Windows 2000 / ME FAT differences

[matt_gourd]

I recently installed Windows 2000 on my main HD, after backing up some of my data on a secondary HD. I should have known better. Windows 2000 sees the secondary HD as unformatted, containing no data, so I can't get at my data! I'm guessing the reason for this is that the original formatting of the secondary HD was done when I still had Windows ME installed on my computer, and the Windows 2000 FAT is different from the Windows 2000 FAT. Is there any way around this? Would running Knoppix Linux from a CD allow me to mount both disks and somehow copy the data from one disk to the other? Or would booting from an MS DOS floppy help?

[osprey4]

Win 2000 uses NTFS and ME uses FAT32, but you should be able to see the FAT32 partition from Windows 2000. Was your second drive installed when you loaded the OS? I always think it's better to remove other drives when installing an OS.

[matt_gourd]

Was my other drive connected when I installed Win 2000? Yes, it was. Would it be worth my while disconnecting it and reinstalling Windows 2000 on the main drive? Then what do I do, connect the secondary drive and wait for Windows 2000 to detect the new hardware?

How did you backup your data?
Was the drive formatted and you copied files over and now it isn't anymore?
Knoppix would allow you to get to the data if the drive is okay.
You might try d/l'ing the mfr's utility for your brand drive to make sure there's nothing wrong w/ it. Here's a quick list.

[matt_gourd]

Was the drive formatted and you copied files over and now it isn't anymore?

That's right. The files I copied were some Word documents, an Outlook PST file, and my Internet Explorer bookmarks. I look at the drive with the 2000 server edition drive management tool and it's there physically, but when I create a drive E containing the drive information and click on it, I'm asked whether I want to reformat: the data just won't show!

I think I'm going to try Knoppix. But before I do, what about an MSDOS boot disk?

[SeanC]

Whoa whoa whoa!!! You created a new drive in Win2000 drive manager? The old one is gone. You're going to have to format that drive and then restore your backed up data.

Sean