Formatting/NTFS conversion on 2nd HDD?

[Kenny]

Have added 2nd 40GB which already has 3 FAT32 partitions, 2 of which have
mp3's etc, the other empty. Tried to format and convert to NTFS the empty
one but get the message the drive's in use, it's not since I'm booting from
Primary HDD. I'm assuming I have to do it after booting from XP CD but how?
Also is there any advantage to converting the other 2 to NTFS or should I
leave them alone, is there a risk of losing data?


--

Kenny

[John Shelton]

You cannot format a partial HD. The whole physical HD has to be formated
the same. The only real advantage for NTFS is for security reasons. If you
must have NTFS then you will have move the files to another HD, and reformat
the whole drive and recreate the partitions.

John Shelton

"Kenny" > wrote in message
...
> Have added 2nd 40GB which already has 3 FAT32 partitions, 2 of which have
> mp3's etc, the other empty. Tried to format and convert to NTFS the empty
> one but get the message the drive's in use, it's not since I'm booting
from
> Primary HDD. I'm assuming I have to do it after booting from XP CD but
how?
> Also is there any advantage to converting the other 2 to NTFS or should I
> leave them alone, is there a risk of losing data?
>
>
> --
>
> Kenny
>
>

[Kenny]

I thought I could just format one partition but I'll take your word for it
that I can't, it's the whole drive or nothing. May do as you suggest and
format it all as NTFS after moving files since I want it for video files and
I believe there's some type of limitation in FAT32.

--

Kenny
"John Shelton" > wrote in message
.. .
> You cannot format a partial HD. The whole physical HD has to be formated
> the same. The only real advantage for NTFS is for security reasons. If
you
> must have NTFS then you will have move the files to another HD, and
reformat
> the whole drive and recreate the partitions.
>
> John Shelton
>
> "Kenny" > wrote in message
> ...
> > Have added 2nd 40GB which already has 3 FAT32 partitions, 2 of which
have
> > mp3's etc, the other empty. Tried to format and convert to NTFS the
empty
> > one but get the message the drive's in use, it's not since I'm booting
> from
> > Primary HDD. I'm assuming I have to do it after booting from XP CD but
> how?
> > Also is there any advantage to converting the other 2 to NTFS or should
I
> > leave them alone, is there a risk of losing data?
> >
> >
> > --
> >
> > Kenny
> >
> >
>
>

[Mark Weinreb]

The information you've been given is utter rubbish. Each partition on a disk
can be formatted to a dufferent file system. The machine I'm using right now
has a single 120 GB drive with three partitions. The largest is formatted as
NTFS, the next is FAT32, and the final, small partition is FAT.

If you're getting a drive in use message, make sure that there are no
running applications that may be using the partition. Even an explorer
window counts as an application.

"Kenny" > wrote in message
...
> I thought I could just format one partition but I'll take your word for it
> that I can't, it's the whole drive or nothing. May do as you suggest and
> format it all as NTFS after moving files since I want it for video files
and
> I believe there's some type of limitation in FAT32.
>
> --
>
> Kenny
> "John Shelton" > wrote in message
> .. .
> > You cannot format a partial HD. The whole physical HD has to be
formated
> > the same. The only real advantage for NTFS is for security reasons. If
> you
> > must have NTFS then you will have move the files to another HD, and
> reformat
> > the whole drive and recreate the partitions.
> >
> > John Shelton
> >
> > "Kenny" > wrote in message
> > ...
> > > Have added 2nd 40GB which already has 3 FAT32 partitions, 2 of which
> have
> > > mp3's etc, the other empty. Tried to format and convert to NTFS the
> empty
> > > one but get the message the drive's in use, it's not since I'm booting
> > from
> > > Primary HDD. I'm assuming I have to do it after booting from XP CD
but
> > how?
> > > Also is there any advantage to converting the other 2 to NTFS or
should
> I
> > > leave them alone, is there a risk of losing data?
> > >
> > >
> > > --
> > >
> > > Kenny
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
>
>

[Kenny]

I thought so but not sure. Will try again from Windows and if it doesn't
work that way will try it after booting from XP CD but not sure of the steps
to take there. I have, but not yet installed on this PC, Partition Magic 8,
will that do what I want?

