Good morning everyone!

I just bought a 160 GB external HDD for backups on my WXP Home machine ( the
HDD is connected using USB 2.0). I have read in previous posts that I must
change the file system on the new drive from FAT32 to NFTS to overcome the 4
GB barrier imposed by FAT32. I have a couple of questions regarding this....

1 - Is there an alternative to doing this? I have an old W98SE machine that
I would like to back up on this HDD as well. Win98 will not recognize an NFTS
drive, will it?
2 -Is it better to just copy essential files onto the backup HDD using
Windows explorer, or perform a complete C drive backup using the backup
utility?
3 - Is it better to have one HUGE 40 GB backup file(on an NFTS drive), or a
backup that is split into 10 - 4 GB files( on a FAT 32 drive?) Would I need
to purchase software to split the backup into 4GB files? Which software is
best?
4 - If I decide to change to NFTS, then can I just reformat the new external
HDD to make it an NFTS drive? What allocation unit size should I use (there
are several choices ranging from "default" to 4096 bytes) I know that if I
reformat the drive, I will lose all data on it... not a problem.
5 -Are there any programs out there that backup faster than the backup
utility that is packaged with WinXP Home? I tried backing up my C drive last
night and the data transfer rate was about 120 MB/min (which would translate
into about 6 hours to back up 40 GB)

Thanks,
Ian

"Ian R" <Ian R@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:4D114B18-2185-4EDB-BA4F-B8F3DE115526@microsoft.com...
> Good morning everyone!
>
> I just bought a 160 GB external HDD for backups on my WXP Home machine (
the
> HDD is connected using USB 2.0). I have read in previous posts that I
must
> change the file system on the new drive from FAT32 to NFTS to overcome the
4
> GB barrier imposed by FAT32. I have a couple of questions regarding
this....
>
> 1 - Is there an alternative to doing this? I have an old W98SE machine
that
> I would like to back up on this HDD as well. Win98 will not recognize an
NFTS
> drive, will it?
> 2 -Is it better to just copy essential files onto the backup HDD using
> Windows explorer, or perform a complete C drive backup using the backup
> utility?
> 3 - Is it better to have one HUGE 40 GB backup file(on an NFTS drive), or
a
> backup that is split into 10 - 4 GB files( on a FAT 32 drive?) Would I
need
> to purchase software to split the backup into 4GB files? Which software is
> best?
> 4 - If I decide to change to NFTS, then can I just reformat the new
external
> HDD to make it an NFTS drive? What allocation unit size should I use
(there
> are several choices ranging from "default" to 4096 bytes) I know that if
I
> reformat the drive, I will lose all data on it... not a problem.
> 5 -Are there any programs out there that backup faster than the backup
> utility that is packaged with WinXP Home? I tried backing up my C drive
last
> night and the data transfer rate was about 120 MB/min (which would
translate
> into about 6 hours to back up 40 GB)
>
> Thanks,
> Ian

Get Norton Ghost 9.0
Create 2 partitions on your external HD one little bigger than size of your
win98 Hd (just to back up this drive) and rest for NTFS for your current
computer. When you format HD go with default cluster size.
Norton Ghost is also a boot disk in case you want to recover HD from image
(when windows won't boot up), and it will read NTFS partition from your
external HD.
Test this solution, as it's not 100% proof.

