FAT32 in XP issue....

[butchrecon]

I have a system I have setup a Dual boot with Win98 and Win XP. I need to because of compatibility issues with some of my kids games with XP. Any way both OS's work fine, no crashing no issues except 1. I have two hard drives. with 5 partitions total. Drive 1 has two partitions, 1- 35 GIG FAT32 (For Windows 98) and 1 - 5 GIG NTFS (For swap file space for XP). Drive 2 has 3 partitions. 1 30 GIG NTFS for XP, 1 - 3 GIG FAT32 (WIn98 Swap) and 1 - 40 Gig FAT32 for Storage between the two OS's. In Windows 98 all the FAT32 partitions work fine, I can store files on all 3. In Windows XP the 40 Gig Storage partition keeps coming up as unformatted. I am not sure why. XP does not want to play nice. Now I am no slouch when it comes to computers, this issue is driving me nuts though. Any suggestions?

James Collins
Systems Analyst
A+, MCP, MCSA, Network+

 

[butchrecon]

I think I figured it out. I believe you can only have 4 Primary Partitions for Windows XP. I am trying to use 5. I will just make the 40 Gig storage partition an extended partition and see what happens.

James Collins
Systems Analyst
A+, MCP, MCSA, Network+

 

[bcastner]

Four primary partitions per volume, not system wide.

Use recovery console and try to repair the boot sector of the drive with the Fixboot command.

(even drives not used for booting have a boot sector that contains vital information).

 

[butchrecon]

Both drives are used for booting. Drive one boots 98 and drive 2 boots XP. I see what you are saying though. Thanks.

James Collins
Systems Analyst
A+, MCP, MCSA, Network+

 

[bcastner]

Actually in a true dual boot the boot information would be on whatever drive has the active partition. This is not necessarily the drive containing XP.

 

[butchrecon]

Yes thats true. I guess my point was more system files and folders. Anyway thanks for the assistance.

James Collins
Systems Analyst
A+, MCP, MCSA, Network+

 

[bcastner]

Good luck, as this can be tricky but not impossible to resolve without a reformat.

 

[bcastner]

James,

This utility, MBRTool, was written originally for Partition Magic Tech Support.

If possible it will restore the MBR from a backup copy on the drive itself.

Freeware, in the Downloads section:

http://www.diydatarecovery.nl/

Discussion:

http://groups.google.com/groups?hl=...$6c4e9a8c@reader.news.uudial.eu.uu.net&rnum=8