NTFS i want to convet back to FATS system

[pumpduse]

Hi recently fitted new hard drive and in error formatted
new drive with NTFS system , each time i reformat the
h/drive i don't get a choice and am only allowed to
format in NTFS system . Does anybody know how i can
convert back to FATS system PLEASEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE.
(e-mail address removed)
Many thanks

 

[Carey Frisch [MVP]]

If your total hard drive capacity is greater than 32GB and you install
Windows XP on a partition greater than 32GB, the NTFS is the only
choice you will get. In order to be able to achieve a FAT32 partition,
you must delete all existing partitions and create a new partition that
is less than 32GB, then you'll see an option to format that partition
in FAT32.

Benchmarking on Windows XP
http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/hwdev/platform/performance/benchmark.mspx

NTFS Preinstallation and Windows XP
http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/hwdev/tech/storage/ntfs-preinstall.mspx

The Windows XP CD is bootable and contains all the tools necessary
to partition and format your drive. Follow this procedure and allow
Windows XP to partition and format your drive:

NOTE: It would be best to physically disconnect all your peripheral hardware
devices, except the monitor, mouse and keyboard, before installing XP.

NOTE: If you have an internal Zip Drive installed, physically disconnect the
EIDE and power cable to it before proceeding, otherwise your main
hard drive may not be assigned the customary C: drive letter.
After installing Windows XP, you may then reconnect it.

1. Open your BIOS and set your "CD Drive as the first bootable device".

===> Accessing Motherboard BIOS
===> http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/bios_manufacturer.htm

2. Insert your Windows XP CD in the CD Drive and reboot your computer.
3. You'll see a message to boot to the CD....follow the instructions.
4. The setup menu will appear and you should elect to delete all the existing
Windows partitions, then create a new partition, then format the primary
partition (preferably NTFS) and proceed to install Windows XP.

5. Clean Install Windows XP
http://michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html

[Courtesy of Michael Stevens, MS-MVP]

6. ==> Immediately after installing Windows XP, turn on XP's Firewall.
==> http://www.microsoft.com/security/protect/

7. After Windows XP is installed, visit the Windows Update website
and download the available "Critical Updates".

8. After installing the critical updates, be sure and visit the support website
of the manufacturer of the computer to download and install any
available Windows XP compatible drivers, such as video adapter
and audio drivers.

9. If you happen to run into any installation difficulties, use the following resources:

How to Troubleshoot Windows XP Problems During Installation
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;310064

Troubleshooting Windows XP Setup
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_setup.htm

[Courtesy of MS-MVP Kelly Theriot]

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows XP - Shell/User

Be Smart! Protect your PC!
http://www.microsoft.com/security/protect/

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


| Hi recently fitted new hard drive and in error formatted
| new drive with NTFS system , each time i reformat the
| h/drive i don't get a choice and am only allowed to
| format in NTFS system . Does anybody know how i can
| convert back to FATS system PLEASEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE.
| (e-mail address removed)
| Many thanks

 

[Star Fleet Admiral Q]

To add to Carey's post, you can always boot with a Win9x Recovery Disk
(Win95, Win98, WinME) (www.bootdisk.com) and format the drive to its full
size with FAT32 - although I would advise against it for several reasons:
1) NTFS, although slightly slower is more reliable and self-correcting,
2) Max file size is not limited to 4GB, thus doesn't cramp your style when
creating multimedia files.
3) The File Security Tab is available on Files/Folders affording more
precise control of access,
4) There are many more, but these are my major ones ...

 

[Shenan Stanley]

Hi recently fitted new hard drive and in error formatted
new drive with NTFS system , each time i reformat the
h/drive i don't get a choice and am only allowed to
format in NTFS system . Does anybody know how i can
convert back to FATS system PLEASEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE.

You did not say if this was the only drive in the system, the boot/system
drive or just a secondary storage device in the system?

If the primary/system drive in the system, your only choice to get it
formatted FAT32 (which I do NOT recommend personally, but works fine for
many people) is to backup anything important to you elsewhere first, go to
www.bootdisk.com and get yourself a nice Windows 98 Boot Diskette, boot with
it and use FDISK to create yourself a new FAT32 file system as large as you
want. Boot with the XP CD now and when it asks you which partition to
install XP onto, choose the new FAT32 partition you created and let it go.

If it is the secondary partition, you have a few choices, but I will go with
the one that plays of the suggestion above. Boot with the Windows 98 Boot
Diskette you made, run FDISK and make sure you choose the right hard drive
to modify, erase all partition information for the drive and recreate it the
way you want with FAT32.

You could use pay tools like Partition Magic, etc to do what you want.

I personally cannot tout any advantages of FAT32 over NTFS except that it is
easier to deal with in the case of a disaster for a normal home user and
there is a slight speed increase in using it over NTFS. You lose the
security features of XP, the size limitations on a per file basis are there
for FAT32, etc. But it also means less for you to manage and learn about -
so it depends on what you want to do.