how do i format an ntfs hard drive? i want to have a fat32 system on it.?

Question

i have a military toughbook laptop that has windows nt on it and i want to put xp on it. i also promised to format it to erase the existing data.

Answer 1

If you are using xp the xp software will allow you do delete any partition and reformat it with the chosen system. It is really easy and one of the first steps when putting in the software.

This will reformat your disk so be aware of that before starting. You will loose everything.

Q. Why would you want to do this?

Answer 2

When you start installing XP it will prompt you if you want to upgrade, fresh install, or repair. Chose a fresh install, in the next couple of screens it will bring up a list of partitions select the existing NTFS and press D which will take you through the process of deleting the partition. After this is done it will go back to the screen listing the partitions, the only one that should be there will say "unpartitioned space" select this and press enter. I will then ask you if you want to do NTFS, NTFS(quick), FAT32, or FAT32(quick). Unless you are doing something that requires you to have a FAT32 partition chose NTFS, I highly recrommend not choosing one of the quick options because these only wipe the partition table and not the whole drive.

Answer 3

Ok.. Since you havent discribed which partition you want to convert to FAT32, I mean the OS partition or any other partition.

Assuming you have single partition, you nees Bootable Win XP CD ROM or You need 3rd Party software like Partition Magic.

When you boot from CD Rom and choose to install the OS, it asks either to retain the format or format HDD with FAT32 or NTFS. It has two more options quick format, both for FAT32 and NTFS.

Also before installing you should choose to delete the data on HDD by using delete key and confirming by pressing 'L' key. Then you can use the above method to perform the format.

Let know if it helps

Answer 4

Very simple

Go to start, my computer

Right click on Local Disk and Select format. Then select Fat32 from the list and you are all set!

If you have the XP CD It will do that automatically

Simple put the XP CD in the drive, reboot, and hold the C key at startup

Answer 5

1. you have to do more than erase it to remove the data.
You should use Clean Sweep.

2. the installation disk for XP will give you the option to format the drive and install XP. There you will be able to choose FAT32 or NTFS.

3. You should use NTFS because it has better security.

Answer 6

i would copy your data files and low level format it with a free llf utility, then, re fdisk it, and format away ith the xp cd

Answer 7

if you have a bootable xp cd rom just put in your cd drvive and it will do the rest and follow the instruction in installing the win xp

Answer 8

fat32 over ntfs?