Aspire 5672, converting to NTFS or keep FAT32?

Could someone please explain the differance between having NTFS or FAT32 on the computer? Don't know what either does and therefore don't understand why most people on here want to convert to NTFS?

 

NTFS has variable cluster size, so it uses HD space more efficiently and disk fragmentation level is lower. It's also safer and more resistant to sudden system crashes (you don't have to run Check Disk every time). But it doesn't work with older Windows versions and Linux doesn't have full support for it also. Some say that FAT32 is faster.

 

The first and foremost drawback is that the maximum file size on a FAT32 partition is "4GB minus 2 bytes"; whereas on NTFS it is limited by the partition size. Moreover, on NTFS all files are "indexed", and it is more efficient. If you don't have to dual boot into a Win 9x, I recommend you switch to NTFS.

Also read the NTFS vs FAT table on NTFS website, and feel free to ask any more questions

 

After typing in 'convert C: /fs:ntfs' in command I get the following: Enter current volume level for drive C, what should i type in?
Thanks for the replies and help.

 

you type in the volume label (what it's name is in my computer) and you say yes to dismounting the drive, and yes to performing the conversion next time you restart. and when it starts up again it will do the conversion. VERY worth the time.

 

I've read that there it is better to pick the NTFS system when doing a new install rather than doing a conversion. if you do do a conversion google for the recommended way which keeps the cluster size small.

i've kept my system fat32, the only drawback is that defragging takes longer.

 

Forgive my dumbness but where do I find this volume label?

 

Hi badass,

Volume label is the name of your HDD partition, for example C: Acer or D: Acerdata. Hope it helps.

Cheers!

 

All done, thanks all.

 

be interested to know if u meet any issues from your conversion.

 

I have done a similar conversion myself. So far no issue. What I am wondering about is if it's possible to readjust the size of partitions with some software?

 

i resized my partition with a "copy" of acronis disk director.

 

My electrical fuse just blew. Luckily, I wasn't doing something crazy like repartitioning my hard drive.

Lesson of the day:
- If you do anything that can potentially kill the laptop, plug in the battery
- Restore point is your friend

 

No issues but I'm perhaps not the best person to ask. Also, and this might be in my imagination but the laptop seems to get less hot.

 

No issues here, I converted roughly a month ago.

 

been almost a month and zero issues. well worth the 5 mins it took.

 

Just my 2 cents,

Yes the convert works fine but imho no matter what pc I purchase or build I'll alawys throw a fresh install on it after imaging the OS even before opening the box and going though the OOBE (out of box expierence).

A fresh install of xp is ALWAYS the best solution any day.

--ssx--

 

I'd like to convert the hard drive to NTFS, make it all one partition, and reformat it for a fresh install of Win XP Pro.

convert C: /fs:ntfs will just convert it, but not combine the partitions, or reformat it, right?

What would be the recommended order for what I want to do? I think reformat should be last, but I'm not clear on the best method of combining the partitions. I'm a bit of a newbie to all this, so all tips are appreciated!

 

If you want to install XP Pro, just boot with the CD. Delete the partitions you don't want, then create a new one with the NTFS filesystem, format it, and install Windows to that one.

Correct.

 

yeah I had done this already with xp pro sp1 and I am having a few driver issues. I used the ones from acer and I still have a few cations in device manager.

 

If everything is working fine, then they might just be false alarms.

 

Converted from fat32 to ntfs, both c: and d: disks, did not touch the hidden partition, my lappy has xp pro sp2, runs faster.......... will post problems latter if detected, so i would day go for the fat32 - ntfs conversion without fear....... Acer 5672 2gig ram 120mbhdd

 

120mb?

 

shut up! lmao yeah I couldnt afford gigabytes .

Yeah I got the cautions fixed, for some reason the chipset drivwers wouldnt install until after an sp2 install, and the modem took the audio drivers, so I had to uninstall the modem and audio and reninstall the right ones and bam I have xp pro sp2 running MUCH leaner then the original xp home. Idle at around 20 or less processes and alot less then 200mb RAM usage. Now I just need to go out and buy a real copy, re partition the hdd and delete this copy of xp pro (it is a work copy )

 

Just bought the Acer 5672, although have not opened the box yet. It has XP Home Edition, although I may upgrade at some point to Professional.

When I open and start it up, what is the best and easiest way to convert the HDD to NTFS?

