Re: Can XP on an NTFS partition read data on a FAT32 partition on the same HDD?

Fred_at_anonymous.com
Date: 06/11/04 

Date: Fri, 11 Jun 2004 10:17:46 -0400

Hi Crusty,

I used to have a dual boot system with WinME and WinXP (NTFS) until a HDD
failure occurred. I had image files of my NTFS WinXP and my Fat32 WinME
"system" partitions, and full Backups (image and data file BU) on one data
partition. Also had other partitions for image files, and zipped programs
(utilities, unique programs, driver BU, etc.). I also have a second HDD with a
current image to hidden partitions that match the System and data partitions.
Lastly I have backups of everything on my Iomega External HDD.

Since I found that I was using WinME less and less and found WinXP to be so
much better, I set up my system to just boot to WinXP and that's the way it is
today. I have continued the Fat32, Data, Image, and Misc. BU partitions. I also
have a laptop set up the exact same way.

Unless there is some real critical factor with your data that requires the
"features" of NTFS, I recommend keeping the data and image files, etc. on Fat32
(actually most image SW requires Fat partitions for storing image files). My
main reason for this is that access to the data, image, drivers, sipped program
files, etc. are easily available to me using DOS, I can boot with a Win98 disk
and without ANY effort at all move, copy, delete, add, etc. any data, image,
etc. files. There is no easy way to do this if everything was NTFS and that is
totally unacceptable to ne.

I was able to switch to my second HDD, refresh the system image, I restored my
data files (due to good BU on hand) and was up and running in less than an
hour. I installed a replacement HDD and set that up just as before again within
an hour too. In the interim, I used the Win98 disk to boot and retrieved
current Data files from the Fat32 partitions and copied some important "stuff"
to my laptop.

There is no way, in my opinion, to do this as easily with NTFS all over the
place.

Just another point of view.

Fred

"Crusty (-: Old B@stard :-)" wrote:

> Yes it can. But if you are not dual booting with an older operating system,
> why use the older, and less efficient, fat32 file system. Create the 2nd
> partition as NTFS also.
>
> --
> Regards:
>
> Richard Urban
>
> aka Crusty (-: Old B@stard :-)
>
> "Chris Falner" <cfalner@nowhere.net> wrote in message
> news:uSZpMG6TEHA.644@tk2msftngp13.phx.gbl...
> > I have XP Home installed on an NTFS partition that takes
> > up half of my HDD. The other half is empty - no partition.
> >
> > If I create a FAT32 partition in the empty space, will XP
> > be able to read and/or write data files on that partition?
> >
> > Thanks,
> >
> > Chris
> >
> >
> >
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