FAT32 file system on brand new laptop with XP?

[chris watton]

Is this normal for a laptop? We bought one last night, and was very surprised to see the FAT32 file system on the hard drive, rather than the much better, and stable NTFS!
I only knew it was the old '98 file system because when I tried to install Zone Alarm, I kept getting the BSOD, Windows has just suffered a major error, Check disk program running every time the system booted up,, what a nightmare! All is OK now, since I removed Zone Alarm; I hadn't even installed the freebie Norton Anti Virus program, so it was a 'clean' disk!
Now I know the reasons why I prefer building them myself!!

[Plotloss]

Unusual but there may be a reason the previous owner did it.

I'd flatten it and start again.

[BliarOut]

convert c:\ /FS:NTFS ?

[chris watton]

Plotloss said:

Unusual but there may be a reason the previous owner did it. I'd flatten it and start again.

I bought it brand new, boxed, from Comet last night, it's not second hand, I assume that 'flattening it and starting again' wouldn't help in this instance, no XP CD, just a recovery disk, which, I assume would simply install exactly what I have now, and give me no option for a file system change!
I just find it odd that a brand new and well specced mid range laptop would have something as archaic as that old file system on it!

[Plotloss]

Even more curious, follow Robs advice re convert, that should do the trick.

[chris watton]

Plotloss said:

Even more curious, follow Robs advice re convert, that should do the trick.

OK, I'll try that, it seemed as though I had an XP system with the '98 traits! LOL

This is the laptop we bought;
www.comet.co.uk/comet/html/cache/5

[redweapon]

Well what do you expect if you shop at comet? Take it back and demand a refund. The “convert” command won’t set the file permissions for you so is not worth bothering with. Get your cash back and buy a proper machine.

[chris watton]

redweapon said:

Well what do you expect if you shop at comet? Take it back and demand a refund. The “convert” command won’t set the file permissions for you so is not worth bothering with. Get your cash back and buy a proper machine.

Oddly enough, I find myself agreeing with those sentiments! I should have known better!

>> Edited by chris watton on Thursday 16th February 13:49

[spivvy]

give acer a ring or check their website to check your model and seee if they ship as fat32

my thoughts are not

[jamieboy]

FAT32 is easier for numpties (or normal users, if you prefer) because they don't need to worry about file permissions.

I'd convert it to NTFS, which will apply file permissions suitable for it to run, and then tweak them yourself if you need to.

You wouldn't take a car back if you didn't like the way the radio was tuned.

[apguy]

And if you return it to Comet and don't mind a slightly lower spec machine then go into Tesco and buy the ACER AS4021WLMI which is currently at £380. My local Tesco branch has about 20 in stock.

Or alternatively. Goto dell.co.uk and use E Value 1 - N02135 (downgrade support to 90 days) and get a Pentium-M class machine for £339 including VAT and delivery.

>> Edited by apguy on Thursday 16th February 14:13

[g32turbo]

Checked out Dell. 339 is for the Celeron processor you need to add another 188 for the Pentium

[chris watton]

g32turbo said:

Checked out Dell. 339 is for the Celeron processor you need to add another 188 for the Pentium

I thought that the laptop we bought was an 'ok'ish' price, considering the specs, 1.73 Pentium M CPU, 1 GB ram and a 60GB hard drive, I have seen lesser specs on more expensive laptops, just very strange to be all FAT32 though.
I do feel like reformatting the HD and putting on another proper copy of XP!
And to top it all, bought a new Raptor 74gb Sata drive for my main PC (due to one of the others dying on me), installed all the hardware OK last night, but it will now load my XP Pro, when it gets to the first screen of loading XP, I get the blue screen, but no grey bar at the bottom, showing it loading the initial componants! I tried all three CDs of XP Pro and Home, but all the same, damn thing!

[maddog-uk]

HAve you installed a driver for your controller card?

[randlemarcus]

Probably FAT32 to support the nasty cheap imaging software they use because they are using a dodgy copy of Ghost that whoever designed the OEM pre-install nicked from Dell when they worked there.

Seriously, a lot of the cheaper end of the recovery/imaging software wont talk to NTFS file systems, precisely because it has security at the lower levels.

[chris watton]

randlemarcus said:

Probably FAT32 to support the nasty cheap imaging software they use because they are using a dodgy copy of Ghost that whoever designed the OEM pre-install nicked from Dell when they worked there. Seriously, a lot of the cheaper end of the recovery/imaging software wont talk to NTFS file systems, precisely because it has security at the lower levels.

That's exactly what I thought! To be honest, I'd rather spend an extra £60 on an OEM XP disc than have the crappy manufacturer installation discs, I know they're built to a price, and that's obviosely where they save money!

Simon, the mobo on my main PC turned out to be faulty, bought a new one, and all working fine now. The CD drive was seen, it just wasn't loading the drivers after WindowsXP 'checked my PCs hardware configuration settings', even tried flashing a couple of BIOS images onto the mobo!