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convert ntfs to fat32

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dexter195

Programmer
Joined
Jun 18, 2003
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220
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EU
hi,

i'm running xp on my computer and want to install win98 onto the c: drive which is ntfs. xp is not installed on the c: drive.

is there a way to convert ntfs to fat32 without formatting the drive.

thanks for your help in advance
 
Not that I'm aware of. If there is a 3rd-party tool out there that'll do it, I advise against it to avoid problems later. Instead, move any data you need to another drive, then format C: as FAT32.

~cdogg
"Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results." - Albert Einstein
[tab][navy]For general rules and guidelines to get better answers, click here:[/navy] faq219-2884
 
that sounds like the best idea but xp runs some files off the c: drive and by formatting it, xp won't boot up.

do u know if fixboot on the xp recovery console will fix the boot problem?
 
Dexter,
There is one thing you are overlooking, if you do install win98 on the C Drive. Win98 does not respect other bootladers, it will overwrite winXP's bootloader to put his own, so you will only be able to boot into 98. you'll have to go in and use fixboot or something like it to get Winxp to boot again. Or a third party utility. That is why it is alweasy suggested to install Windows 98 first and then XP.

Hope this helps.
 
That is why it is alweasy suggested to install Windows 98 first and then XP."

this is absolutely correct and should really be the only way to do a dual xp/98 boot.

 
also, if you work with large files (videos, etc) within xp, you should set up a fairly large d: parition as ntfs to take advantage of some of the performance benefits ntfs can offer.
 
Yes, Win9x/ME should always be installed on the primary boot partition first, then any 2000/XP on any other partition.

If however you don't, then using XP's repair utility (booting from the CD) should get around this, although I admit it can be pretty tricky.

~cdogg
"Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results." - Albert Einstein
[tab][navy]For general rules and guidelines to get better answers, click here:[/navy] faq219-2884
 
partition magic will convert ntfs to fat32 - but this is irrelevant as per all the other posters!
 
here's how you install win98 after xp. i've tried this and it works.

This procedure assumes that Windows XP is installed on drive C:
Drive C: must be FAT16 or FAT32 to be able to install Windows 98 after XP is already installed. The 98/Me installation routine cannot write to an NTFS partition.
You must have a second hard disk or partition formatted for FAT16/32 in order to be able to install Windows 98/Me. Installing 98/Me to the same partition as Windows XP is NOT RECOMMENDED!
I recommend the use of a Windows 98 Startup disk for this procedure.You should ensure that DEBUG.EXE is on your Startup disk.On a 98 Startup disk, created from Add/Remove Programs, its in the EBD.CAB file on the Startup disk. For a 98 Startup disk created from FAT32EBD.EXE its on the floppy

Installing Windows 98

1) Use a Win98 Startup disk (with CD support) to boot your computer.
2) Insert your Win98 CD into the CD Rom drive.
3) At the A: prompt type X:\Win98\Setup.exe where X: is your CD-ROM drive.
4) Proceed with the install. When prompted for the install location, you'll see C:\Windows.000. Choose Other directory and change this to the drive you wish to install 98 to and name the folder Windows (or something else if you prefer).
5) Complete the Win98 install. Allow the computer to boot into Win98.

Repairing the Windows XP Boot Loader

1) Create a Win98 Startup Disk
2) Create a Notepad file with the following entries, exactly as shown:

L 100 2 0 1
N C:\BOOTSECT.DOS
R BX
0
R CX
200
W
Q

3) Save the file to the Win98 Startup Disk as READ.SCR
4) Boot the computer with the Win98 Startup Disk and at the A: prompt type

DEBUG < READ.SCR
Steps 1 - 4 create the BOOTSECT.DOS file needed to boot Win98.You may need to use the ATTRIB C:\BOOTSECT.DOS -S -H -R command if BOOTSECT.DOS already exists and you get an error when trying to recreate it.

5) Configure your computer to boot from the CD drive. This is done in the BIOS, or your computer may offer the option at startup if it detects a bootable CD.If your computer does not support booting from CD-Rom, you should also be able to boot with a 98 Startup disk, and run WINNT.EXE from the I386 folder of your XP CD.
6) Insert your XP CD and boot from it.
7) You'll see some files being copied, then you'll be presented with a choice of installing or repairing an existing installation. Choose Repair.
8) You'll be asked which XP installation you want to log into. Enter 1. There is usually only
one installation.
9) You'll be prompted for the Administrator password. For Home, the default password is blank, so just hit Enter. For Pro, enter the same password you did during setup for the Administrator account (this is not the same as the password for an Admin level account. It must be the Administrator account password).
10) At the C:\Windows prompt, type FIXBOOT. You'll be prompted to confirm. Do so.
11) When FIXBOOT is finished, remove the XP CD and type EXIT and the machine will reboot.
Reconfigure your computer to boot from the hard drive if necessary.

You will now get the XP Boot loader with your choice of operating system
 
dexter,
But you said "[blue]xp is not installed on the c: drive[/blue]". What changes to the procedure above did you make to get it to work?

Just curious...

~cdogg
"Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results." - Albert Einstein
[tab][navy]For general rules and guidelines to get better answers, click here:[/navy] faq219-2884
 
you follow all the steps till the fix boot stage (step 10). xp console will put you onto the drive that xp is installed onto.

[drive letter of winxp partition]:\windows.

then you type:

fixboot /[drive letter of winxp part]

this is the only bit different from the steps above. this thing works. i had the two of them running on the same machine for over a year.

 
i just realised i have 3 of my many drives as fat32.

and i also just remembered that windows98 doesnt recognise ntfs, so when 98 setup starts up its will recognise one of the fat32 partitions as the c:\ drive.

sorry for wasting your time and bring on those old games. ah crusader no remorse
 
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