WINXP & External HDD

[Pflueger]

I have an 80G External HDD that became full of backups so I thought I might
just format it rather than delete everything individually so I could start
out fresh.

When I clicked on the File/Format option in My Computer it only has NTFS,
but my drive is formatted as one FAT32 partition. So I ended up removing the
files with the Remove function of a drive scanner program I have.

I assume that if I tried it would have refused somehow, but it left me
wondering--would it possibly change the format type if I let it? If so,
would that do any good (e.g. for cloning)?

Pflueger

 

[Rick \Nutcase\ Rogers]

Hi,

The format won't change unless you initiate it. As the FAT32, WinXP won't
format in that file system beyond 32GB. You would need to use a different
utility.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Associate Expert - WindowsXP Expert Zone

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org

 

[Anna]

Hi,

The format won't change unless you initiate it. As the FAT32, WinXP won't
format in that file system beyond 32GB. You would need to use a different
utility.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Associate Expert - WindowsXP Expert Zone

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org

Pflueger:
As Rick points out, WinXP does not provide the capability to format a
partition in FAT32 > 32 GB; however, there is a simple program (Linux
developed) that allows a user to do so within the XP environment. If you're
interested, so indicate and I'll furnish the details.

I assume from your remarks that the program you used to "remove" its files
simply deleted them and that your USB external HD is still FAT32 formatted.
I'm not clear about your question as to whether "change(ing) the format (of
that external drive) would ... do any good ... for cloning". If you clone
the contents of your internal drive to the external one, the external
(destination) drive will contain the same file system of the source disk. Is
that what you're asking?

I don't think there's any particular significance as it relates to the file
system of your external drive, with one exception. If you're going to be
using that drive in a Win9x/Me environment, e.g., backing up files from one
or more of those operating systems, then it would be necessary for the
external drive to be FAT32 formatted since those operating systems can "see"
only FAT32 partitions.
Anna

 

[dagdabrona]

Pflueger пиÑал(а):

I have an 80G External HDD that became full of backups so I thought I might
just format it rather than delete everything individually so I could start
out fresh.

When I clicked on the File/Format option in My Computer it only has NTFS,
but my drive is formatted as one FAT32 partition. So I ended up removing the
files with the Remove function of a drive scanner program I have.

I assume that if I tried it would have refused somehow, but it left me
wondering--would it possibly change the format type if I let it? If so,
would that do any good (e.g. for cloning)?

Pflueger

Hello,

If you really wish to erase your HDD and start from scratch you can use
KillDisk software that is capable of erasing the whole drive, including
its partition table. So, after its progress you will be able to
re-partition it the way you wish. KillDisk is also a secure erasing
software, so that it would be impossible to restore erased data. Head
on to its site www.killdisk.com for more info and download.

-Brona

 

[Pflueger]

Anna, For sake of simplicity please follow the edited thread below:>

Pflueger:
As Rick points out, WinXP does not provide the capability to format a
partition in FAT32 > 32 GB; however, there is a simple program (Linux
developed) that allows a user to do so within the XP environment. If you're
interested, so indicate and I'll furnish the details.

I was wondering if it would be possible to change the format from FAT32 to
NTSF on that external drive.

I assume from your remarks that the program you used to "remove" its files
simply deleted them and that your USB external HD is still FAT32

formatted.

Yes -- I have a drive-scanner program with a "Remove" option when you
right-click any portion of the pie-graph -- it apparently deletes them,
nothing to do with the file system.

I'm not clear about your question as to whether "change(ing) the format (of
that external drive) would ... do any good ... for cloning". If you clone
the contents of your internal drive to the external one, the external
(destination) drive will contain the same file system of the source disk. Is
that what you're asking?

Yes, my internal drive is also 80GB but is NTSF, with WINXP OEM, and
contains a volume way over 32GB. Wouldn't it be necessary to change the
FAT32 External Drive to NTSF to clone an exact image rather than copy/move
things over as I have been doing (using a backup application.)

I don't think there's any particular significance as it relates to the file
system of your external drive, with one exception. If you're going to be
using that drive in a Win9x/Me environment, e.g., backing up files from one
or more of those operating systems, then it would be necessary for the
external drive to be FAT32 formatted since those operating systems can "see"
only FAT32 partitions.
Anna

I wil not be working with WIN9X/ME at all. The ideal would be a mirror image
clone of my internal HDD.

Thanks, Pflueger

 

[Anna]

Anna, For sake of simplicity please follow the edited thread below:>


I was wondering if it would be possible to change the format from FAT32 to
NTSF on that external drive.


formatted.

Yes -- I have a drive-scanner program with a "Remove" option when you
right-click any portion of the pie-graph -- it apparently deletes them,
nothing to do with the file system.




Yes, my internal drive is also 80GB but is NTSF, with WINXP OEM, and
contains a volume way over 32GB. Wouldn't it be necessary to change the
FAT32 External Drive to NTSF to clone an exact image rather than copy/move
things over as I have been doing (using a backup application.)


I wil not be working with WIN9X/ME at all. The ideal would be a mirror
image
clone of my internal HDD.

Thanks, Pflueger

Plueger:
As I explained above, if you use a disk imaging program, e.g., Symantec's
Norton Ghost or Acronis True Image, to clone the contents of your internal
drive to the external one, the external drive will then be (for all
practical purposes) a bit-for-bit copy of your internal (source) drive. As
such, whatever the file system is on the source disk will now be on the
destination drive regardless of what file system was previously used on that
destination disk. So if your internal drive is NTFS formatted and your
external drive is *presently* FAT32 formatted, after the cloning operation
the external drive will contain the NTFS file system. There is *no* need to
modify the file system on your external drive *prior* to the cloning
process.
Anna