Is converting NTSF to FAT32 possible?

[Richard Urban]

It would be easiest to boot up the computers from a Windows 98se setup
floppy and remove the NTFS partition using fdisk. Type fdisk at the command
prompt.

You would have to remove the non-DOS primary partition. Then you reboot with
the floppy to make certain of the results. Now you create a new primary
partition on the hard drive. You will be told to reboot again. Now using the
startup floppy, you format the partition you just created. The command is as
follows:

format C:

Follow the instructions.

--


Regards,

Richard Urban
Microsoft MVP Windows Shell/User

Quote from George Ankner:
If you knew as much as you think you know,
You would realize that you don't know what you thought you knew!

 

[Guest]

according to Ms it is possible to convert it back but you would have to
reformatt and loose anything you have on the drive.... pete ;-)

 

[axemurderer]

First off I'd like to introduce myself. I'm new here but have read man
of the posts and anm impressed with the knowledge base. I use XP o
both of my desktops and laptop so I'll be visiting often.

I am considering buying some old (cheap) model laptops so me and my
sons can network them play the old Duke Nukem3D game on Windows 98.
haven't had 'good' luck running that old game on XP - too muc
technology has taken place since the game came out.

Finally, here's my question: If a computer was formatted in NTSF can i
be converted back to FAT32 so I can install Win98 or do I need to loo
for a system that never had XP installed?

These laptops will not be used for much of anything else

 

[Jonny]

Uhh, maybe he should make the primary partition active?

Try microsoft.public.win98.gen_discussion for any other 98 related
questions.

 

[Rick \Nutcase\ Rogers]

Hi am,

As you are going back to Win98, you are going to need to start from scratch
anyways, so backup any critical data before you begin. You can boot with a
W98 startup floppy and run fdisk. Delete the non-dos partition, then create
a new primary dos partition in the resulting free space. Reboot the system
to the floppy and load CD support, format the new primary dos partition and
proceed with setup.

The only way I know of to change back to FAT32 non-destructively from NTFS
is Partition Magic from Symantec (who basically kill everything they touch).
Spending money on it would not be worth it as you have no real need to do
this non-destructively.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org

 

[axemurderer]

Thank you guys for anwering my question.

Here's another simple one: Will the fdisk command convert the whole
thing to FAT32 or just make enough room to add W98? Your comment about
non-destructively converting has me concerned I'll be losing some
storage space on the harddrive. (when it comes to me, computers, and
the term non-destructive ..... it gets my attention - BAG)

Sorry to ask W98 questions on this forum but this hopefully is the last
one, like I said earlier, all our other boxes use XP so joining a Win 98
forum (if there is one anymore) wasn't practical.

I searched to see if W98 could use NTSF but didn't find any real
answer, none of the searches dealt directy with the question.

Thanks again for your quick responses.
AXE

Hi am,

As you are going back to Win98, you are going to need to start from
scratch
anyways, so backup any critical data before you begin. You can boot
with a
W98 startup floppy and run fdisk. Delete the non-dos partition, then
create
a new primary dos partition in the resulting free space. Reboot the
system
to the floppy and load CD support, format the new primary dos partition
and
proceed with setup.

The only way I know of to change back to FAT32 non-destructively from
NTFS
is Partition Magic from Symantec (who basically kill everything they
touch).
Spending money on it would not be worth it as you have no real need to
do
this non-destructively.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org

[/QUOTE]

 

[axemurderer]

Thanks for the link, I'll address any further W98 questions to that
site. I appreciate your help in this.

Uhh, maybe he should make the primary partition active?

Try microsoft.public.win98.gen_discussion for any other 98 related
questions.

[/QUOTE]

 

[Haggis]

Thank you guys for anwering my question.

Here's another simple one: Will the fdisk command convert the whole
thing to FAT32 or just make enough room to add W98? Your comment about
non-destructively converting has me concerned I'll be losing some
storage space on the harddrive. (when it comes to me, computers, and
the term non-destructive ..... it gets my attention - BAG)

Sorry to ask W98 questions on this forum but this hopefully is the last
one, like I said earlier, all our other boxes use XP so joining a Win 98
forum (if there is one anymore) wasn't practical.

