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XP Installation only gives NTFS format options

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MountainNetworks

IS-IT--Management
Apr 24, 2003
74
Hi:

When you install windows XP, you're supposed to be given 4 formatting options:

1. Format the partition using the NTFS file system (Quick)
2. Format the partition using the NTFS file system
3. Format the partition using the FAT file system (Quick)
4. Format the partition using the FAT file System

I only get the first two NTFS choices.

In the past when this has happened, it's been because of the BIOS or the Hard Disk itself (jumper settings). It's also been because of the IDE cable itself.

Having said that, here's what I've done.

1. Updated the BIOS
2. Changed the cables
3. Tried every combination possible of jumper settings on the drive.
4. Formatted the drive manually using a Windows 98 Boot disk.
5. Tried a different Windows XP installation CD.

No matter what I do, I only get the NTFS choices. Any ideas?

Thanks ....
 
Very odd. If you used win98 to create fat32 you don't need to do it again in XP install - it should just let you install on existing partition. Are you saying you don't get that option either?

PS. Its NOTHING to do with bios settings, jumper settings or IDE cable (specifically). You may have a hardware issue which is causing this anomaly - could be anything. Have you actually installed XP on NTFS (I'd be interested to know if it will install on you machine - as if hardware problem I'd expect install to fail somewhere)?
 
If the installation hard disk is greater than 32 gigabytes, your XP is acting perfectly normal. This is not a BIOS issue or anything else.

XP cannot under FAT32 create and format a partition greater than 32 gig. So when presented a disk to be partitioned for itself, the only choice is NTFS.

"NOTE: You cannot create a volume larger than 32 GB in size by using the FAT32 file system in Windows XP. The Windows 2000 FastFAT driver can mount and support volumes larger than 32 GB that use the FAT32 file system (subject to the other limits), but you cannot create one by using the Format tool. This behavior is by design."

reference:
Nothing wrong with your BIOS or hard disk drive, the behavior during setup is normal.
 
Practical note, using the WinXP CD and on a 30GB drive I had all 4 choices but not on a 40GB drive. Used Win98SE to partition and format the 40GB and WinXP gave me choices to change to NTFS or leave as-is.
 
To add to Bluejacket's practical advice, if stuck, download a Win98SE (not Win95 or just Win98) that contains fdisk, SYS, etc.

Boot with this and pre-setup the drive if you want FAT32 greater than 32 gigs. (warning < 139 gigs)
 
Hello All:

In my list of things I've tried, I negelected to mention that I tried Pre-formatting the drive with FAT32. If I do this, yes, I'm presented with the option to &quot;leave as it is&quot;

bcastner and bluejacket:

The drive has a jumper setting for &quot;Limit Drive to 32GB Capacity&quot; Even if I do this, I still only get NTFS options or &quot;leave as is&quot; I've been given the FAT choices with 40GB IDE disks in the past.

Thanks...

 
The only need for the &quot;jumper setting for &quot;Limit Drive to 32GB Capacity&quot;&quot; is to accomodate a BIOS that has a limit of 32GB drives [I have one from Mar. 2000].

If the drive is already formatted FAT32, the messages would seem to be correct.
 
Yes I do agree with Bcastner advise. Use a win98se or a winme bootdisk and fdisk and format the drive in Fat32 format, XP will then recognize the drive as Fat32 and give you the choice. MS actually went a step backwards with the XP OS. However XP will recognise and use a preformated drive during installation. Greetings Jurgen
 
I'm not sure how &quot;backward&quot; a step XP was taking, the standard to be used for 48-bit LBA (Large Block Addressing) was not approved at the time XP was finalized for release. There is a switch that enables LBA &quot;experimentally&quot; on the base XP install, but of course does not help until XP is in fact installed. Service Pack 1 contains full support for LBA, and a slipstream installation is recommended.

If your IDE drive is > 137 gig:
This Hotfix is not pushed with Windows Update, and you should use it for ATAPI drives > 137 gigabyte:
Microsoft is very conservative when industry standards are involved. It the folks involved with EIDE specification were not done with 48-bit LBA, (and they were not), Microsoft did not include it. (Except as a hidden test value). It is also conservative in the sense that allowing during installation a partition and format for > 32 gigabytes under FAT32 is certainly an easy thing to do, it would change the original installation specifications and they are unwilling to do this. They provide ample means to do the partition and format outside of the &quot;normal&quot; XP installation procedure.

Personally, I like NTFS quite a bit, and with the appearance of tools such as Knoppix, Bart's PE Builder, and others, I do not miss FAT32 at all.

Knoppix Discussion: Download Sources:
Bart's PE Builder:
Ultimate Boot CD:
For bootable images of Win98SE or ME including fdisk, sys, and format:
 
Ok, so I formatted the drive with NTFS and installed WinXP Pro. It seems to be working fine. For those of you who have been following my other thread, &quot;frosted unlucky files...&quot; there doesn't appear to be any random crashes, etc. I'm using the same disk. The only difference is that it's now running XP instead of 98se.

Thanks for all your help. This issue is now closed :)


 
delete the partition on the drive (C:) then WITHOUT formatting it start the installation, it should then give you the option to format using FAT...OK?
 
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