FAT32 > > > NTFS

[_Nathan_]

Hi all, I have a new laptop with an Athlon 64 Bit processor but it seems the HDD has been formatted as FAT 32 - why ?!?!?! Isn't that a lot slower than NFTS ?

I have researched converting it over, but would I be better off reformatting and starting over myself or follow this

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;307881

Or shouldn't I bother because the hdd is only a 4800 rpm one anyway

Thanks in advance !

[FourWheelDrift]

You can convert to NTFS without having to reformat, your laptop may come with a Fat32->NTFS conversion program. Mine did.

Or do what it says here
www.ntfs.com/quest3.htm

[rich-uk]

From a command prompt:

CONVERT c: /FS:NTFS

Reboot.


You can't change the cluster size, but that doesn't matter too much.

[slinky]

the strange thing with the convert command is that you have to specify the switch for it to work, but.. afaik it only does this one job..

bloomin microsoft complexities!!!

slinky

[rich-uk]

'Tis a bit strange that, perhaps it's so you don't do it by accident...

[slinky]

true, but unless you are working with "legacy" systems, it doesn't make a difference whether you are using NTFS or FAT32... (apart from the increased security etc..)

I could understand "convert c:" but why need the extra FS:NTFS...

You can't accidentally use Format C: ...

slinky

[FourWheelDrift]

slinky said:

true, but unless you are working with "legacy" systems, it doesn't make a difference whether you are using NTFS or FAT32... (apart from the increased security etc..)

With FAT32 file systems you are limited to 3GB size capture only from a video camera. If you need bigger you have to split it and then rejoin it in your editor. NTFS doesn't have this problem.

[Bodo]

_Nathan_ said:

Hi all, I have a new laptop with an Athlon 64 Bit processor but it seems the HDD has been formatted as FAT 32 - why ?!?!?! Isn't that a lot slower than NFTS ? I have researched converting it over, but would I be better off reformatting and starting over myself or follow this http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;307881 Or shouldn't I bother because the hdd is only a 4800 rpm one anyway Thanks in advance !

There is no OS that uses NTFS and supports AMD64 anyway

[JamieBeeston]

Bodo said:

There is no OS that uses NTFS and supports AMD64 anyway

Apart from XP x64

[Bodo]

JamieBeeston said:

Bodo said: There is no OS that uses NTFS and supports AMD64 anyway Apart from XP x64

Yes, but for Intel Itanium only

iirc Windows for AMD is expected 2005, 1.5 years after the launch of the AMD64 CPUs. The CPU's 64bit capability is no use without the appropriate OS and software, which are available for one year now but not from Microsoft, hence no NTFS support

[JamieBeeston]

www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/64bit/evaluation/upgrade.mspx

Miccy Soft said:

System Requirements: • Supported processors: AMD Athlon 64, AMD Opteron, Intel Xeon including Intel EM64T, Intel Pentium 4 including Intel EM64T • 256MB RAM • 1.5GB available hard-disk space

:P

[Bodo]

JamieBeeston said:

www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/64bit/evaluation/upgrade.mspx Miccy Soft said: System Requirements: · Supported processors: AMD Athlon 64, AMD Opteron, Intel Xeon including Intel EM64T, Intel Pentium 4 including Intel EM64T · 256MB RAM · 1.5GB available hard-disk space :P

same page said:

...you now have the option to receive trial software for Windows XP Professional x64 Edition... ...pre-release software ... This program provides an opportunity to preview the next generation of Windows XP 64-Bit Edition while the product is still under development. This product is intended for testing and evaluation purposes only. It should not be used for production purposes, and should not be placed in a production environment. ... Formal, fee-based support from Microsoft will be available when the final version of Windows XP Professional x64 Edition is released.

It's not released yet No support, no productive use with that. It's a nerd toy

[JamieBeeston]

Bodo said:

It's not released yet No support, no productive use with that. It's a nerd toy

This is the Nerd Forums isnt it :P

[Bodo]

JamieBeeston said:

Bodo said: It's not released yet No support, no productive use with that. It's a nerd toy This is the Nerd Forums isnt it :P

I give up

[sadako]

We've tried it here, its pretty good for a beta.

[_Nathan_]

thanks all - i did it all in a flash

now i fancy downloading the 64 bit OS, and dual boot this beast