I searched to see if W98 could use NTSF but didn't find any real
answer, none of the searches dealt directy with the question.

Thanks again for your quick responses.
AXE

[/QUOTE]

if starting from scratch ...you can make 2 (or more) partitions ..format one
FAT32 for win98(shouldn't need much, say <1 gig) and leave the rest for XP
and NTFS

98 will not run on NTFS (installing a 3rd party prog . will allow you to
view NTFS partitions tho )

 

[Ron Martell]

Thank you guys for anwering my question.

Here's another simple one: Will the fdisk command convert the whole
thing to FAT32 or just make enough room to add W98? Your comment about
non-destructively converting has me concerned I'll be losing some
storage space on the harddrive. (when it comes to me, computers, and
the term non-destructive ..... it gets my attention - BAG)

Sorry to ask W98 questions on this forum but this hopefully is the last
one, like I said earlier, all our other boxes use XP so joining a Win 98
forum (if there is one anymore) wasn't practical.

I searched to see if W98 could use NTSF but didn't find any real
answer, none of the searches dealt directy with the question.

Thanks again for your quick responses.
AXE

When you use FDISK to delete an NTFS partition (FDISK will call it a
non-DOS partition) you end up with a disk with no partitions on it.
Totally empty, all gone.
Then you can create a new FAT32 partition using all of the capacity of
the hard drive (or as much of it as you want, if you want to use some
of the capacity for an additional partition or partitions).

There will be no loss of capacity or anything, just the complete and
total obiliteration of the NTFS partition and everything that it
contained.

Good luck

Ron Martell Duncan B.C. Canada
--
Microsoft MVP (1997 - 2006)
On-Line Help Computer Service
http://onlinehelp.bc.ca

"Anyone who thinks that they are too small to make a difference
has never been in bed with a mosquito."

 

[Rock]

Thank you guys for anwering my question.

Here's another simple one: Will the fdisk command convert the whole
thing to FAT32 or just make enough room to add W98? Your comment about
non-destructively converting has me concerned I'll be losing some
storage space on the harddrive. (when it comes to me, computers, and
the term non-destructive ..... it gets my attention - BAG)

Sorry to ask W98 questions on this forum but this hopefully is the last
one, like I said earlier, all our other boxes use XP so joining a Win 98
forum (if there is one anymore) wasn't practical.

I searched to see if W98 could use NTSF but didn't find any real
answer, none of the searches dealt directy with the question.

Thanks again for your quick responses.
AXE

Non destructively converting means converting but keeping the data
already on the drive intact. It has nothing to do with loosing any of
the space on the drive - i.e. destroying disk space.

 

[Tim Slattery]

Thank you guys for anwering my question.

Here's another simple one: Will the fdisk command convert the whole
thing to FAT32 or just make enough room to add W98?

FDISK doesn't convert anything. It destroys existing partitions and
creates new ones from free space. That's all.

To convert a partition from NTFS to FAT32 you'd need third-party
software, like Partition Magic or BootIt NG.

 

[DanS]

First off I'd like to introduce myself. I'm new here but have read many
of the posts and anm impressed with the knowledge base. I use XP on
both of my desktops and laptop so I'll be visiting often.

I am considering buying some old (cheap) model laptops so me and my 2
sons can network them play the old Duke Nukem3D game on Windows 98. I
haven't had 'good' luck running that old game on XP - too much
technology has taken place since the game came out.

Finally, here's my question: If a computer was formatted in NTSF can it
be converted back to FAT32 so I can install Win98 or do I need to look
for a system that never had XP installed?

These laptops will not be used for much of anything else.

My son was just playing DukeNukem on my XP box the other day. No problems.

 

[axemurderer]

Thanks for your replies. I understand now, I was confused on the
terminology of converting. If I bought a couple of used laptops I would
rather have them 'scrubbed' anyway so fdisk-ingwould not be a problem.
Now I can go bid on a couple.