"Ian R" <Ian R@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:4D114B18-2185-4EDB-BA4F-B8F3DE115526@microsoft.com...
> Good morning everyone!
>
> I just bought a 160 GB external HDD for backups on my WXP Home machine (
> the
> HDD is connected using USB 2.0). I have read in previous posts that I
> must
> change the file system on the new drive from FAT32 to NFTS to overcome the
> 4
> GB barrier imposed by FAT32. I have a couple of questions regarding
> this....
>
> 1 - Is there an alternative to doing this? I have an old W98SE machine
> that
> I would like to back up on this HDD as well. Win98 will not recognize an
> NFTS
> drive, will it?
> 2 -Is it better to just copy essential files onto the backup HDD using
> Windows explorer, or perform a complete C drive backup using the backup
> utility?
> 3 - Is it better to have one HUGE 40 GB backup file(on an NFTS drive), or
> a
> backup that is split into 10 - 4 GB files( on a FAT 32 drive?) Would I
> need
> to purchase software to split the backup into 4GB files? Which software is
> best?
> 4 - If I decide to change to NFTS, then can I just reformat the new
> external
> HDD to make it an NFTS drive? What allocation unit size should I use
> (there
> are several choices ranging from "default" to 4096 bytes) I know that if
> I
> reformat the drive, I will lose all data on it... not a problem.
> 5 -Are there any programs out there that backup faster than the backup
> utility that is packaged with WinXP Home? I tried backing up my C drive
> last
> night and the data transfer rate was about 120 MB/min (which would
> translate
> into about 6 hours to back up 40 GB)
>
> Thanks,
> Ian

Go to http://www.allensmith.net/Storage/HDDlimit/FAT32.htm for an
explanation of the size limits for a FAT32 partition.

If you intend to dedicate the external drive to an NFTS machine then format
NFTS but if you are uncertain which machine will require to read the drive
format FAT32. If you intend to 'backup' the whole drive then use 'imaging'
software such as Norton Ghost/Acronis True Image/etc. You can use the WinXP
backup software to backup data files as you do not need to image the whole
drive at such regular intervals.

"Edward W. Thompson" <thomeduk1@btopenworld.com> wrote in message
news:uHdgoTV0FHA.1256@TK2MSFTNGP09.phx.gbl...
>
> "Ian R" <Ian R@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:4D114B18-2185-4EDB-BA4F-B8F3DE115526@microsoft.com...
> > Good morning everyone!
> >
> > I just bought a 160 GB external HDD for backups on my WXP Home machine (
> > the
> > HDD is connected using USB 2.0). I have read in previous posts that I
> > must
> > change the file system on the new drive from FAT32 to NFTS to overcome
the
> > 4
> > GB barrier imposed by FAT32. I have a couple of questions regarding
> > this....
> >
> > 1 - Is there an alternative to doing this? I have an old W98SE machine
> > that
> > I would like to back up on this HDD as well. Win98 will not recognize an
> > NFTS
> > drive, will it?
> > 2 -Is it better to just copy essential files onto the backup HDD using
> > Windows explorer, or perform a complete C drive backup using the backup
> > utility?
> > 3 - Is it better to have one HUGE 40 GB backup file(on an NFTS drive),
or
> > a
> > backup that is split into 10 - 4 GB files( on a FAT 32 drive?) Would I
> > need
> > to purchase software to split the backup into 4GB files? Which software
is
> > best?
> > 4 - If I decide to change to NFTS, then can I just reformat the new
> > external
> > HDD to make it an NFTS drive? What allocation unit size should I use
> > (there
> > are several choices ranging from "default" to 4096 bytes) I know that
if
> > I
> > reformat the drive, I will lose all data on it... not a problem.
> > 5 -Are there any programs out there that backup faster than the backup
> > utility that is packaged with WinXP Home? I tried backing up my C drive
> > last
> > night and the data transfer rate was about 120 MB/min (which would
> > translate
> > into about 6 hours to back up 40 GB)
> >
> > Thanks,
> > Ian
>
> Go to http://www.allensmith.net/Storage/HDDlimit/FAT32.htm for an
> explanation of the size limits for a FAT32 partition.
>
> If you intend to dedicate the external drive to an NFTS machine then
format
> NFTS but if you are uncertain which machine will require to read the drive
> format FAT32. If you intend to 'backup' the whole drive then use 'imaging'
> software such as Norton Ghost/Acronis True Image/etc. You can use the
WinXP
> backup software to backup data files as you do not need to image the whole
> drive at such regular intervals.
>
>
His 40Gb+ image won't write to FAT32 partition. (file size limit)

