Got my shiny new ......
17 November 2007, 05:21 PM
#1
Scooby Regular
Thread Starter
Got my shiny new ......
... 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?
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?
Last edited by pslewis; 17 November 2007 at 05:25 PM.
17 November 2007, 05:25 PM
#2
Scooby Regular
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Yorkshire
Posts: 1,348
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
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?
having said that NTFS structures are more reliable than FAT32.
Is this for your **** collection?
17 November 2007, 05:31 PM
#7
Scooby Regular
Thread Starter
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?
Is there any free back-up software on the www?
Trending Topics
17 November 2007, 05:34 PM
#8
Scooby Regular
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Yorkshire
Posts: 1,348
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
17 November 2007, 05:39 PM
#11
Scooby Regular
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Yorkshire
Posts: 1,348
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
17 November 2007, 05:54 PM
#15
Scooby Regular
iTrader: (3)
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Muppetising life
Posts: 15,449
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
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'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
17 November 2007, 06:02 PM
#17
Scooby Regular
Thread Starter
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!!
11 HOURS!!!!
Edited to say, it now says it will be all over in 1 hour and a few minutes - thats better!!
Last edited by pslewis; 17 November 2007 at 06:06 PM.
17 November 2007, 07:17 PM
#21
Scooby Regular
Thread Starter
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??
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??
17 November 2007, 07:22 PM
#22
Scooby Regular
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Couch Spud
Posts: 9,277
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
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
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
17 November 2007, 07:38 PM
#23
Scooby Regular
Thread Starter
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??
Should I do it??
17 November 2007, 07:52 PM
#24
Scooby Regular
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Couch Spud
Posts: 9,277
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
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
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
17 November 2007, 08:07 PM
#27
Scooby Regular
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Swansea
Posts: 643
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
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.....
17 November 2007, 08:20 PM
#28
Scooby Regular
Join Date: Jan 2001
Posts: 9,781
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts