In the continuous search for the last little bit of extra performance in FS9 I am considering changing my WinXP installation from FAT32 to NTFS.I currently have --- Drive C: WinME(FAT32) retained as there are some old applications which don't run or run badly in WinXPDrive D:(FAT32) Storage - here are all my FS backup files,unused aircraft etc- also some things such as Arrcab Carriers etc are on this drive.Drive E: WinXP(FaT32) with FS2004 and SB/AVC etc.C and E are on the same HDD.However ,before I do so I would like to know this.......1:I know that NTFS can "see" FAT32 drives/Files but not vice-versa.Can you save a file whilst in WINXP/NTFS to a FAT 32 drive and in FAT 32 format so that file can then be read by the WinME/Fat32 OS/software?2:Will the small aplications such as Arrcab Arrestors etc that are installed on D: still run when accessed from E:WinXP(NTFS).Another subject perhaps but worth mentioning that I have installed the new NVidia 53.03 drivers and notice a slight increase in fps (5% max).Dave

Hi Dave,if it helps, I'm using Fat32 on my C: partition and NTFS on the D: partition, where FS is installed. It is absolutely no problem for WinXP to manage the different storage types, however you won't be able to access the NTFS files directly from Win9x (e.g. if you put your hdd into another, Win9x system). But of course, you can burn files on CD, and I guess network access will work with Win9x etc.-Daniel

1)You have this a bit the wrong way around. A file system is simply a way of storing data on a disk. In order for the operating system to access it it requires a driver. Windows 2000/XP have drivers for NTFS and FAT32 build in. Windows 98/ME only have drivers for FAT32 (well, and FAt16, but that is not relavant here), and even though some third party software exist allowing access to NTFS from Win98/ME it is not ideal - the old operating systems simply are too old and outdated to access a modern file system correctly.So you can't really say NTFS can access FAT32 - it is the OS that can. Any file stored on a FAT32 partition can be accessed from both 98/ME and 2K/XP.2)Yes. Again, it's just a question of the OS having a driver to access the file. XP will simply load two drivers - one for FAT32 and one for NTFS and you won't notice the difference.

OK- thanks to you both -"So you can't really say NTFS can access FAT32 - it is the OS that can. Any file stored on a FAT32 partition can be accessed from both 98/ME and 2K/XP."I understood this- perhaps I didn't express exactly what I want to know properly ................that is...................... I still need to know - can I save a file whilst using WinXP( NTFS) to a FAT 32 partition and can I then access that file from the other OS(WinME)? In other words if I save file "X" to a FAT32 partition from an NTFS partition - how - in what form does the file get saved - NTFS or FAT32?Dave

Hi, I doubt though that you

Thanks Uwe- Both Hard drives are identical here ( two Maxtor 40GB at 7200 rpm) so no obvious advantage in changing anything there.Yes I realise that simply converting to NTFS is not the best way- the thought was that ,over Christmas,I may format and do a clean reinstall in NTFS.....Haven't made up my mind yet.Dave

Hi,I hope I can straighten this out for you. When you save any file to a fat32 partition, WinMe can read it. Any file saved to a NTFS partition cannot be read by WinMe.Ed

Thanks ED - thats exactly what I wanted to know.Dave