--

Kenny
"Mark Weinreb" > wrote in message
...
> The information you've been given is utter rubbish. Each partition on a
disk
> can be formatted to a dufferent file system. The machine I'm using right
now
> has a single 120 GB drive with three partitions. The largest is formatted
as
> NTFS, the next is FAT32, and the final, small partition is FAT.
>
> If you're getting a drive in use message, make sure that there are no
> running applications that may be using the partition. Even an explorer
> window counts as an application.
>
> "Kenny" > wrote in message
> ...
> > I thought I could just format one partition but I'll take your word for
it
> > that I can't, it's the whole drive or nothing. May do as you suggest
and
> > format it all as NTFS after moving files since I want it for video files
> and
> > I believe there's some type of limitation in FAT32.
> >
> > --
> >
> > Kenny
> > "John Shelton" > wrote in message
> > .. .
> > > You cannot format a partial HD. The whole physical HD has to be
> formated
> > > the same. The only real advantage for NTFS is for security reasons.
If
> > you
> > > must have NTFS then you will have move the files to another HD, and
> > reformat
> > > the whole drive and recreate the partitions.
> > >
> > > John Shelton
> > >
> > > "Kenny" > wrote in message
> > > ...
> > > > Have added 2nd 40GB which already has 3 FAT32 partitions, 2 of which
> > have
> > > > mp3's etc, the other empty. Tried to format and convert to NTFS the
> > empty
> > > > one but get the message the drive's in use, it's not since I'm
booting
> > > from
> > > > Primary HDD. I'm assuming I have to do it after booting from XP CD
> but
> > > how?
> > > > Also is there any advantage to converting the other 2 to NTFS or
> should
> > I
> > > > leave them alone, is there a risk of losing data?
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > --
> > > >
> > > > Kenny
> > > >
> > > >
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
>
>

[Walter Clayton]

How are you trying to reformat the partition? What steps exactly?

--
Walter Clayton - MS MVP(WinXP)
Associate Expert
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone
Any technology distinguishable from magic is insufficiently advanced.
http://www.dts-l.org
http://support.microsoft.com/servicedesks/fileversion/default.asp


"Kenny" > wrote in message
...
> Have added 2nd 40GB which already has 3 FAT32 partitions, 2 of which have
> mp3's etc, the other empty. Tried to format and convert to NTFS the empty
> one but get the message the drive's in use, it's not since I'm booting
from
> Primary HDD. I'm assuming I have to do it after booting from XP CD but
how?
> Also is there any advantage to converting the other 2 to NTFS or should I
> leave them alone, is there a risk of losing data?
>
>
> --
>
> Kenny
>
>

[Kenny]

Right clicking partition in My Computer or Windows Explorer and "Format".

--

Kenny
"Walter Clayton" > wrote in message
...
> How are you trying to reformat the partition? What steps exactly?
>
> --
> Walter Clayton - MS MVP(WinXP)
> Associate Expert
> http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone
> Any technology distinguishable from magic is insufficiently advanced.
> http://www.dts-l.org
> http://support.microsoft.com/servicedesks/fileversion/default.asp
>
>
> "Kenny" > wrote in message
> ...
> > Have added 2nd 40GB which already has 3 FAT32 partitions, 2 of which
have
> > mp3's etc, the other empty. Tried to format and convert to NTFS the
empty
> > one but get the message the drive's in use, it's not since I'm booting
> from
> > Primary HDD. I'm assuming I have to do it after booting from XP CD but
> how?
> > Also is there any advantage to converting the other 2 to NTFS or should
I
> > leave them alone, is there a risk of losing data?
> >
> >
> > --
> >
> > Kenny
> >
> >
>
>

[Lemon Jelly]

Kenny prematurely pulled the chain & typed:
> I thought so but not sure. Will try again from Windows and if it
> doesn't work that way will try it after booting from XP CD but not
> sure of the steps to take there. I have, but not yet installed on
> this PC, Partition Magic 8, will that do what I want?

Yes but backup important data 1st 'cos PM will sometimes screw up big
time ie screw the MBR. I'd format any drives having copied the data 1st
from within XP's My Computer. The only real reason for not using NTFS is
when you're dual-booting with Win9x *and* want to share your XP volume.
John's post is comprehensively wrong I'm afraid (apart from suggesting
moving the data 1st). NTFS adds far greater fault-tolerance than does
FAT. Chkdsk will be largely redundant.

