NTFS Fat32 Conversion Question

[Tarkus]

Here's my systemual Boot 98 and XP
C is a 40gb containing Win98, FAT 32
2nd HD is a 120gb 2 partitions
1st is the D drive, 60gb containing XP, FAT32
2nd partition,E: is 60gb, FAT32

I need to work with a file which is larger than 4gb for a DVD. FAT 32
won't do that. If I convert E to NTFS, and put that file there, Will I
have a problem? I would need to access that drive and work with that
file from XP only, but XP is installed on a FAT32 partition. I do need
to access the files on C (W98) from D (XP install Fat 32).If I convert
both D and E to NTFS, I assume I won't be able to run or see anything
on C. Will this work? Hope I made this clear.

 

[Guest]

Converting FAT32 to ntfs is a one way conversion,unless you reformat the
drive.ntfs can read FAT32,FAT32 can't read ntfs.

 

[Ron Martell]

Converting FAT32 to ntfs is a one way conversion,unless you reformat the
drive.

Hooray. You actually got something right.

ntfs can read FAT32,FAT32 can't read ntfs.

That part is pure nonsense, as usual.


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

In memory of a dear friend Alex Nichol MVP
http://aumha.org/alex.htm

 

[Ron Martell]

Here's my systemual Boot 98 and XP
C is a 40gb containing Win98, FAT 32
2nd HD is a 120gb 2 partitions
1st is the D drive, 60gb containing XP, FAT32
2nd partition,E: is 60gb, FAT32

I need to work with a file which is larger than 4gb for a DVD. FAT 32
won't do that. If I convert E to NTFS, and put that file there, Will I
have a problem? I would need to access that drive and work with that
file from XP only, but XP is installed on a FAT32 partition. I do need
to access the files on C (W98) from D (XP install Fat 32).If I convert
both D and E to NTFS, I assume I won't be able to run or see anything
on C. Will this work? Hope I made this clear.

If you convert an existing FAT32 partition to NTFS you will almost
certainly end up with a 512 byte cluster size on the NTFS which can
cause efficiency problems and degrade performance.

If you convert your XP boot partition to NTFS then that will have zero
effect on the ability to access any other partition on the drive,
either FAT32 or NTFS. There is no concern in that regard whatever.

The only possible concern would be when you boot your Windows 98
partition as that version of Windows cannot access NTFS partitions,
except via some specialized third party software. But Windows XP can
use and access FAT32 and NTFS partitions mix and match, even on the
same hard drive.

Before converting be sure to read the article by the late Alex Nichol
MVP at http://www.aumha.org/win5/a/ntfscvt.htm


Good luck

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

In memory of a dear friend Alex Nichol MVP
http://aumha.org/alex.htm

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Here's my systemual Boot 98 and XP
C is a 40gb containing Win98, FAT 32
2nd HD is a 120gb 2 partitions
1st is the D drive, 60gb containing XP, FAT32
2nd partition,E: is 60gb, FAT32

I need to work with a file which is larger than 4gb for a DVD. FAT 32
won't do that. If I convert E to NTFS, and put that file there, Will I
have a problem? I would need to access that drive and work with that
file from XP only, but XP is installed on a FAT32 partition. I do need
to access the files on C (W98) from D (XP install Fat 32).If I convert
both D and E to NTFS, I assume I won't be able to run or see anything
on C. Will this work? Hope I made this clear.

WinXP can read FAT12 (the file system used on 3.5" diskettes), FAT16,
FAT32, CDFS (the file system used on most CDs), and NTFS with equal
facility. Further, the file system on any one disk/partition or
diskette has absolutely no affect upon the operating system's ability to
read other compatible file systems on other disks/partitions.

You can safely convert your current hard drive to NTFS whenever
desired, without having to format the partition and reinstall
everything. As always when performing any serious changes, back up any
important data before proceeding, just in case. A little advance
preparation is also strongly recommended, so you can avoid any
performance hits caused by the default cluster size:

Converting FAT32 to NTFS in Windows
http://www.aumha.org/a/ntfscvt.htm



--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:



You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on having
both at once. - RAH

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Converting FAT32 to ntfs is a one way conversion,unless you reformat the
drive.

Or use a 3rd party partitioning tool with the capability of converting
NTFS to FAT32. There are some.

ntfs can read FAT32,FAT32 can't read ntfs.

And here I thought you'd finally learned something about WinXP....
Sigh....


--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:



You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on having
both at once. - RAH

 

[Sparda]

Here's my systemual Boot 98 and XP
C is a 40gb containing Win98, FAT 32
2nd HD is a 120gb 2 partitions
1st is the D drive, 60gb containing XP, FAT32
2nd partition,E: is 60gb, FAT32

I need to work with a file which is larger than 4gb for a DVD.
FAT 32
won't do that. If I convert E to NTFS, and put that file
there, Will I
have a problem? I would need to access that drive and work
with that
file from XP only, but XP is installed on a FAT32 partition. I
do need
to access the files on C (W98) from D (XP install Fat 32).If I
convert
both D and E to NTFS, I assume I won't be able to run or see
anything
on C. Will this work? Hope I made this clear.

Win98 can only use FAT and FAT32 partioions, canot access NTFS
volumes, this is the only problem you will encounter (most likly).