The Notebook Review forums were hosted by TechTarget, who shut down them down on January 31, 2022. This static read-only archive was pulled by NBR forum users between January 20 and January 31, 2022, in an effort to make sure that the valuable technical information that had been posted on the forums is preserved. For current discussions, many NBR forum users moved over to NotebookTalk.net after the shutdown.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.

    question about reformatting external HDD

    Discussion in 'Hardware Components and Aftermarket Upgrades' started by andrew.brandon, Sep 13, 2006.

  1. andrew.brandon

    andrew.brandon Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    61
    Messages:
    594
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    ok guys, I just got this HDD http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16822136023

    I really like it but its formatted in FAT32. I would like to reformatt it to NTFS if I can. but I am not sure if the HDD will still work after I do it. will it automatically connect when I plug in in the US port and all that other good stuff?
     
    andrew.brandon, Sep 13, 2006
    #1
  2. Greg

    Greg Notebook Nobel Laureate

    Reputations:
    7,857
    Messages:
    16,212
    Likes Received:
    58
    Trophy Points:
    466
    i think you'll be fine, the only difference between NTFS and FAT32 is in the software...not the hardware.

    i have a 7 year old desktop that was originally FAT32 with Windows ME, but is now NTFS running XP.
     
    Greg, Sep 13, 2006
    #2
  3. vespoli

    vespoli 402 NBR Reviewer

    Reputations:
    1,134
    Messages:
    3,401
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    105
    Be aware that there is a way to convert FAT32 to NTFS without a reformat. I don't remember the exact command but i'm sure you can find it on google somewhere. Of course if there is no data on the drive it is not a concern.
     
    vespoli, Sep 13, 2006
    #3
  4. NetBrakr

    NetBrakr Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    119
    Messages:
    1,344
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    55
    Dont worry about it, just use the full format NTFS.

    JC
     
    NetBrakr, Sep 13, 2006
    #4
  5. Qhs

    Qhs Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    40
    Messages:
    666
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Dont even worry about it. I got the MY Book 250GB version and reformatted the HDD to NTFS the second I connected it to my X60. It usese USB and XP will automatically recognize it. Just use Windows Management to format it.
     
    Qhs, Sep 13, 2006
    #5