NTFS is a transactional (Journaling) file system where each write is
checked & discarded & if your system glitches, the next time disc assess
will check the error log meta data for errors. You may need to disable
System Restore or Indexing Service to unlock the partitions before they
can be reformatted. Using the convert command sounds good until you find
out it can cause too small clusters - 512 instead of the optimal 4k.
I've never had a problem with PM if run from the floppies but some
consider it too dangerous! You can always use the XP install CD to
reformat.

HTH

[Mark Weinreb]

Yes Partition Magic will do it. For safety's sake, I'd recommend rebooting
afterwards, or preferably boot from the Partition Magic 8 CD and run it from
there. I'll bet not many people realise that the Partition Magic 8 CD is
bootable.

"Kenny" > wrote in message
...
> I thought so but not sure. Will try again from Windows and if it doesn't
> work that way will try it after booting from XP CD but not sure of the
steps
> to take there. I have, but not yet installed on this PC, Partition Magic
8,
> will that do what I want?
>
> --
>
> Kenny
> "Mark Weinreb" > wrote in message
> ...
> > The information you've been given is utter rubbish. Each partition on a
> disk
> > can be formatted to a dufferent file system. The machine I'm using right
> now
> > has a single 120 GB drive with three partitions. The largest is
formatted
> as
> > NTFS, the next is FAT32, and the final, small partition is FAT.
> >
> > If you're getting a drive in use message, make sure that there are no
> > running applications that may be using the partition. Even an explorer
> > window counts as an application.
> >
> > "Kenny" > wrote in message
> > ...
> > > I thought I could just format one partition but I'll take your word
for
> it
> > > that I can't, it's the whole drive or nothing. May do as you suggest
> and
> > > format it all as NTFS after moving files since I want it for video
files
> > and
> > > I believe there's some type of limitation in FAT32.
> > >
> > > --
> > >
> > > Kenny
> > > "John Shelton" > wrote in message
> > > .. .
> > > > You cannot format a partial HD. The whole physical HD has to be
> > formated
> > > > the same. The only real advantage for NTFS is for security reasons.
> If
> > > you
> > > > must have NTFS then you will have move the files to another HD, and
> > > reformat
> > > > the whole drive and recreate the partitions.
> > > >
> > > > John Shelton
> > > >
> > > > "Kenny" > wrote in message
> > > > ...
> > > > > Have added 2nd 40GB which already has 3 FAT32 partitions, 2 of
which
> > > have
> > > > > mp3's etc, the other empty. Tried to format and convert to NTFS
the
> > > empty
> > > > > one but get the message the drive's in use, it's not since I'm
> booting
> > > > from
> > > > > Primary HDD. I'm assuming I have to do it after booting from XP
CD
> > but
> > > > how?
> > > > > Also is there any advantage to converting the other 2 to NTFS or
> > should
> > > I
> > > > > leave them alone, is there a risk of losing data?
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > --
> > > > >
> > > > > Kenny
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
>
>

[Bill Martin]

> The information you've been given is utter rubbish. Each partition on a disk
> can be formatted to a dufferent file system. The machine I'm using right now
> has a single 120 GB drive with three partitions. The largest is formatted as
> NTFS, the next is FAT32, and the final, small partition is FAT

Is there an efficiency difference between NTFS and FAT32 when storing a
zillion small files? e.g. Is the minimum cluster size different?

Bill

[Rick \Nutcase\ Rogers]

Hi Bill,

NTFS uses a 4k cluster by default, on a large drive with a lot of small =
files this is the way to go. With FAT32 and a large drive, there will be =
loads of wasted space, see this chart:

Partition Size Cluster Typical Amount
Size of Wasted =
Space
Fat 32
512 MB - 8191 MB 4K 4%
8192 MB - 16383 MB 8K 10%
16384 MB - 32767 MB 16K 25%
Larger than 32768 MB 32K 40%

The only time I would consider using FAT32 (FAT16 is not even worth =
considering) is on a drive housing large files that needs to be =
accessible by a Win9x installation on the same machine (it is not =
necessary for a 9x system accessing it via a network).

