Can I use NTFS hard drive as backup for FAT 32?

[sharonnek]

I just got a 160GB Maxtor external hard drive for backup and storage. It is preformatted in FAT32, but the manual with it recommends formatting it in NTFS, since I have Windows 2000. My C drive is in FAT32. Would there be any problems backing up my FAT32 C drive onto an NTFS drive?

[degsy]

Would there be any problems backing up my FAT32 C drive onto an NTFS drive?

no.

W2k will be able to read both file systems.

[sharonnek]

Thank you, Degsy.

[sharonnek]

New development - I reformatted the external drive in NTFS, did a backup of my FAT32 C drive to it, turned the computer off for the night. When I turned it on today, my computer does not see the external drive. What to do?

[degsy]

Check Device Manager for any problems.

[sharonnek]

The Device Manager doesn't list the external drive at all.

[jtdoom]

hi
is it powered on?

what interface does it use?
(fiwi, usb 1.1 or 2.0, external sata... we may benefit if we know)

and what servicepack does your win2K have?

[Spider]

Originally Posted by sharonnek

My C drive is in FAT32

Fat32 can only see FAT32, it can't see NTFS. NTFS can see FAT32 and NTFS.

Think of your hard drive as a watch tower and NTFS and FAT32 as binoculars.
FAT32 = regular binoculars
NTFS = night vision binoculars
Standing on the watch tower using night vision binoculars you can see far
in day and in night.

What you've done is format the USB drive NTFS and your FAT32 Windows 2000
can't see it now.

Just reformat it again with FAT32, and copy your C: stuff over again.

[degsy]

Fat32 can only see FAT32, it can't see NTFS. NTFS can see FAT32 and NTFS.

What you've done is format the USB drive NTFS and your FAT32 Windows 2000
can't see it now.

True about the file systems, but the Operating System (Assuming it's 2000/2003) will be able to see both and a backup will be possible.

[Spider]

Originally Posted by degsy

but the Operating System (Assuming it's 2000/2003) will be able to see both and a backup will be possible.

I didn’t want to go “technical” but I’m assuming the NTFS format
was made as primary therefore even NT kernel can't see a second
primary NTFS when booted off of another.

Sharonnek should be fine with FAT32 unless the 160Gb Maxtor
Is of a size beyond an older motherboards IDE controller’s ability.

[degsy]

assuming the NTFS format
was made as primary therefore even NT kernel can't see a second
primary NTFS when booted off of another.

Not sure what you mean by booted off of another.

I have had 2 NT Primary NTFS partitions co-existing, although it was using a thrid-party partitioning program.

Sharonnek should be fine with FAT32 unless the 160Gb Maxtor
Is of a size beyond an older motherboards IDE controller’s ability.

It's an external drive and will not be effected by the motherboard IDE Controller.

[sharonnek]

To jtdoom: Yes, it's powered on, evidenced by its light. It's USB 2.0. My windows 2000 has the latest service pack, no.3.

To Spider: I tried to reformat it FAT32. After a while a message popped up: "Volume too large." As I said before, it came formatted FAT32, so why can't I reformat it FAT32? I right-clicked My Computer - Manage - Disk Management - selected the Maxtor external hard drive, right-clicked, hit Format. Couldn't be easier, huh?

A further development: Last night I turned the computer off and checked the cable connections. I rebooted, and there was the Maxtor. But just to test it, I shut down completely again, waited a minute, then rebooted. The Maxtor was gone again. Later I turned everything off for the night as usual. When I rebooted just now, my computer does recognize the external hard drive again. ????? I'm using the cable that came with the drive.

[degsy]

It's possible and likely that it was initially prepared using third-party tools, maybe MaxBlast, which is Maxtors own utility for setting up drives.


Probably not the problem, but does it have a powerpack or is it powered by the USB port?
Do you have any other devices plugged in?

[sharonnek]

It has a separate cord for power.

[degsy]

So, now you have the drive formatted and it is working correctly?
Apart from the dissappearing