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Unformatting NTFS

Discussion in 'Windows XP' started by tenbob, 2003/09/21.

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  1. 2003/09/23
    BillyBob Lifetime Subscription

    BillyBob Inactive

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    Christer

    On the 2.25 GB partition I had the options to format NTFS or FAT32.

    I would be willing to bet that you would not have been presented with those options if the HD had already been formated NTFS.

    I just went back to a previous reply of yours and found this.

    I believe there is the reason you did get the choice of formats. You removed the NON-DOS partition first.

    BillyBob
     
    BillyBob,
    #21
  2. 2003/09/23
    charlesvar

    charlesvar Inactive Alumni

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    Hi Newt,

    Yes, I quess it was a case of "dyslexia ".

    I know both System Commander and Partition Magic allows you to convert back to FAT32.

    I was so sure there was a native command to do this.

    Regards - Charles
     
    charlesvar,
    #22


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  4. 2003/09/23
    Christer

    Christer Geek Member Staff

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    BillyBob,

    I would be willing to take that bet ...... :D ...... since my main computer, which I´m working on now, has all its partitions formated to NTFS and there is the option to format either to NTFS or FAT32.

    The LapTop that I told about didn´t get Win98 immediately. I installed XP on it, without activating, to test and learn stuff before doing the final installation on my main computer.
    On the LapTop, XP was installed on FAT32.

    This indicates that XP offers formating options according to the size of the partition and when the size exceeds the limit for FAT that option is not presented.

    I had a bad installation of WinME when my BOAC was delivered from the shop who assembled it. Some things didn´t work, e.g. it wasn´t possible to create a start disk. After having given up on their support and their stupid answers, I reinstalled WinME myself and it worked much better in all respects.

    From tenbobs third post:

    Same situation as I found myself in, not everything was working and a reinstallation was the solution and I would do it sooner rather than later.

    Christer
     
    Christer,
    #23
  5. 2003/09/23
    BillyBob Lifetime Subscription

    BillyBob Inactive

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    OK. The options may be there. But if you selected to format to Fat32 with it already formated HTFS would it work ? If it did I believe all the data would be gone.

    Mine are all 32bit.

    I believe Converting 32bit to NTFS is not the same as formating and all data is saved. But there is no way I know of to CONVERT it back without losing data.

    I just opened MY Computer. I selected H: then properties.

    All it showed ( in regards to format ) was FORMAT..

    I ain't going no further unless you tell me the choice is after that.

    I might nowever just plug my 2nd HD back in and see what is what. But it will be at least tomorrow before I can do that.

    But one thing that I believe has to be considered here ( at least on my part ) is that I put XP on top of SE. Whether that makes a difference or not I do not know.

    BillyBob
     
    BillyBob,
    #24
  6. 2003/09/23
    Christer

    Christer Geek Member Staff

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    BillyBob,

    I don´t want to format any of my partitions to FAT32 so I won´t click the final button and yes, all the data would be gone.

    That´s correct but the end result may differ depending on which utility was used to format to FAT32 in the first place.

    Converting back (NTFS > FAT32) is not possible from within XP. Format to FAT32 is the only option.

    I believe it can be done using third party software.


    Right-click on My computer and choose Manage > Disk Management.

    On the graphical display of Your harddisk;

    right-click on the system partition and the format option is greyed out, not possible to make that mistake;

    right-click on any other partition and choose format and click the arrow next to "File system" and the options will drop down.

    DON`T CLICK OK ...... ;) ......

    The graphical display of the harddisk will help you avoid making mistakes.

    You can get to a slightly different format dialog box via Windows Explorer > right-click partition > choose format but You´ll miss the graphical display.

    Christer
     
    Christer,
    #25
  7. 2003/09/23
    tenbob

    tenbob Inactive Thread Starter

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    I don't care whether reformatting the drive in question wipes all data. I have moved everything over to the second partition of my boot disk. I want to format drive 2 in FAT32 and then move it all from the bootdisk partition back to Drive 2 so I can read it in DOS should I choose to.

    DOS cannot find an NTFS drive
     
    tenbob,
    #26
  8. 2003/09/23
    Christer

    Christer Geek Member Staff

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    tenbob,
    have You tried my suggestion three posts from the top on this page (2)?

    If not, please do so and comment on You findings!

    Christer
     
    Christer,
    #27
  9. 2003/09/23
    BillyBob Lifetime Subscription

    BillyBob Inactive

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    I following instructions posted I do now see where the choice is.

    Being VERY carefull to hit nothing other than cancel/close.

    I also looked at your previous link that you mention and see the Remove Logical Drive selection is.

    So I am not going any further. Not on this HD anyway.

    :) The reasons for which should be obvious :)

    Next question can you format an NTFS partiton to Fat32 without removing it first ?

    Right now I gotta go finish dinner so that it is ready when my Wife gets home.

    BillyBob
     
    Last edited: 2003/09/23
    BillyBob,
    #28
  10. 2003/09/23
    Christer

    Christer Geek Member Staff

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    Since the operating system can handle both file systems, I would think so but I don´t know for sure.

    Christer
     
    Christer,
    #29
  11. 2003/09/24
    Christer

    Christer Geek Member Staff

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    tenbob,
    it just hit me that Windows XP can not format a harddisk or partition larger than 32GB to FAT32.

    What is the size of the harddisk in question?

    Christer
     
    Christer,
    #30
  12. 2003/09/24
    Christer

    Christer Geek Member Staff

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    Christer,
    #31
  13. 2003/09/30
    Christer

    Christer Geek Member Staff

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    tenbob,
    it would be interesting to hear how Your problem has been resolved and what did the trick!

    Regards,
    Christer
     
    Christer,
    #32
  14. 2003/09/30
    tenbob

    tenbob Inactive Thread Starter

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    Finally got to reply to the request "How did I do it? "

    I have Partition Magic and used is for partitioning but not this. However, a tech there walked me thru it and PM does allow the conversion back and forth. Of course, all data is destroyed but now my second drive is Fat32.
     
    tenbob,
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  15. 2003/09/30
    Christer

    Christer Geek Member Staff

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    tenbob,
    thanks for the feedback!

    I´m glad You found a solution but I still don´t understand why Windows XP didn´t give the option to format to FAT32.

    Christer
     
    Christer,
    #34
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