Thanks

 

in the run command type in convert C: /fs:ntfs

 

Thanks....sounds simple......

 

I'm a real noob when it comes to all this repartitioning lark, ive just got my 5652 and installed xp not knowing about fat32 or ntfs or that my hard drive would be split in two parts with 10gb missing! what do i need to do now, seeing as i've already installed everything?

 

Lol, the 10GB is not "missing". 3 is taken up by the recovery partition, and 93 is all you get after all the I-don't-know-what is there on the HDD. Even though they say 100GB, you don't always get a 100GB. It's always rounded off, and it's most of the time the same size across the board. That means that a 100GB HDD from seagate or samsung or hitachi would practically only give you 93GB. 60GB usually gives 55-ish. I'll read up on what takes the extra space (if there is an extra space at all) and inform you guys. I was wondering the same thing when I got my notebook but I put it off and finally forgot

 

are most acers formatted with fat32? i'm thinking of getting an acer but as i'm a newbie, i don't fancy having to convert or reformatting for ntfs

 

Well, the 5672 comes with a hidden 3GB partition and 2 40-odd partitions. And yup, they are all FAT32

 

Well with fileing systems they are broken in to sectors. A ntfs sector is much smaller that is why a ntfs system stores more efficient as well as faster. What I mean by this is say you store a 3kb size file. It doesnt take up JUST 3kb it takes up the whole sector, meaning you actually lost 4kb and not 3kb. Imagine a larger file, it takes up many sectors and the last sector only requires 1byte that means you lost 4095bytes. It may seem like a waste, and it is but you have to see how far we have come. FAT16 had MUCH larger sectors and wasted ALOT more space. As time goes on we will get smaller and smaller sectors, but for now the common ntfs is 4kb.

I dont know about other acers, but it is very easy to do this conversion. Even for a newbie like yourself. Follow these directions:

1. click start
2. select Run
3. type: cmd into the field
4. type: convert d: /fs:ntfs and hit enter
5. select yes for all prompts, except type acer data when asking for volume label.
6. wait for it to complete
7. when the d: partition is complete type: convert c: /fs:ntfs and hit enter
8. yes for all promts and when asked for the volume label type acer and hit enter. (It will say it cant dismount drive and will ask if you want to do this conversion on the next restart. type: yes and hit enter)
9. restart your pc and let it run the conversion beofre it loads windows.

When it is finished it will open windows on its own so when it is converting the primary partiton (c: drive) let it alone until it opens windows for you.

Now you will have 2 57gb NTFS partitions, performance will be greatly increased, as well as dfrag time will be greatly reduced. All in all took me 5 minutes to do (may take more for a newbie) and was WELL worth it. Dont let this tiny obsticle sway your decision.

 

What I'd really like to do is a clean format, with one partition. But i don't want to buy another copy of Xp Pro. How can I do a clean install without purchasing another copy?

 

According to fair use laws in United States if you currently OWN a licensed copy of XP Home / Pro OEM you do not need to copy another license just for the media! You will only need to purchase another license if you go from home to pro etc. etc. etc.

Go to any local PC shop and ask them to burn you a copy of windows xp home oem, or what ever version came with your laptop. This is no need to go put and waste more money!

You already have a license, why drop 150 dollars for another licenses when you need just the physical media? The media is worthless and is just plastic and the real value is the COA and key provided.

 

Well most vendors sell the media fo a nominal fee. But there is no law against using one of the billions of copies of windows to reinstall and format. If you have a OEM liscense then you have every right to any media of OEM type. Its not the disc that really matters, but the license.

 

my point exactly! However there have been a few people on here to question my reasoning or understanding of this. As a result I was asked not to help some people out or was warned by an mod simply for mentioning this fact to them.


I just don't understand why people suggest that they go out and spend ANOTHER 150 dollars on ANOTHER license to reinstall a pc fresh simply because they do not have an oem disk. Dell / HP / Acer / Compaq / Gateway will all include origional disks if you lost them how is giving someone a disk who does not have an origional oem disk any different!

Becides they can't do anything with just the "disk", it's not like they have a key or anything. It's like giving a car to someone with no means of turning it on unleses they have a valid key.

--ssx--

 

Yeah you can go to cdw or other vendors to buy JUST the media. I dont know how legal making a copy is, but I figure just ask a friend who has a copy or get one for cheap at cdw or something.