Moving 160 GB Drive from Win 98SE to Win XP

[Shel]

I have a Western Dig WD1600JBRTL drive mounted internally in a Win
98SE computer. It connects through a Promise Ultra ATA controller card
(for which its own driver is installed).

I now want to install the drive in a USB external drive enclosure for
use with a Win XP machine. I will use it to store backups.

1. In order to have access to the full 160 GB, will I have to convert
the drive from FAT32 to NTFS?

2. Will the FAT32/NTFS conversion work on a USB-connected drive the
same as if it were connected to the drive controller internally? If
so, I assume that the Win XP Convert command will do this. Will any
data now on the drive be lost?

3. Are there any 'gotchas' I have not thought of?

4. Are there any external enclosures that are better than others for
what I want to do?

 

[Rod Speed]

I have a Western Dig WD1600JBRTL drive mounted internally
in a Win 98SE computer. It connects through a Promise Ultra
ATA controller card (for which its own driver is installed).

I now want to install the drive in a USB external drive enclosure
for use with a Win XP machine. I will use it to store backups.

1. In order to have access to the full 160 GB, will
I have to convert the drive from FAT32 to NTFS?
Nope.

2. Will the FAT32/NTFS conversion work on a USB-connected drive
the same as if it were connected to the drive controller internally?
Yep.

If so, I assume that the Win XP Convert command will do this.
Yep.

Will any data now on the drive be lost?
Nope.

3. Are there any 'gotchas' I have not thought of?

The external USB2 enclosure does need to support drives over 128G

4. Are there any external enclosures that are
better than others for what I want to do?

Yep, those that support drives over 128G and
those that provide decent cooling for the drive.

 

[Lil' Dave]

I have a Western Dig WD1600JBRTL drive mounted internally in a Win
98SE computer. It connects through a Promise Ultra ATA controller card
(for which its own driver is installed).

I now want to install the drive in a USB external drive enclosure for
use with a Win XP machine. I will use it to store backups.

1. In order to have access to the full 160 GB, will I have to convert
the drive from FAT32 to NTFS?

2. Will the FAT32/NTFS conversion work on a USB-connected drive the
same as if it were connected to the drive controller internally? If
so, I assume that the Win XP Convert command will do this. Will any
data now on the drive be lost?

3. Are there any 'gotchas' I have not thought of?

4. Are there any external enclosures that are better than others for
what I want to do?

Suggest you move the ide card and the hard drive to the new PC first. Move
any wanted personal data to the onboard hard drive. Pull the ide card.
Another option is a serial or LAN connection for the same purpose. Then,
start messing with an external enclosure and NTFS conversions.

 

[Shel]

The external USB2 enclosure does need to support drives over 128G


Yep, those that support drives over 128G and
those that provide decent cooling for the drive.

Many thanks, Rod.

I am thinking of the "StorTecc PM-350U2-ECS V4 Silver Smart Backup USB
2.0 Dual Fan Aluminum External Enclosure for 3.5 Inch HDD" from
DealSonic at http://dealsonic.com/stpmsismbaus.html.

 

[Rod Speed]

Shel wrote

Many thanks, Rod.

I am thinking of the "StorTecc PM-350U2-ECS V4 Silver Smart Backup
USB 2.0 Dual Fan Aluminum External Enclosure for 3.5 Inch HDD" from
DealSonic at http://dealsonic.com/stpmsismbaus.html.

Havent actually used one of those, but it looks fine.