home hardware prices news articles forums photos user reviews
Go Back   Tech Support Forums - TechIMO.com > PC Hardware and Tech > General Tech Discussion
Ask a Tech Support Question (free)!

Need some NTFS clarification

Reply
Get bargains at  »  Dealighted.com
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Currently Active Users: 1564
Discussions: 200,906, Posts: 2,378,902, Members: 246,276
Old October 3rd, 2003, 06:15 PM   Digg it!   #1 (permalink)
Member
 
Join Date: May 2003
Location: N 43.240 W 80.247
Posts: 408
Need some NTFS clarification

Right now I am using win 98. That uses FAT 32 right? I am getting XP soon and that uses NTFS format right? Will this new format effect my harddrive? It is an older HD sortof 30GB 5400rpm. I am not really sure how these formats work anyway. I was planning on reformating my HD when I get XP anyway because it's full of junk. Is there something I must do when I reformat to make it NTFS or does XP do everything for me? Or do I have to worry about getting a new HDD that can support NTFS. Sorry if these questions seem stupid. but I don't really know much about OS formats.

Thanks
Computer is offline   Reply With Quote
Old October 3rd, 2003, 06:21 PM     #2 (permalink)
A hero in training
 
GroundZero3's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Norfolk, VA
Posts: 26,806
Blog Entries: 14
win98 uses fat 32 correct


winxp can use either ntfs or fat 32, when formating the drive you have the option to use fat32 or ntfs

make sure if you format to back up what you want to keep, you will not need another hard drive. the one you have will work.
GroundZero3 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old October 3rd, 2003, 06:27 PM     #3 (permalink)
may contain mild peril
 
SpookyEddy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: UK
Posts: 3,329
ntfs will give you several benefits including file and folder permissions, indexing, journalling (helps with fault tolerance), quotas and encryption. It also scales better than fat32 in my experience.

As mentioned you can select to use either fat32 or ntfs during the installation of XP.

Regards

ed
__________________
I dreamt that a large eagle circled the room three times and then got into bed with me and took all the blankets.
SpookyEddy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old October 3rd, 2003, 06:54 PM     #4 (permalink)
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: I'm Not Telling
Posts: 942
Re: Need some NTFS clarification

Quote:
Originally posted by Computer
Right now I am using win 98. That uses FAT 32 right? I am getting XP soon and that uses NTFS format right? Will this new format effect my harddrive? It is an older HD sortof 30GB 5400rpm. I am not really sure how these formats work anyway. I was planning on reformating my HD when I get XP anyway because it's full of junk. Is there something I must do when I reformat to make it NTFS or does XP do everything for me? Or do I have to worry about getting a new HDD that can support NTFS. Sorry if these questions seem stupid. but I don't really know much about OS formats.

Thanks

The're no STUPID questions. Only dumb mistakes. If you're going to do a clean install. Win XP should do the format and partition.
You just select the comand at the prompt.
Uncle Bob is offline   Reply With Quote
Old October 3rd, 2003, 07:34 PM     #5 (permalink)
Senior Member
 
excuzzzeme's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2003
Posts: 968
Send a message via AIM to excuzzzeme Send a message via MSN to excuzzzeme Send a message via Yahoo to excuzzzeme
You can "upgrade your system to XP and maintain FAT32 file system. There is no need to re-format the hard drive to NTFS. NTFS is more secure than FAT32 and easier to manage security profiles. "Upgrade" to XP and maintain your 32 on the upgrade (XP will allow you to choose to change file system at install/upgrade). Check your files (programs, misc for integrity) then at your leaisure, open a command prompt and enter:

convert c: /fs:ntfs

you will then convert your files to ntfs. You can convert FROM FAT32 to NTFS. You CANNOT convert from NTFS to FAT32. You can do this without reformatiing your hard drive. Although reccommended I have never backed up files when using this method and never lost files or programs. Have used this on a 110 workstation network. (Call me "Lucky")
__________________
Only two defining forces have ever offered to die for you,
Jesus Christ and the American G. I. One died for your soul; The other for your freedom
excuzzzeme is offline   Reply With Quote
Old October 4th, 2003, 02:47 PM     #6 (permalink)
Ultimate Member
 
nukes's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Scotland, UK
Posts: 3,221
Send a message via AIM to nukes Send a message via Yahoo to nukes
yeah, you won't have any trouble. Especially as you want to reformat anyway.
__________________
_____
NuKeS
nukes is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Most Active Discussions
Is It Just Me? (2809)
Is the PSU I received dead? (10)
California Passes Anti-Flat-HDTV Le.. (38)
Install XP pro and a Vista laptop ?.. (8)
Fox uses old news clips to inflate .. (33)
A good PSU? (10)
HIS HD5770 graphic card question (14)
Foreign voltage (6)
New Computer wont recognize XP disc (7)
Dept. of HS: NSA 'Helped' Develop V.. (12)
Ideal cheap graph card for PC-Gamin.. (15)
Print spooler problem (5)
EVGA 9800 gtx help with finding a g.. (6)
Mysterious Boot manager (9)
Recent Discussions
Boot Problem? (0)
Logitech G9 laser gaming mouse $59.95.. (2)
$5 off any item with the purchase of .. (1)
Foreign voltage (6)
Ideal cheap graph card for PC-Gaming? (15)
What OS for a home server? (other tha.. (0)
HIS HD5770 graphic card question (14)
Install XP pro and a Vista laptop ?? (8)
Need hard disk drivers (3)
Cloning old drive to new drive (6)
Asus P4G8X Mobo (0)
Amptron monitor G17FP-Black (0)
windows vista security holes (0)
EVGA 9800 gtx help with finding a goo.. (6)
A good PSU? (10)
Is the PSU I received dead? (10)
HP Pavillion Laptop ze4220 won't turn.. (7)
Dept. of HS: NSA 'Helped' Develop Vis.. (12)
Convert 5 pin Keyboard to USB (11)
Print spooler problem (5)
hybernate option (2)
Steam ID's, Gamertags etc... (1)
New Computer wont recognize XP disc (7)
World's largest Monopoly Game using G.. (328)
Modern Warfare 2: Who Bought It? (60)


All times are GMT -4. The time now is 07:41 AM.
TechIMO Copyright 2009 All Enthusiast, Inc.



1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28