ntfs or fat 32?

I had a problem w/ my win xp pro. I could not get my cd to repair or restore the corruption. I had to retrieve info off the bad install so I installed a clean version off the cd w/out formatting.(I could not get my info backed-up). I would like to reformat & reinstall. I have an old 2 g drive and a newer 20 g. here's info on system: Winxp pro
Version 5.1.2600 Service Pack 2 Build 2600
OS Manufacturer Microsoft Corporation
System Name DR2
System Manufacturer Gateway
System Model TABOR_II
System Type X86-based PC
Processor x86 Family 6 Model 7 Stepping 2 GenuineIntel ~448 Mhz
BIOS Version/Date Intel Corp. 4W4SB0X0.15A.0013.P08, 4/22/1999
SMBIOS Version 2.1
Windows Directory C:\WINDOWS2
System Directory C:\WINDOWS2\system32
Boot Device \Device\HarddiskVolume1
Locale United States
Hardware Abstraction Layer Version = "5.1.2600.2180 (xpsp_sp2_rtm.040803-2158)"
User Name DR2\d
Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Total Physical Memory 64.00 MB
Available Physical Memory 4.41 MB
Total Virtual Memory 2.00 GB
Available Virtual Memory 1.96 GB
Page File Space 163.65 MB
Page File C:\pagefile.sys
My q is,should I reformat ntfs or fat 32. Also Should I utilize the 2g drive or run w/just the 20? I dloaded Acronis and made an imge on cd but it was corrupted. I used the pgram to made a mirror copy on my hd in a new partition. also how should I go about setting up partions as a reformat? thanks in advance for the help.

 

NTFS.

I think XP needs more than 2 GB, so I would make the 20 GB the Primary Master, and make the 2 GB the Primary Slave.

Put your CD-ROM(s) on the Secondary IDE channel.



Steve

 

What about ntfs v. fat 32 with my old machine?

 

What O/S is your old machine going to be running, only 2000 & XP allow NTFS, all below that are the FAT type.

It doesn't matter the spec's on your computer what File System you have, it's all operating system based.

 

If its xp, go NTFS.

If you're using anything else, FAT32.

If its on a network, it doesn't matter which you choose.

 

All my info is in my first post. I have an old gateway w/pentium 3 @ 450 mhz. When I first got xp pro I used ntfs. I did not set any partitions. I wasn't sure if I should re-format w/ ntfs or fat 32. Also how should I set up partitions with a 20g drive & a 2g (master & slave respectfully) I think I may improve performance utilizing the smaller drive for my page file. I am only basing this on what I have read on websites. I am a semi-novice when it come to Geekology.

 

Thanks for the quick response Sunfish. What are the guidelines on partitions? Is there a website with answers for my novice mind? I do not use it for gaming or photo work.

 

My apologies for the misnomer, Goldfish!!!

 

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/setup/expert/russel_october01.mspx

Sunfish... I like it