FAT...NTFS Conversion??? [Archive]

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VaCreeper

08-26-2002, 11:51 AM

Somehow last night my computer decided to change file systems on me and now I can't get back in to change it! :( I was running AdAware when it froze setting up to scan the C Drive. It wouldn't let me shut down properly, so I pulled the plug. When I tried to start it back up I got a please insert disk message. I tried all my rescue disks, Ghost, Partition Magic, ect. to no avail. Finally I put a Maxblast II disk in and got somewhere. I formated and copied my backup drive onto my C drive but it still won't boot. Niether will the backup HDD. It's telling me that my file system is NTFS intead of FAT 32 (98se) and I need to use DOS commands to to straighten it out. The bad news is that the only DOS command I know is FDISK! :(

Any help/advise would be greatly appriciated.

Thanx

AllGamer

08-26-2002, 05:57 PM

you can use Parition Magic to convert the NTFS partition back to FAT / FAT32 if you want.

i still wonder what made you change the format if you did not change it on your own

hmm.... strange...:x

jmichna

08-26-2002, 08:16 PM

Using a boot disk:

Try a:\fdisk /mbr

I believe this (undocumented) will repair a busted master boot record, without loss of data.
jmichna

rangeral

08-26-2002, 10:53 PM

And or use the utility to write zero's to the drive, redo it completely see if it clears it up.

VaCreeper

08-27-2002, 11:37 AM

Thanx for the replies. I had to use a Maxtor HDD diagnostic utility I had on a floppy to get anything done. I wound up doing a low level format. My rescue disk's would stop at the point where they told me that non MS DOS files were found and needed to be removed.:confused: Don't know how that happened, but I do know that from now on I will disconnect my backup drive! Well...back to reloading software!:(

Again..Thanx!
Creeper

PS. Could this have been a virus? If so it was undetected by NAV

rangeral

08-28-2002, 08:29 PM

Could have been a hack or virus, if you don't update the av with latest definitions it could miss a new virus some will catch what other av apps miss so some people run 2 av apps or use the updated nav with an online scanner for a thorough check.