Microsoft KB Archive/255004

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Default File System Choices During Windows 2000 Setup

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Q255004

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The information in this article applies to:


 * Microsoft Windows 2000 Advanced Server
 * Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional
 * Microsoft Windows 2000 Server

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SUMMARY
During the text-based portion of Windows 2000 Setup, you can choose to convert your hard disk from the FAT32 file system to the NTFS file system. There are many benefits to converting to the NTFS file system, including increased file security, more reliability, and more efficient use of disk space. During Setup, you receive the following prompt:

Upgrading to the Windows NT File System

Do you want Setup to upgrade your drive to NTFS?

Yes, Upgrade my drive

No, Do not upgrade my drive The default options are:


 * Windows 2000 Professional: No, do not convert this drive to NTFS.
 * Windows 2000 Server products: Yes, convert this drive to NTFS.

NOTE: After a partition is converted to the NTFS file system, it cannot be converted back to the FAT or FAT32 file system. To return to the FAT or FAT32 file system, you must format the partition.

Note that if a partition is larger than 2 gigabytes (GB) and you choose the FAT file system, the FAT32 file system is used by default.

MORE INFORMATION
If you do not convert to the NTFS file system during Setup, you can convert the partition later by using the Convert.exe tool. For additional information about converting to the NTFS file system, please see the "Convert Command" topic in Windows 2000 Help.

For additional information about file systems, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

"Q100108 Overview of FAT, HPFS, and NTFS File Systems" Additional query words: kbfaqw98w2k

Keywords : kbenv kbsetup KBW2KHOME

Issue type : kbinfo

Technology : kbwin2000AdvServ kbwin2000AdvServSearch kbwin2000Serv kbwin2000ServSearch kbwin2000Search kbwin2000ProSearch kbwin2000Pro kbWinAdvServSearch