External 32bit HD vs. 64bit hardware upgrade?

[HellaSick]

My concern is simple but worth asking, since I'm new to this 64bit stuff.
I've been custom building PC's for bout 3 years now and of course the newest builds being 64bit systems. Recently I had a client Ask will his current external & internal "Back-Up" drives need to be reformatted to recognize correctly with a 64bit upgrade?
Hmmmmm Most of the time I only deal with 1 brand new drive.

Now I'm "positive" that the main OS drive will need to be formated.. easy done.
But now I'm unsure of the extra drives with valued info currently on them.

So to some it up... (This is Hardware specific) I'm not upgrading to 64bit OS just yet...Still using XP pro.

internals... (currently ntfs HDs formated on 32bit system) Do they need to be formated for 64bit system?

External.... (currently ntfs HDs formated on 32bit system (USB) Do they need to be formated for 64bit system?

Any help to resolve my concern would be greately appreciated.
Thanks in advance

 

[ViRGE]

No. Disk formats are irrespective of the bit-ness of the OS.

 

[HellaSick]

So no they dont?

Thanks Virge...but is this "no they do not need formated because of 64bit hardware?
Your answer was prompt but confusing.
definition of "irrespective" or "regardless" hmmmmm

So in retrospective do you mean No because I'm still running 32bit windows regardless of 64bit hardware?

"I know, I'm sorry, I'm uneducated" Forgive me.

 

[leegroves86]

Wow, you've got me pretty confused... perhaps your thinking to much into it. Regardless of the OS, the HDDs are formated in NFTS. Its the most common storage file type around. Of course OS's have to be built to recongnize it, but they all are. Whatever format file the HDD is or the contents, it will work with all flavors of vista. Does that help?

 

[ViRGE]

Originally posted by: HellaSick
So no they dont?

Thanks Virge...but is this "no they do not need formated because of 64bit hardware?
Your answer was prompt but confusing.
definition of "irrespective" or "regardless" hmmmmm

So in retrospective do you mean No because I'm still running 32bit windows regardless of 64bit hardware?

"I know, I'm sorry, I'm uneducated" Forgive me.

No because the OS doesn't factor in its bitness in to how it deals with a hard disk.

 

[Sunner]

Originally posted by: HellaSick
So no they dont?

Thanks Virge...but is this "no they do not need formated because of 64bit hardware?
Your answer was prompt but confusing.
definition of "irrespective" or "regardless" hmmmmm

So in retrospective do you mean No because I'm still running 32bit windows regardless of 64bit hardware?

"I know, I'm sorry, I'm uneducated" Forgive me.

NTFS is a 64-bit file system, whether you run it on a 32 or 64 bit box.
The Windows kernel is the only part that directly works against the file system, the hardware in itself never touches it, so as has been said, the bitness of your hardware won't matter, only the kernel will, as long as the kernel supports the file system, it'll work, and all current versions of Windows support all current versions of NTFS.

Hence, taking an USB disk formated under 64-bit Vista and putting it into a 32-bit Windows 2000 box will work just fine, as will doing it the other way around.

 

[Roguestar]

Whether or not the CPU is 64 or 32 bit has no effect on the hard drive. It's up to whatever OS you install to read the file system. Once something's formatted as File System A, any operating system 32-bit or not that can read File System A will be able to access the files. There's nothing to worry about.

 

[HellaSick]

Wow, now I feel like a real idiot

Thanks guys you cleared everything up, I appreciate your help.
Might think about keeping this post active just in case theres any
idiots like me wondering the same silly thing.

Much Love Ya'll....you've officially become my #1 PC help forum.:thumbsup:

 

[Roguestar]

You're not an idiot at all, there is often so much to learn once you get involved it's easy to get blinded by science. Now you know!

I came to this forum looking for a little advice on an upgrade path and now I read/post almost every day, it's great.