--=20
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers aka "Nutcase" MS-MVP - Win9x - =
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/
Associate Expert - WinXP - Expert Zone -
www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone
Win98 Help - www.rickrogers.org

"Bill Martin" > wrote in message =
m...
> > The information you've been given is utter rubbish. Each partition =
on a disk
> > can be formatted to a dufferent file system. The machine I'm using =
right now
> > has a single 120 GB drive with three partitions. The largest is =
formatted as
> > NTFS, the next is FAT32, and the final, small partition is FAT
>=20
> Is there an efficiency difference between NTFS and FAT32 when storing =
a=20
> zillion small files? e.g. Is the minimum cluster size different?
>=20
> Bill

[Tim Slattery]

"John Shelton" > wrote:

>You cannot format a partial HD. The whole physical HD has to be formated
>the same.

NOT true. You can divide your hard drive into multiple partitions.
Each partition can have a different file system it you want to set it
up that way.

--
Tim Slattery
MS MVP(DTS)

[GSV Three Minds in a Can]

Bitstring >, from the
wonderful person John Shelton > said
>You cannot format a partial HD. The whole physical HD has to be formated
>the same. The only real advantage for NTFS is for security reasons. If you
>must have NTFS then you will have move the files to another HD, and reformat
>the whole drive and recreate the partitions.

Rubbish! Oops, /politic mode on .. "That turns out not to be the case"
/politic mode off.

Once you have partitioned a Disk and/or set up logical volumes in the
extended partition, you can format each logical volume anyway you want
(subject to the size limits imposed by XP, and the mathematical limits
on FAT12, FAT16, etc.). I have several physical disks which have
multiple volumes on, formatted FAT32, NTFS, (and if you are a real
pervert, you can format some for Unix too), or even FAT16.

--
GSV Three Minds in a Can
Outgoing Msgs are Turing Tested,and indistinguishable from human typing.

[Walter Clayton]

Try via the disk management console snap in.

start->run->diskmgmt.msc [enter]

Right click the partition and select format. If it still balks, then unmount
the partition by right clicking the partition, selecting "change drive
letter..." then selecting remove. You should now be able to partition the
drive.

Alternatively, bring the machine up in safe mode and use diskmgmt.msc to
format the drive.

--
Walter Clayton - MS MVP(WinXP)
Associate Expert
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone
Any technology distinguishable from magic is insufficiently advanced.
http://www.dts-l.org
http://support.microsoft.com/servicedesks/fileversion/default.asp


"Kenny" > wrote in message
...
> Right clicking partition in My Computer or Windows Explorer and "Format".
>
> --
>
> Kenny
> "Walter Clayton" > wrote in message
> ...
> > How are you trying to reformat the partition? What steps exactly?
> >
> > --
> > Walter Clayton - MS MVP(WinXP)
> > Associate Expert
> > http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone
> > Any technology distinguishable from magic is insufficiently advanced.
> > http://www.dts-l.org
> > http://support.microsoft.com/servicedesks/fileversion/default.asp
> >
> >
> > "Kenny" > wrote in message
> > ...
> > > Have added 2nd 40GB which already has 3 FAT32 partitions, 2 of which
> have
> > > mp3's etc, the other empty. Tried to format and convert to NTFS the
> empty
> > > one but get the message the drive's in use, it's not since I'm booting
> > from
> > > Primary HDD. I'm assuming I have to do it after booting from XP CD
but
> > how?
> > > Also is there any advantage to converting the other 2 to NTFS or
should
> I
> > > leave them alone, is there a risk of losing data?
> > >
> > >
> > > --
> > >
> > > Kenny
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
>
>

[Kenny]

Thanks for all the replies. Even though this partition is "empty" it's
showing System Volume Information folder and Recycled folder (Norton).

