 
Win98 CD only, it need not be installed.

JS

Jim said:
Thank you Colin, and everyone. Driver problems would have been my
next question. I contacted emachines, they aren't too helpful with a
4 year old machine, after sending a requested, very detailed email,
their reply was one of those *is your monitor plugged in?!*. At this
point, I'll hold out till budget allows for a fresh copy of XP.

I do have one question that I need to be certain of. Right now, I
have no operating system running on the machine, a Win98 cd allowed me
to use the borrowed copy to try to load XP, so when I get ready to buy
and load a new XP Upgrade, will it work ok having a Win98 cd only, or
would Win98 *have* to be actually running on the PC? Thanks again!

~Sage


An XP CD is bootable. All you need a Win98 CD for would be to satisfy XP
that you do qualify for an upgrade.
Jim
Click to expand...
 
Hi Group, I have a crashed e-machine T3092 with a 160 gig HD, came
with WinXP home on a recovery disk, recovery didn't work, so I
borrowed an XP cd from a friend and it won't install with the XP code
that came with the PC.  Hubby uses this PC, mainly for email and a
little surfing and didn't have much to lose so I deleted the C
partition, formatted it but couldn't get an option to format with
FAT32.  I deleted the partition again and in the recovery console on
the XP cd, when I try formatting it from the command prompt, I get a
message *cannot format a removable drive*.  I am trying to convert it
back to FAT32 from NTSF so that I can install Win98 on it, (a new copy
of XP just isn't an option right now). How can I, or is it even
possible to do this successfully?  Any help will be most appreciated,
thank you!

~Sage    wired_auntie at hotmail dot com
Click to expand...

Why FAT32? In XP, FAT 32 has been limited to only allow creation of
32 GB disk partitions and 4GB file limit (per file.)

As of the problem with re-installing with a XP install CD, you need to
locate a use a CD for the same style of CD Key. XP key sticker stuck
on a PC is probably an OEM version of XP and every Retail CD will not
let you install with it.
 
The only difference is that if Win98 is installed you can run the upgrade to
XP from the Win98 desktop or boot the computer with the XP cd and supply the
Win98 cd when requested, your choice. If nothing is installed then you have
to boot with the XP cd and supply the Win98 cd when requested by the XP
upgrade Setup program. Personally, I prefer a clean intall of XP upgrade
editions so I boot the computer with the cd and go that route.
 
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