"tjoy" <tjoy@spaceworksfurniture.com> wrote in message
news:OBwOSby0FHA.2064@TK2MSFTNGP09.phx.gbl...
>
> "Edward W. Thompson" <thomeduk1@btopenworld.com> wrote in message
> news:uHdgoTV0FHA.1256@TK2MSFTNGP09.phx.gbl...
>>
>> "Ian R" <Ian R@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
>> news:4D114B18-2185-4EDB-BA4F-B8F3DE115526@microsoft.com...
>> > Good morning everyone!
>> >
>> > I just bought a 160 GB external HDD for backups on my WXP Home machine
>> > (
>> > the
>> > HDD is connected using USB 2.0). I have read in previous posts that I
>> > must
>> > change the file system on the new drive from FAT32 to NFTS to overcome
> the
>> > 4
>> > GB barrier imposed by FAT32. I have a couple of questions regarding
>> > this....
>> >
>> > 1 - Is there an alternative to doing this? I have an old W98SE machine
>> > that
>> > I would like to back up on this HDD as well. Win98 will not recognize
>> > an
>> > NFTS
>> > drive, will it?
>> > 2 -Is it better to just copy essential files onto the backup HDD using
>> > Windows explorer, or perform a complete C drive backup using the backup
>> > utility?
>> > 3 - Is it better to have one HUGE 40 GB backup file(on an NFTS drive),
> or
>> > a
>> > backup that is split into 10 - 4 GB files( on a FAT 32 drive?) Would I
>> > need
>> > to purchase software to split the backup into 4GB files? Which software
> is
>> > best?
>> > 4 - If I decide to change to NFTS, then can I just reformat the new
>> > external
>> > HDD to make it an NFTS drive? What allocation unit size should I use
>> > (there
>> > are several choices ranging from "default" to 4096 bytes) I know that
> if
>> > I
>> > reformat the drive, I will lose all data on it... not a problem.
>> > 5 -Are there any programs out there that backup faster than the backup
>> > utility that is packaged with WinXP Home? I tried backing up my C drive
>> > last
>> > night and the data transfer rate was about 120 MB/min (which would
>> > translate
>> > into about 6 hours to back up 40 GB)
>> >
>> > Thanks,
>> > Ian
>>
>> Go to http://www.allensmith.net/Storage/HDDlimit/FAT32.htm for an
>> explanation of the size limits for a FAT32 partition.
>>
>> If you intend to dedicate the external drive to an NFTS machine then
> format
>> NFTS but if you are uncertain which machine will require to read the
>> drive
>> format FAT32. If you intend to 'backup' the whole drive then use
>> 'imaging'
>> software such as Norton Ghost/Acronis True Image/etc. You can use the
> WinXP
>> backup software to backup data files as you do not need to image the
>> whole
>> drive at such regular intervals.
>>
>>
> His 40Gb+ image won't write to FAT32 partition. (file size limit)
>
It won't be written as a single file but can be written, True Image will do
this automatically as Norton Ghost no doubt will. It's a little difficult
for me to understand why one wouild want to image a file that large.

