Getting Ready for XP

[Lounge Lizard 6]

I've just finished putting together a completely brand new machine (down in my sig). What is the best way to format the new hard drive and which options should I choose with the idea of installing XP Professional?

I would like to run XP in NTFS but will there be any compatibility issues with gaming and the like?

Thanks

[Yodums]

Win XP is very compatible it has its own compatbility mode where you can make a program act if it was on a Win9x platform.

The best way to do the clean install is to get the bootdisks at http://www.bootdisk.com/

Format using the NTFS partition and then hit enter on the drive you juss partition and begin setting it up.

Yodum

[XprincoX]

When installing i would highly recommend a clean install. As for compatiblity, for the most part games will work in XP if they worked in 2k.

For ntfs, that wouldn't have any affect on compatibility as its just a format. But just remember, if u use ntfs other HDs in fat32 format will not be able to use ntfs format files.

[Lounge Lizard 6]

Yodums: Just finished making the Setup disks. Took 6 floppies in all. I'm expecting XP in the mail tomorrow so I'll be ready.

Xprincox: Do you mean if I copy something to floppy my 98 machine won't be able to use it? Vice versa?

What issue if I network an XP machine with a 98 one?

[XprincoX]

well since most floppies are formatted in fat32 format you may possibly have a problem. haven't used ntfs in awhile so don't remember. But i do remember if you connect a hd that fat32 to a ntfs hd, there will be some access problems.

heres a lil article more indepth about using ntfs and fat32 together: http://www.anandtech.com/guides/viewfaq.html?i=94

As for networking, there shouldn't be any problems connecting a XP sys with a 98 one. Just be sure there in the same workgroup. :D

[Lounge Lizard 6]

Thanks for the info and article.

[Wicked Klown]

Ok I know that ntfs is more stable then Fat32, but my slave drive is using Fat32 so will I have to do XP in Fat32 or can I go ahead and use XP in the ntfs form with out changing my slave drive.

[cornbread]

Just so you know, you can do a clean install of XP from the CD itself. It will format and install for you, just boot with the cd in the cd-rom drive.

[rUfUnKy]

Originally posted by Klownin79
Ok I know that ntfs is more stable then Fat32, but my slave drive is using Fat32 so will I have to do XP in Fat32 or can I go ahead and use XP in the ntfs form with out changing my slave drive. You can use XP in NTFS with out changing your slave ..If by slave drive you meen a seperate partion (and not a actual HD) you can do this allso...but just remember that fat32 can not read NTFS....but NTFS can read fat32..

[rogerdugans]

An os that recognizes ntfs will be able to use fat16, fat32 or ntfs, regardless of partition or physical hard drive.

Win9x does not recognize ntfs so if you dual boot you would not be able to see that drive/partition. It doesn't sound like you'll be dual booting though.

As far as network access is concerned: it doesn't matter! TCP/IP translates the file system from local pc to remote and vice versa.

Many of the servers you surf to on the Internet run Linux or Unix in some form or another, and MS does NOT build the capacity to read their formats into windows at all!

Ntfs is not used on floppies either: filesystem overhead takes up more room than there is on a floppy! MS operating systems all use fat on floppies.

[Wicked Klown]

My slave drive is a 60 gig W.D. H.D.D. use for MP3`s and video`s and pic`s that all. There is no O.S. on it nor will there be.

[Jon]

You'll be fine leaving that drive as FAT32 then...regardless what file system you use on your system drive.

[jw50]

Originally posted by cornbread
Just so you know, you can do a clean install of XP from the CD itself. It will format and install for you, just boot with the cd in the cd-rom drive.

To boot to the CD you will need to go into the BIOS and change the boot sequence to boot from the CD first, otherwise it will boot to the hard drive before trying to boot to the CD.

When you boot to the XP CD it will give you the option of formatting the drive in either FAT32 or NTFS before installing XP. You can leave your secondary drive as FAT32 if you want to, XP will read it fine. If you want to convert it to NTFS XP can do that using the convert command.