Fat32 restore quetion W2V

OK i got my brand new W2V but it comes with fat32 file system which i do not prefer. But it doesnt come with an OS disc only restore cds so if i format it to NTFS will i be able to restore it with the restore discs and will it stay fat32. Never used restore discs much since i prefer clean builds. Either that im ill just download another hacked copy of media center.

 

You can convert from Fat32 to NTFS without reformatting...just type "convert c: /fs:ntfs" in a command prompt. It will convert and you won't lose any data. The restore discs will almost certainly restore the partition to Fat32...at least that's been my experience with discs from other manufacturers...

 

All Asus units have a shortcut to exactly what you mentioned above..... SRD is asking how he can go back down the road... the simple answer, yes you would need to format and reinstall...... you do that from those restore discs..... Asus doesn't have crappy restore discs... their discs are seperated into OS and drives and utlities...... the OS disc is basically just windows, but set up to be more automated. So just do that.

 

i have to check i all the restore dics have asus logs on them so i didnt even think that one might just be the actual OS because most dont do that. I know how to convert to NTFS i prefer to do a proper format im not sure theres really a difference but i dont like doing the the quick way im always worried something might be affect or slowed down by converting it but thats most likely not the case just in my head.

 

Well you still install them in a certain order.... the disc stuck to the back of the windows media center pack is the first (os) disc.. then you have a seperate drivers and utes disc that is seperate, but if you're doing a restore the system will ask you to insert the disc and it'll auto install everything for you.

 

I cannot understand why Asus still gives a Fat 32 formatted drive with these units.
On top of that there is a really awkward partitioning: A small recovery sector, a 60Gb C: and a 40Gb D:

I used Partition Magic to merge all the partitions to one big, NTFS converted C: drive.

 

FAT32 might still come useful if you wanted to also install linux on your system and have r/w access to the windows partition from there. In fact I am planning to do that.

 

In that case it would come in handy, but I doubt if Asus has Linux on its mind.....
Maybe a better explanation would be there's still a lot of Windows 98 systems out there.