"Edward W. Thompson" <thomeduk1@btopenworld.com> wrote in message
news:uhuBQY60FHA.3000@TK2MSFTNGP12.phx.gbl...
>
> "tjoy" <tjoy@spaceworksfurniture.com> wrote in message
> news:OBwOSby0FHA.2064@TK2MSFTNGP09.phx.gbl...
> >
> > "Edward W. Thompson" <thomeduk1@btopenworld.com> wrote in message
> > news:uHdgoTV0FHA.1256@TK2MSFTNGP09.phx.gbl...
> >>
> >> "Ian R" <Ian R@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> >> news:4D114B18-2185-4EDB-BA4F-B8F3DE115526@microsoft.com...
> >> > Good morning everyone!
> >> >
> >> > I just bought a 160 GB external HDD for backups on my WXP Home
machine
> >> > (
> >> > the
> >> > HDD is connected using USB 2.0). I have read in previous posts that
I
> >> > must
> >> > change the file system on the new drive from FAT32 to NFTS to
overcome
> > the
> >> > 4
> >> > GB barrier imposed by FAT32. I have a couple of questions regarding
> >> > this....
> >> >
> >> > 1 - Is there an alternative to doing this? I have an old W98SE
machine
> >> > that
> >> > I would like to back up on this HDD as well. Win98 will not recognize
> >> > an
> >> > NFTS
> >> > drive, will it?
> >> > 2 -Is it better to just copy essential files onto the backup HDD
using
> >> > Windows explorer, or perform a complete C drive backup using the
backup
> >> > utility?
> >> > 3 - Is it better to have one HUGE 40 GB backup file(on an NFTS
drive),
> > or
> >> > a
> >> > backup that is split into 10 - 4 GB files( on a FAT 32 drive?) Would
I
> >> > need
> >> > to purchase software to split the backup into 4GB files? Which
software
> > is
> >> > best?
> >> > 4 - If I decide to change to NFTS, then can I just reformat the new
> >> > external
> >> > HDD to make it an NFTS drive? What allocation unit size should I use
> >> > (there
> >> > are several choices ranging from "default" to 4096 bytes) I know
that
> > if
> >> > I
> >> > reformat the drive, I will lose all data on it... not a problem.
> >> > 5 -Are there any programs out there that backup faster than the
backup
> >> > utility that is packaged with WinXP Home? I tried backing up my C
drive
> >> > last
> >> > night and the data transfer rate was about 120 MB/min (which would
> >> > translate
> >> > into about 6 hours to back up 40 GB)
> >> >
> >> > Thanks,
> >> > Ian
> >>
> >> Go to http://www.allensmith.net/Storage/HDDlimit/FAT32.htm for an
> >> explanation of the size limits for a FAT32 partition.
> >>
> >> If you intend to dedicate the external drive to an NFTS machine then
> > format
> >> NFTS but if you are uncertain which machine will require to read the
> >> drive
> >> format FAT32. If you intend to 'backup' the whole drive then use
> >> 'imaging'
> >> software such as Norton Ghost/Acronis True Image/etc. You can use the
> > WinXP
> >> backup software to backup data files as you do not need to image the
> >> whole
> >> drive at such regular intervals.
> >>
> >>
> > His 40Gb+ image won't write to FAT32 partition. (file size limit)
> >
> It won't be written as a single file but can be written, True Image will
do
> this automatically as Norton Ghost no doubt will. It's a little difficult
> for me to understand why one wouild want to image a file that large.
>
>
It works for me. I use Norton ghost 9 to backup 300Gb HD (boot drive, one
partition)
to removable SATA drive (230Gb) both are NTFS.
If something goes wrong I just boot PC from Norton Ghost CD, and reload
image (base backup and differentials)
Anyway, there are more than one way to skin the cat.

This isn't anything scientific, but I've kept my backup drive as FAT32 so it
can still be read from a Win98 machine. I use 'Second Copy' backup software
and don't know how I ever lived without it. You can access the files on the
back up drive just like you can on your hard drive and it's so simple to do
full backups, partial backups incremental backups or to synchronize the two
drives to exactly match.

You can download a 30 day evaluation copy at:

