Windows XP Home edition question--please help

[killjoy]

I fdisked and formatted my friends 60gig hard drive yesterday and when I went to install XP it would ONLY give me the option to use the NTFS file sysyem--it would NOT even give me the option of using FAT32. Is this normal?!?! I read the booklet that came with it and it states something to the effect "FAT32 can be used on hard drives up to 32GIG's but anything larger than that has to use the NTFS file system". Since when???? Am I missing something here???? Could this possibly have something to do with the fact this was a Compac computer ? If someone could PLEASE help me I'd really appreciate it. Will all traditional programs and will all games run on NTFS? Thanks

 

[ShaggyDogg]

Fat 32 vs NTFS

 

[killjoy]

"If you need to format a FAT32 partition greater than 32GB, you will need to do it under Windows 98/SE/ME"

Hi Shaggy--thanks for the link to the FAQ. I DID use a boot disk from a WinME system to fdisk and format my friend's drive so why didn't the above work? Thanks for your help

 

[ShaggyDogg]

No that is not normal. I have formatted and re-installed OS a couple of times with XP corporate using a windows 98 boot disk to fromat it Fat32. Once I installed OS I converted it to NTFS. I'm not sure why it did not give you a choice. I have no experience (thank God) with Compaq's though.

 

[AndyHui]

<< Will all traditional programs and will all games run on NTFS? >>

Please read the FAQ: Using FAT32 and NTFS on the same system.

 

[ShaggyDogg]

Hey Andy what is this FAQ you keep talking about???

 

[AndyHui]

I dunno.....could it be something in my sig? Something in the sigs of several other people?

The link in the yellow area at the top of each forum category?

Something that I spend a lot of time and effort on, but no one seems to read?

 

[GrumpyMan]

<< I dunno.....could it be something in my sig? Something in the sigs of several other people? The link in the yellow area at the top of each forum category? Something that I spend a lot of time and effort on, but no one seems to read? >>




Lol.........good come back!

 

[ShaggyDogg]

LOL!!!

 

[killjoy]

Thanks Shaggy and Andy. I hope I don't offend anybody but Compaq's do blow--talk about proprietary. I still can't figure out why partitioning/formatting with a WinME boost disk didn't do the trick like it's supposed to. Oh well--my friend will either have to live with NTFS or I will have to set up 2 partitions to get FAT32 on it--he does not want both. Anybody else know why it didn't work? Thanks everyone

PS. Andy--good FAQ's.

 

[bozo1]

You need to Fdisk AND format it with your Win98 disk. I have a feeling you are just fdisking it and not doing the format.

 

[killjoy]

Hi bozo 1--I DID fdisk and format using the WinME boot disk. I'll try again today

 

[NogginBoink]

After you format with WinME, you should have the option to either format NTFS or leave the current filesystem intact. You should choose to leave the current filesystem intact.

If that option doesn't appear post back here and let us know.