... external Hard Drive.

It came with no Software, just the drive .... what do I do with it now, it is showing as a drive, so thats fine - it's entirely empty, again fine.

But I'm a bit stuck now - it's FAT32, I read somewhere I should Format it as something else - like NTFS?? Or something like that? Why? should I?

And how do you organise your external drives - are the just a dumping space? I'm supposing that you keep some kind of filing system? Folder called Photo's for example? Or is that just too simplistic?

Any advice?

 

leave it as FAT32 - can then be used on ealier operating systems.

having said that NTFS structures are more reliable than FAT32.

Is this for your **** collection?

 

Whats ****?

Is that some kind of Format?
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Is this the one you bought Pete?

 

Yes... its a fanny format

 

it's also very likly to ****-up

 

Well, you may laugh .... all you kiddies, but I reckon I have the most advanced drive on ScoobyNet - for a day or two anyways

Is there any free back-up software on the www?

 

If you have XP PRO you aleady have backup software.

Windows XP Backup Made Easy

 

They don't make a external hard drive big enough for Pete's **** collection.

 

I've got XP Home Edition ..... I guess that's no good for back-ups?

 

you will need your xp home CD

HOW TO: Install Backup from the CD-ROM in Windows XP Home Edition

 

Cheers Gazza - I've now done that .... now to see what I can do

 

...... 10 minutes later....

 

 

I gave you your answers in your previous thread

I've used the software I recommended for years, and have always managed to get my data back and anyone else's who has been using that software. Its not free, so get your crowbar in your wallet

 

I hope it's not one of these?

IOMEGA 320GB Dektop Hard Drive - Staples £50.

 

I've just set the Windows XP Software running - it's going to take 11 hours it says!!

11 HOURS!!!!

Edited to say, it now says it will be all over in 1 hour and a few minutes - thats better!!

 

10:59 and it'll crash

F

 

come on PSL a SN vetran like you should know this should be posted in the computer section..... or have you as well

 

No it shouldn't. That section is for people who know what they're talking about.

This should be in 'dross'

 

BOLLOX!!!

The Back-Up has stopped .....

It can only read 4GB onto the HD with FAT32 Whats the point selling customers 320GB Drives Formatted to FAT32 when you cannot use more than 4GB on a back-up??

 

Go to start, run then type in CMD

when you get the command prompt up type

Convert <insert drive letter here> /FS:NTFS

so if your new hard drive letter is G: for example, then type convert G: /FS:NTFS

Yes FAT32 has a limitation of 4Gb, I think they sell them as FAT32 so they can be used on any Windows 9x and above OS

Whereas NTFS can only be used on the Windows NT/2000/XP/Vista OS's

 

Cheers Sonic ..... what I did was right-click on the drive - one option is to Format and then it offers NTFS - is this the same as what you are suggesting?

Should I do it??

 

Pete

You can reformat the drive using NTFS, if you already have data on the drive you can convert as above

If you dont have anything on the drive that you need to keep, then you can just reformat in NTFS

I have all my drives in NTFS

 

The drive has nothing of interest on it .... cheers!!!

 

Yet

Go for it

 

the fat32 file system wont let you create a single file larger than 4gb, you can still use the full 320gb in fat32. sounds like the backup software is trying to make one huge file.....

 

Good tip, but since this is just a backup it'd probably be quicker to reformat it as NTFS and start the backup from scratch.

 

Thats what I've done, TopBanana ... or doing - it's taking its time!

 

You should have selected the option to 'Quick Format' usually takes a minute or two, even for Terrabytes of storage