Transferring WinXP partition from a FAT32 drive to NTFS?

[Guest]

Hi,

My laptop's hard drive starting failing recently, so I've ordered a
replacement. My plan is to install the new drive, then stick the old one in a
FireWire enclosure and transfer the contents of the drive to the new one. The
only complication is that I would like to switch to NTFS as a file system. My
current idea is to format the 40GB drive into two partitions, one 32GB in
size (C, the other occupying the remainder of the space (D. I'll then
install WinXP to the second, smaller partition (D, boot to that
installation, and transfer the contents of the old drive to C:.

My question is, is this feasible? Will I have any trouble booting from the
second partition? Will the installation on C: boot without any problems
despite having originally been a FAT32 one?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Guest]

I should also mention that I'll initially be installing WinME to the C:
partition, as I only have a upgrade disc for XP.

 

[Guest]

I understand you wanted to install WinXP onto the D drive instead of C, you
can partition the hard disk based on your description. However, makesure you
make a WinXP boot-up disk first before you attempt any new installation.

There is chance that WinXP doesn't boot if the first installation of WinXP
is installed onto D drive instead of C. (Through my experience) Due to
misconfiguration of some system files, the "boot.ini"

Secondly, if you plan to make your partition as NTFS make sure you have at
least Win2K or later windows version. Because Win9x or WinME does not
recognize NTFS formatted drive/volume/partition.

In case you wanted to change your file system from FAT32 to NTFS you can
type "convert c: /FS:NTFS" in your command prompt(click "Start"->"Run"->type
"Cmd"-> click "OK") *Bewarned that the conversion process is irreversible*

Hope this help u a little.

P.S.: If you find this article incomplete please state it

 

[Guest]

Hi there,

Thanks for the missing "data", the steps u need to do is U need to make 2
clean WinME installation on your Laptop(one on C: & another on D. After
that you can upgrade the WinME in the partition D to WinXP. However, If you
wish WinME in ur C partition be able to read ur D partition do not convert D
to NTFS.

From,
CKM

 

[Guest]

Thanks, both of you, but just to be absolutely sure, I won't have any
difficulty booting WinXP from the D: partition, copying all the files from
the external drive to C:, then booting from C: and wiping out the
installation on D:?

 

[Guest]

You are welcome

Let me put the recommendation in steps :
1. Before you do anything, always make sure you have decrypt all the
encrypted file in your NTFS volume.
2. Then backup all your data to your external hard disk.
3. Boot up your laptop using the WinME CD(assuming that the CD is bootable).
4. After booting up WinME, do not attempt to install WinME immediately, use
"fdisk" to partition your hard drive.
5. After you have partition your hard drive into C: & D:, reset your laptop.
6. Install WinME to drive C:
7. After instaling WinME in drive C:
8. Reboot your laptop again using your WinME CD (make sure you have change
your laptop bios to start booting from CDROM instead of IDE0 first)
9.At the 2nd time, install the WinME into your D: (to make you laptop a
"dual boot" system chosing to clean installation by installing a new copy of
WinME on the D
10. After installing the 2nd WinME to your laptop, restart your laptop, then
choose the Windows ME on the 2nd line after "POST" (POST is an event when ur
laptop display the laptop brand & doing memory testing after you powerup ur
laptop)
11. To make sure u have boot to the correct WinME, do this Click
"Start"->"Run"-> type "command" -> click "OK", you should see a window with
"command prompt" as its title, check the prompt, usually something like this
"C:\WINDOWS\... >" if the C: is a D: instead then you are in the right track.
12. Put your WinXP upgrade CD to the laptop & run the WinXP upgrade CD.
13. When installing the WinXP make sure u did not choose NTFS as your file
system.
14. After installing the WinXP, just restore your data as you wish.

Hope this help you.