http://www.centered.com/


--
Dori ...
_______________________

"A smile is the light in your window that tells others
that there is a caring, sharing person inside." ~ Denis Waitley ~
"tjoy" <tjoy@spaceworksfurniture.com> wrote in message
news:OBwOSby0FHA.2064@TK2MSFTNGP09.phx.gbl...
>
> "Edward W. Thompson" <thomeduk1@btopenworld.com> wrote in message
> news:uHdgoTV0FHA.1256@TK2MSFTNGP09.phx.gbl...
>>
>> "Ian R" <Ian R@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
>> news:4D114B18-2185-4EDB-BA4F-B8F3DE115526@microsoft.com...
>> > Good morning everyone!
>> >
>> > I just bought a 160 GB external HDD for backups on my WXP Home machine
>> > (
>> > the
>> > HDD is connected using USB 2.0). I have read in previous posts that I
>> > must
>> > change the file system on the new drive from FAT32 to NFTS to overcome
> the
>> > 4
>> > GB barrier imposed by FAT32. I have a couple of questions regarding
>> > this....
>> >
>> > 1 - Is there an alternative to doing this? I have an old W98SE machine
>> > that
>> > I would like to back up on this HDD as well. Win98 will not recognize
>> > an
>> > NFTS
>> > drive, will it?
>> > 2 -Is it better to just copy essential files onto the backup HDD using
>> > Windows explorer, or perform a complete C drive backup using the backup
>> > utility?
>> > 3 - Is it better to have one HUGE 40 GB backup file(on an NFTS drive),
> or
>> > a
>> > backup that is split into 10 - 4 GB files( on a FAT 32 drive?) Would I
>> > need
>> > to purchase software to split the backup into 4GB files? Which software
> is
>> > best?
>> > 4 - If I decide to change to NFTS, then can I just reformat the new
>> > external
>> > HDD to make it an NFTS drive? What allocation unit size should I use
>> > (there
>> > are several choices ranging from "default" to 4096 bytes) I know that
> if
>> > I
>> > reformat the drive, I will lose all data on it... not a problem.
>> > 5 -Are there any programs out there that backup faster than the backup
>> > utility that is packaged with WinXP Home? I tried backing up my C drive
>> > last
>> > night and the data transfer rate was about 120 MB/min (which would
>> > translate
>> > into about 6 hours to back up 40 GB)
>> >
>> > Thanks,
>> > Ian
>>
>> Go to http://www.allensmith.net/Storage/HDDlimit/FAT32.htm for an
>> explanation of the size limits for a FAT32 partition.
>>
>> If you intend to dedicate the external drive to an NFTS machine then
> format
>> NFTS but if you are uncertain which machine will require to read the
>> drive
>> format FAT32. If you intend to 'backup' the whole drive then use
>> 'imaging'
>> software such as Norton Ghost/Acronis True Image/etc. You can use the
> WinXP
>> backup software to backup data files as you do not need to image the
>> whole
>> drive at such regular intervals.
>>
>>
> His 40Gb+ image won't write to FAT32 partition. (file size limit)
>
>
>

Thanks for all the feedback folks! It looks like I will be buying Norton
Ghost sometime in the near future.


"Ian R" wrote:

> Good morning everyone!
>
> I just bought a 160 GB external HDD for backups on my WXP Home machine ( the
> HDD is connected using USB 2.0). I have read in previous posts that I must
> change the file system on the new drive from FAT32 to NFTS to overcome the 4
> GB barrier imposed by FAT32. I have a couple of questions regarding this....
>
> 1 - Is there an alternative to doing this? I have an old W98SE machine that
> I would like to back up on this HDD as well. Win98 will not recognize an NFTS
> drive, will it?
> 2 -Is it better to just copy essential files onto the backup HDD using
> Windows explorer, or perform a complete C drive backup using the backup
> utility?
> 3 - Is it better to have one HUGE 40 GB backup file(on an NFTS drive), or a
> backup that is split into 10 - 4 GB files( on a FAT 32 drive?) Would I need
> to purchase software to split the backup into 4GB files? Which software is
> best?
> 4 - If I decide to change to NFTS, then can I just reformat the new external
> HDD to make it an NFTS drive? What allocation unit size should I use (there
> are several choices ranging from "default" to 4096 bytes) I know that if I
> reformat the drive, I will lose all data on it... not a problem.
> 5 -Are there any programs out there that backup faster than the backup
> utility that is packaged with WinXP Home? I tried backing up my C drive last
> night and the data transfer rate was about 120 MB/min (which would translate
> into about 6 hours to back up 40 GB)
>
> Thanks,
> Ian