NTFS or FAT32

[Ron Murray]

1. How can I find out what I have now NTFS or FAT32.
2. What is best and
3. How would I go (change) from one to the other.
Why? I want to go back to Win ME on a older computer and I think that is why
I can not reformat the hard drive....
Thank you.......
Ron Murrl

 

[Ken Blake]

In

1. How can I find out what I have now NTFS or FAT32.

In My Computer or Explorer, right-click on the drive and choose
Properties. It will tell you under "File system."

2. What is best and

NTFS


3. How would I go (change) from one to the other.

You can use the CONVERT command to go from FAT32 to NTFS (but
first read http://www.aumha.org/win5/a/ntfscvt.htm), but not the
other way around. Windows has no ability to go from NTFS to
FAT32, although you can do this with a third-party program like
Partition Magic.

Why? I want to go back to Win ME on a older computer and I think that
is why I can not reformat the hard drive....

If you're trying to format an NTFS drive using a Windows Me
diskette, you can't do that. You need to first FDISK the drive to
remove the NTFS partition and create a FAT32 one.

 

[James Harris]

If you are running anything less than Windows NT 4.0, then
you are probably using FAT32 or FAT. This is because all
versions of Windows for consumers; 95, 98 98SE and ME do
not reconize NTFS.

Which is better? It depends on your needs. If you have a
dual boot configuration and you're running XP or 2000 or
NT, but you want to be able to see files via ME, 98SE, 98
or 95, then use FAT32. If you need more security and
better file management and you're not using a consumer
operating system (with the exception of XP Home), then use
NTFS.

 

[Ron Murray]

Thank you Mr. Blake.....again!

In


In My Computer or Explorer, right-click on the drive and choose
Properties. It will tell you under "File system."




You can use the CONVERT command to go from FAT32 to NTFS (but
first read http://www.aumha.org/win5/a/ntfscvt.htm), but not the
other way around. Windows has no ability to go from NTFS to
FAT32, although you can do this with a third-party program like
Partition Magic.




If you're trying to format an NTFS drive using a Windows Me
diskette, you can't do that. You need to first FDISK the drive to
remove the NTFS partition and create a FAT32 one.

 

[Ken Blake]

In

Thank you Mr. Blake.....again!

No need to be formal. Just "Ken" is fine. And you're welcome.
Always glad to help when I can.

 

[Ron Murray]

Hate to thank some one for one thing then come right back with something
else but that is what I am doing. You said that I must first run FDISK. The
only fdisk that I have (or know about ) is on my dos 6.2 disk and my
computer will not let them run. Is fdisk avail from else where?
Ron

 

[Alex Nichol]

1. How can I find out what I have now NTFS or FAT32.

In My Computer, click on the drive Icon, and you will be told in the
panel on the left. (Or r-click and take Properties)

2. What is best and
3. How would I go (change) from one to the other.

See www.aumha.org/win5/a/ntfs.htm

Why? I want to go back to Win ME on a older computer and I think that iswhy
I can not reformat the hard drive....

In that case you probably have NTFS, which DOS and ME do not know.

Boot the ME startup floppy, run its FDISK (say Y to 'Large disk
support?') and with that
Delete non-DOS partition
Make new DOS Primary one

Reboot
FORMAT C:
go to the ME CD and run
SETUP