NTFS file system compatibility

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I am preparing to upgrade from Windows 98 to Windows 2000. I have 3 HDs. I plan to install Windows 2000 on a new clean HD with the NTFS file system, and keep my other 2 HDs. Both of the old HDs are running FAT32 file systems. Will Windows 2000 on the NTFS drive be able to read files on the FAT32 drives? Will I be able to drag files from my FAT32 drives to the NTFS drive, and copy or drag files to the FAT32 drives? Same questions for the other FAT32 drives on my LAN.

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But, remember that you can NOT boot to a DOS prompt if you are using NTFS. If this is a HOME system I would suggest that you you use FAT32 unless you have a REAL need for the NTFS.
NTFS is a very secure system and one can lock themselves out out it.

DaveA I am so far behind, I think I am First
Genealogy....confusing the dead and annoying the living

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It has been a long time (years) since I have booted to a DOS prompt and I am struggling to think of a reason or a situation that I would need to. I am running a small home office network with 3 computers. I plan to leave the other 2 computers on Windows 98 for at least the near term, but the one I use for the “heavy lifting” I plan to upgrade to W2K. From what I have been reading it seems NTFS should be the file system of choice. The advantages being: Security, Compression, Recovery, Encryption, Capacity, etc. On the other hand, FAT is compatible with Win 9x, but I don’t plan to dual boot with Win 9x, and I plan to leave all my other drives running FAT32. Unless there is a compelling reason, I plan to use NTFS on the drive that I will install Windows 2000.

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I believe there are some utilities from sysinternals (including some freeware) that can get you into an NTFS file system in an emergency.

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I’d recommend NTFS too. Even if the other computers are win9x, they can remotely access the win2k drives as long as they have the proper permissions.

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Yes, I see that Windows 2000 might be just the thing for your network. But before going into it I would pick up a GOOD book on Windows 2000 and do a lot reading before jumping into it. I am runnin a duel boot Win 98 FE and Win2K system on a three computer peer to peer network at home, with a shared cable modem. The other two computers are running Windows Me. It works very well, you mught look into athe duel boot also.
I listed the following in the books board “Practical MS Windows 2000 Professional” Que Publisher, written by Ed Bott. Check it out.

DaveA I am so far behind, I think I am First
Genealogy....confusing the dead and annoying the living

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Sounds like a carbon copy of my system. I have been reading MS Windows 2000 Professional, Published by Microsoft, by Stinson & Siechert. What would be the advantage of the dual boot capability, once I upgrade to W2K?

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Since ALL of my hardware was NOT on the WIN2K list and that the other machines were running Win98Fe it made a lot since. I still run more in the 98 mode than I do 2K. I have replaced some of the harware but not all of it. I am using the FAT32 on the Win 2K machine.

Just make sure that ALL (100%) of your softawre and hardware is ok for Windows 2K, if not use a duel boot or NOT install 2K.

DaveA I am so far behind, I think I am First
Genealogy....confusing the dead and annoying the living

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