1 Topic by mplaut

  • mplaut
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  • Registered: 2006-09-06
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Topic: What is the best way to reformat while preserving data?

I  had four partitions: FAT16, FAT16, FAT16, FAT32 - I use Win98

I want to change the 16s one by one to FAT32.

I started with the 3rd because that is the least important. Gparted worked fine, but I lost all the data and had to recopy it from my backup.

Same thing with the second.

I am nervous about doing it with the first because that is "C" and even though Win98 is on "F" (the original FAT32) I am afraid that if I reformat and wipe out all of C I will not be able to boot up and recopy from my backup (which is on F).

I have not seen any reference to reformatting while preserving data in the documentation and I think I looked through it all.

TIA.

2 Reply by Patrick Verner

  • Patrick Verner
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  • From: Kaukauna, Wisconsin, USA
  • Registered: 2006-08-01
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Re: What is the best way to reformat while preserving data?

Doesn't windows98 have a utility to convert fat16 to fat32 already?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File_Allocation_Table

"Windows 98 introduced a utility to convert existing hard disks from FAT16 to FAT32 without loss of data."

Patrick Verner's Website

3 Reply by mplaut

  • mplaut
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Re: What is the best way to reformat while preserving data?

Thank you. I did not know that.

Nonetheless, I would be interested in more information about data destruction and preservation.

If I have to go back to FAT16, how do I preserve data?

Does resizing a partition threaten data? What is the "standard" procedure to ensure preservation of data?

Thank you

4 Reply by plors

  • plors
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  • Registered: 2006-07-31
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Re: What is the best way to reformat while preserving data?

mplaut wrote:

<snip>
Does resizing a partition threaten data?

officially, no, but it's always a good idea to have a backup.

mplaut wrote:

What is the "standard" procedure to ensure preservation of data?

Thank you

making a backup tongue