"Backup a WinXP partition" plus "FAT32 to NTFS"

[screen]

I have a laptop that came with WinXP Home pre-installed on a FAT32 partition. It came with a quick restore disk, which will restore the laptop to the manufacturer's intended factory setting, i.e., FAT32 partitions

I would like to use NTFS partitions (because of the security, ...). I've read on the web that repartitioning the drive to NTFS, formatting the drive, and re-installing WinXP is (performance wise) better than converting from FAT32 to NTFS.

Thus, I would like to do the following:
(1) Backup the existing installation to a DVD
(2) Repartition the harddrive to NTFS
(3) Restore the data

Can I do this? If yes, what is the appropriate software, and is there a freeware that does this?

I've come across some software that backup the entire partition, sector by sector. I'm assuming that they are of no use because of the NTFS vs FAT32 differences (I might be wrong).

Thank you very much in advance for any help.

Regards

-Screen

[tdbs]

as far as backing up your data, just organize it and burn the DVD [or whatever media you decide to use] via Nero or any other burning program.

the WinXP CD has built in formatting and partitioning capabilities. Once you boot from the CD and get to the partition selection part, you will have the ability to create and erase partitions, and format them as NTFS or FAT32.

Once you installed WinXP, just copy all your stuff from the DVD back to the drive.

good luck
tdbs