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Question

Fat32 HD frm Win98SE not given drv. letter in WinXP

by Apr 5, 2012 7:44AM PDT

I want to convert from Fat32 to NTFS via convert.exe in DOS but it requires a drive letter for the HD to be converted.
The problem is no drive letter is given to this SLAVE drv. by WINXP in the Disk Mngr.

This problem has been around in some form on this Forum but I see no solution since, my Win XP Disk Mngr. sees my hard drv. as a SLAVE but will not allow assignment of a drive letter. There is nothing I can find that would "recognize" the drive.

Any suggestions?

Discussion is locked

4 Posts
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Answer
You don't say if the files need to be saved.
by Forum moderator Apr 5, 2012 7:53AM PDT

If not, just use disk management to delete the old partition, create new and format it fresh.

If you need to save files, we have ways. Too many but you didn't write anything needed saving. We know the convert process can wipe a drive so let's go with that disk management method.
Bob

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Fat32 HD frm Win98SE not given drv. letter in WinXP
by jimsfink Apr 6, 2012 11:59AM PDT

R. Proffitt Thank you for the feedback. You are quit right I didn't explicitly say files were to be saved but that is the intent and why convert.exe is to be used. I did say disk mngr. would not allow assignment of drive letter.

I have gotten some files off the drive when it is in the old Gateway 550 Win 98SE system by using a USB flash drive but it is only 256MB. I have not found a Win98SE USB driver for my 4G PNY flash drive. This is why I have been trying to get the drive recognized by my Dell OptiPlex SX260 system. I have tried the CNET PC Recovery program. It sees some of the info on the disk [no drv letter] but most of it is just empty folders. I recognize some of the folders as what should be there but nothing shows-up.

I have not tried anything with Ubuntu at this time.

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Here's an prior discussion where they made it sound easy.
by r. proffitt Forum moderator Apr 7, 2012 1:15AM PDT
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Answer
Let's say there are files to save.
by Forum moderator Apr 5, 2012 7:58AM PDT

1. Head to Disk Management and see if you can assign a drive letter. HOWEVER.

2. If I wanted to get files out I would boot my Ubuntu Live CD or USB stick (no install, no need to learn linux) and then see if the drive shows up and get my files out. While I'm there and after my files are out I would find GPARTED to remove the old partitions so I could start fresh.

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