[Ham-Computers] And I thought it was going to be easy~~

[Hsu, Aaron (NBC Universal)]

Hi Joe,

I just want to help clarify some things here and possibly help people understand a bit better...

When it comes to the file system (NTFS/FAT/FAT32), Windows XP is Windows XP.  It doesn't matter if it's Home, Professional, or MCE - all of these versions include support for FAT, FAT32, and NTFS.  The way the system drive is formatted has no bearing on the ability to read drives formatted differently - the only exception being a drive formatted in a non Windows-native format (such as HPFS, Ext3, etc).  So, in short, the new system being formatted NTFS should not affect the ability to read FAT/FAT32 formatted media.

When you say that your USB flash drive (btw, "Memory Stick" is a Sony trademark) didn't work, did the new system "recognize" the drive and assign it a drive letter?  If it did, exactly what error did you get when you tried to view it's contents?  If Windows didn't assign it a drive letter, then there is something else more fundamentally wrong that needs to be checked.

Another thought...does the flash drive include software that encrypts the contents or has an encrypted partition?  This is more common with flash drives marketed as being "secure".  If so, then you'll need to install the proper program/driver in order to read the encrypted data.  A popular app for data encryption is TrueCrypt and it's included with many flash drives.  Did you have a chance to try the flash drive in a 3rd computer and did the data show up properly?  If not, then it's most likely encrypted or has a hidden partition that needs to be "unlocked" using software that ships with the flash drive.

You also wrote that you "tried loading the files from the old pc on each and get the same results - shows them copied - but cannot access" - can you elaborate on this a little?  Are you saying that even the old computer can't read the files after you copy the files to the flash drive?  If this is the case, there is definitely something fishy going on - bad flash drive or possibly a corrupted file system on the flash drive.  Try formatting the flash drive before copying the data to it - often, the "bulk" formatting used at the factory is marginal and all you need to to is re-format the drive.  More common on floppy disks, but not unheard of (especially if the flash drive was a "customer return").

And, final thought about the file system - NTFS is a much better choice than FAT32 in the grand scheme of things - it's journaled, more tolerant of errors, more robust, includes security permission options, and more.  But, it is a tad bit slower than FAT32 and you can't boot to an older DOS disk and read the NTFS data.  I now prefer the robustness of NTFS, but there was a time I preferred FAT32.

Last, don't ever feel dumb for asking questions!  We can't learn if we don't ask questions!


73,

  - Aaron Hsu, NN6O (ex-KD6DAE)
    {nn6o}@arrl.net
    {aaron.hsu}@nbcuni.com
    No-QRO Int'l #1,000,006
    . -..- - .-. .-   ".... . .- ...- -.--"
 


-----Original Message-----
Sent: Wednesday, April 08, 2009 1:10 PM
Subject: Re: [Ham-Computers] And I thought it was going to be easy~~

Hi Phil et all that answered,

The only way I have tried - which will not work - is with the memory stick.  I copied the files off the xp pro pc and plugged into the xp home pc and figured it would be 'shazam! - However [upper case C] it did not work.  I checked and found out that the xp pro is FAT32 and the xp home is NTFS - it shows everything copied - but I can not get the files to show???  As I think I mentioned, when I came across the way the had the drive in the new pc [xp home] it shows [2] 'sections'?  for the HD - OS [C:] AND data {D} - I tried loading the files from the old pc on each and get the same results - shows them copied - but cannot access?  My friend say - go ahaead and reformat the new pc to FAT32 - but do I really want to do that - I don't think so.   So, I guess I will go and try to 'rattle the cages' at BESTBUY and see what the 'Action Team' seggests the next time I am in town.  - Boy, things were not this complicated with my C64/128's - - - in fact think I will break them out whenI get moved!!!  Apprecaite all the suggestions - sorry for being so dumb with PC's.

73,
JOE W7LPF
EX: W7ZQV/KG6 - W7LPF/DU2 - CT1DKG -
       CR7DKG - HB9IBA
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