Gotta a quick and simple one for the Win2K proficient...

[daveleau]

Hi guys,
I am setting up Win2K as I type and have started the install from Win98. I have 3 partitions with the third to be dedicated to an alternate OS (Win2K, Win Millenium) to play with. Do I need to format the third partition as a Fat32 or NTFS? I am at a point where it is asking me this and figured I would need it as a NTFS...but do I? Is there any benefit from keeping it as a Fat32?
Thanks, my computer is sitting there with a blank stare and a blue window asking me this very question and we are both awaiting an answer. http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif
Thanks-
Dave

[Underclocked]

The only advantage that I know of in keeping it as a FAT32 is the ability to still read between partitions with both OS's. I've never tried the NTFS so can't offer much there. I hope you have made a choice by now http://www.sysopt.com/forum/biggrin.gif

[daveleau]

Not yet...It's still sitting there...waiting. http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif I am patient. Win2K RC2 will work fine under a Fat32 partition though?
Thanks-
Dave

[Mntsnow]

Dave, Yes RC2 works just fine on Fat32 partitions. If you are only looking to test out the OS and are not in need of the file system security there is no need to convert to NTFS. The nice thing about staying with Fat32 or for that fact Fat16 is being able to browse the Win2K partition from win9x.

Mntsnow

[daveleau]

As usual you guys are great. My system thanks you because it can now continue with the installation.
Thanks-
Dave

[tkray]

having an ntfs partition on a machine is great for critical files. I have one partition set up this weay with win2k. If you set file permissions right and keep your password hard to guess/crack, you can have a small portion of your computer pretty much top secret.

[Joel Kleppinger]

unless someone has physical access to your machine....

[bdog]

I can access my W2k NTFS partition from within Linux. (Mandrake 7.0)
I do not know if older distros allow it or not though.

[JW310]

I chose NTFS, mainly because I'm so paranoid about having my computer be secure. I don't mind much not being able to access my Win2K partition from Linux, because I can always throw any files that I need to use between the 2 OS's onto a SuperDisk or CDR/RW. I think any other hard drives/partitions I add are going to be FAT16 or FAT32, for the main reason of wanting to play around with any other forthcoming operating systems.

JW

[socalgal]

or, unless MS has some built-in back doors and an NSA key no one has found yet...