--

Kenny
"Walter Clayton" > wrote in message
...
> Try via the disk management console snap in.
>
> start->run->diskmgmt.msc [enter]
>
> Right click the partition and select format. If it still balks, then
unmount
> the partition by right clicking the partition, selecting "change drive
> letter..." then selecting remove. You should now be able to partition the
> drive.
>
> Alternatively, bring the machine up in safe mode and use diskmgmt.msc to
> format the drive.
>
> --
> Walter Clayton - MS MVP(WinXP)
> Associate Expert
> http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone
> Any technology distinguishable from magic is insufficiently advanced.
> http://www.dts-l.org
> http://support.microsoft.com/servicedesks/fileversion/default.asp
>
>
> "Kenny" > wrote in message
> ...
> > Right clicking partition in My Computer or Windows Explorer and
"Format".
> >
> > --
> >
> > Kenny
> > "Walter Clayton" > wrote in message
> > ...
> > > How are you trying to reformat the partition? What steps exactly?
> > >
> > > --
> > > Walter Clayton - MS MVP(WinXP)
> > > Associate Expert
> > > http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone
> > > Any technology distinguishable from magic is insufficiently advanced.
> > > http://www.dts-l.org
> > > http://support.microsoft.com/servicedesks/fileversion/default.asp
> > >
> > >
> > > "Kenny" > wrote in message
> > > ...
> > > > Have added 2nd 40GB which already has 3 FAT32 partitions, 2 of which
> > have
> > > > mp3's etc, the other empty. Tried to format and convert to NTFS the
> > empty
> > > > one but get the message the drive's in use, it's not since I'm
booting
> > > from
> > > > Primary HDD. I'm assuming I have to do it after booting from XP CD
> but
> > > how?
> > > > Also is there any advantage to converting the other 2 to NTFS or
> should
> > I
> > > > leave them alone, is there a risk of losing data?
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > --
> > > >
> > > > Kenny
> > > >
> > > >
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
>
>

[Bruce Chambers]

Greetings --

You do realize, don't you, that none of what you have said is
correct?

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:
http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html
----
You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on
having both at once. -- RAH


"John Shelton" > wrote in message
.. .
> You cannot format a partial HD. The whole physical HD has to be
formated
> the same. The only real advantage for NTFS is for security reasons.
If you
> must have NTFS then you will have move the files to another HD, and
reformat
> the whole drive and recreate the partitions.
>
> John Shelton
>

[Walter Clayton]

Oh. Norton strikes again.

Try to unmount the drive via the disk management snap in. If that fails, do
what needs be done in safe mode.

--
Walter Clayton - MS MVP(WinXP)
Associate Expert
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone
Any technology distinguishable from magic is insufficiently advanced.
http://www.dts-l.org
http://support.microsoft.com/servicedesks/fileversion/default.asp


"Kenny" > wrote in message
...
> Thanks for all the replies. Even though this partition is "empty" it's
> showing System Volume Information folder and Recycled folder (Norton).
>
> --
>
> Kenny
> "Walter Clayton" > wrote in message
> ...
> > Try via the disk management console snap in.
> >
> > start->run->diskmgmt.msc [enter]
> >
> > Right click the partition and select format. If it still balks, then
> unmount
> > the partition by right clicking the partition, selecting "change drive
> > letter..." then selecting remove. You should now be able to partition
the
> > drive.
> >
> > Alternatively, bring the machine up in safe mode and use diskmgmt.msc to
> > format the drive.
> >
> > --
> > Walter Clayton - MS MVP(WinXP)
> > Associate Expert
> > http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone
> > Any technology distinguishable from magic is insufficiently advanced.
> > http://www.dts-l.org
> > http://support.microsoft.com/servicedesks/fileversion/default.asp
> >
> >
> > "Kenny" > wrote in message
> > ...
> > > Right clicking partition in My Computer or Windows Explorer and
> "Format".
> > >
> > > --
> > >
> > > Kenny
> > > "Walter Clayton" > wrote in message
> > > ...
> > > > How are you trying to reformat the partition? What steps exactly?
> > > >
> > > > --
> > > > Walter Clayton - MS MVP(WinXP)
> > > > Associate Expert
> > > > http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone
> > > > Any technology distinguishable from magic is insufficiently
advanced.
> > > > http://www.dts-l.org
> > > > http://support.microsoft.com/servicedesks/fileversion/default.asp
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > "Kenny" > wrote in message
> > > > ...
> > > > > Have added 2nd 40GB which already has 3 FAT32 partitions, 2 of
which
> > > have
> > > > > mp3's etc, the other empty. Tried to format and convert to NTFS
the
> > > empty
> > > > > one but get the message the drive's in use, it's not since I'm
> booting
> > > > from
> > > > > Primary HDD. I'm assuming I have to do it after booting from XP
CD
> > but
> > > > how?
> > > > > Also is there any advantage to converting the other 2 to NTFS or
> > should
> > > I
> > > > > leave them alone, is there a risk of losing data?
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > --
> > > > >
> > > > > Kenny
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
>
>