Formating Old HDD

[Degradation]

[Newbie]
I just installed my old HDD (FAT32, WinXP Pro) into my new cpu without Partitioning or Formating anything. I can access it (delete, install programs, etc...) and so far there hasn't been any problems... My questions are:
By Formating to NTFS everything will be erased, right?
Does the old drive need an OS since it's set as slave?
Does it matter that the Master drive (NTFS) is WinXP Home?
What can I do to have both drives working as fast and smooth as possible?

[Admiral Falcon]

Yes, whenever you change the filesystem, all data on the drive is lost.

No, the old drive does not need an OS, as long as you're running Windows off of the master drive.

Hope this helps!

[Degradation]

it helps, thanks!

[sterno]

You actually can convert FAT to NTFS, but I think the resulting NTFS filesystem is restricted to the cluster size of the FAT drive. That's almost never what you want, converting like that is usually a bad idea.

[iooi]

Yes, whenever you change the filesystem, all data on the drive is lost.
Hope this helps!

NO it doesnt
Changing file format from fat32 to ntfs does NOT result in loss of any data....

[808smokey]

[quote="iooi"]

NO it doesnt
Changing file format from fat32 to ntfs does NOT result in loss of any data....

Correctamundo!!!!

You won't lose anything

[SLK001]

NO it doesnt
Changing file format from fat32 to ntfs does NOT result in loss of any data....

Correctamundo!!!!

You won't lose anything

Depends on how you do it. If you reformat to NTFS, then you will lose everything. However, if you convert to NTFS, then your data should remain intact.

But I think the best way is to copy everything onto your master drive, then reformat your old drive to NTFS. This will allow new tracks to be laid down and the defects map to be updated (or, start "fresh").

Then just copy the stuff you want to keep back to the drive.

[RabidDog]

If you have two OS's installed eg winxp pro and winme, you can generally see the files for one OS from the running one. You nearly always need at least one Os installed.. I agree with Slk001 reformat is better than convert, however you may not have the room. What you could do is set up small parts on your disc, format one part to NTFS, copy some files, make another part, format, copy and so on. Its OS's for courses really .. Get a Dual boot system..you dont want to be stuck in a one OS town

[c_hernandez32]

Do you know how to create a dual boot system or at least a web site to redirect me?

How does cluster size fit into drive size? If I change the cluster size will size increase? speed?

[RabidDog]

Well with most windows systems from 98 on, when you install the second operating system (to a different partition) it will have detected th presence of the existing OS. Linux will also do this. It will automatically create a dual boot system .. leave the existing (default) cluster size, this is automatically chosen depending on the size of your disck. IT is wise to rename the operating system choices from the anonymous ones.
RUN--MSCONFIG--EDIT

[c_hernandez32]

How do I rename it? I read somewhere that you go to the advanced option on My Computer and create a new hardware profile that I think shows up when you boot your pc. Is that right or am I making it up? I hate when I see something important, and forget to watch it.

[RabidDog]

RUN--MSCONFIG--EDIT--BOOT.INI ... I thought this was quite a good clue,
Only change the text that you know appears on screen.