OOPs,
I am using Norton Systemworks Pro 2003.  I didn't have it, instead had 2002 before the laptop died so could not do an image to the external drive on it.  When it was FAT 32 the external drive connected great to the laptop via firewire.  THe laptop is 98SE.

Nope!  I just added that since the laptop died I got 2003 and started using it woth my new computers.  My external drive can't be read by my laptop Via firewire as I re-formatted the external drive to NTFS after the laptop drive died.  I have no problem with re-formatting the external drive back to FAT 32, and asked if that can be done,and if the images of my NTFS drives will be fine if written to a FAT 32 external drive.

So far, I have not figured out how to re-format the external drive  120GB Seagate Barracuda with 8 MB cache and in a Firewire USB case, back to FAT 32 as it ws when I bought it.

Quote:

I have an 80GB Seagate Barracuda in a FireWire 400/USB 2.0 combo external enclosure kit and a 120GB Seagate Barracuda in a FireWire 800/FireWire 400/USB 2.0 combo kit - and I enjoy great success with both NTFS and FAT32 file system formats.  However, they are both very sensitive about "debris" from failed Norton Ghost 2003 tasks, i.e., the RECYCLER file on NTFS logical drives cannot be cleared using the command - the contents have to be d and shuttling 4GBs will take anywhere from 5 to 15 minutes for a transfer.  In the last year, I probably have performed well over 200 Norton Ghost 2003 operations while tinkering with my four different external HHD enclosure kits - and the surest path to getting squared away is getting a copy of Partition Magic 8.0.

Melding your circumstances with my Seagate 120GB, I would fire up Partition Magic to:

(1)   each and every partition on the HDD - including any extended partition after doing so to the logical drives included therein;

(2)  create a 57.23GB (50%) NTFS primary active partition on the HDD;

(3)  create an extended partion containing a single 57.23GB (50%) FAT32 logical drive which will consume all remaining space on the HDD;

(4)  reformat (right-click for a dropdown menu) the logical drive in FAT32 before leaving Partition Magic 8.0; and

(5)  exit to XP DeskTop and right click My Computer > Manage > Storage > Disk Management > select NTFS drive and right-click for a dropdown menu to reformat the primary drive in NTFS - disregard any hesitation and warnings as the drive is empty.

Partition Magic 8.0 allows free and unfettered operations with the physical HDD mounted in the enclosure.  Having performed this drill dozens of times on four different HDDs, I assure you that you will be well prepared.  However, if Ghost operations do go awry and "foul the decks" before you get your procedures down pat, do not hesitiate to go through the process again - in the long run, you will save time.  If you have Norton Disk Doctor onboard, you can give it a try beforehand - but it consumes a good deal of time as well.  I always set up prolonged tasks to run unattended while I am away from the PCs.

As a matter of habit - and nothing else - I always assign logical drive letters somewhere between T: and Y: on my external physical drives.  FAT32 logical drives always enjoy the highest letter(s) in any given sequence - again, just a matter of habit.

Let us know how you are progressing.

El Pescador,
   Hey you must like to fish too!  I wrote n answer this AM and got interrupted and my post went bye bye when I had to check another website.  I thought I had laready sent it.  Now hours later I will try again.

  My whole thrust is to end up with the external drive as a FAT 32 and not NTFS.  Why did you in your steps end up with reformatting in NTFS?????

  i was hoping someone would have a shortcut to a way to "force" Win XP to format the external in FAT 32.  But I will check out Partition Magic and see if it can do what I need if there is no shortcut that can be done with he external drive external.

BTW. you can get rid of the recycler file instantly and keep it from ever coming back..  It is created by Systemworks, which I have been using since the first versions.  Heck, I go back to IBM A/V and Central Point software, and before.  Anyway, to get rid of it on the external drives permanently, just open system works on each computer you use the external drive on, regardless of the drive letter assigned to it by each.  Go to options, Utility options and then Norton protection.  There is  drop down menu to select drives.  Just drop down to the drive letter the external is using on each one and uncheck protection.  Poof!  It is gone.  But you have to do it on each computer it si used on that has Systemworks on it.  You can leave the C drive, or any other partitions you wnt to protected, and they will not affect the settings for the external drive.

El Pescador,
  Did you try my suggestion to get rid of the recycler file on external drives?  They have been causing lots of techs trouble when they are on a drive they are trying to recover data from, and are a reson some nay say Norton utilities.

I am good on Norton Utilities, not so great on Ghost 2003 or XP and NTFS formats.  I am getting there however.

I appreciate your schema for setting up your hard drives, although I am a one large partition, no extra users kind of guy.  By the same token, I acknowledge the ever increasing size of FAT32 files on drives over 32GB.  So I am considering using something akin to your drive strategy.

But my problem remains.  I have a Win 98SE year 2000 laptop, with only firewire and USB 1.1, which will not recognize a drive formatted in NTFS on firewire.  I can't see it from it, so can't reformat it in FAT 3 from there, nor can do a FAT 32 format from XP.  I am going to try and find a friend with Partition Magic, and see if that can do it from my main NTFS machine before I buy it.  I always try then buy, or erase.  No bootlegs here.

Anybody got a free solution before I try then buy?

accck!
OK bud, that was my last shot too.  Mount the HD and do a Win 98 install.  And you have convinced me that PM 8.0 needs to be in my toolbox.

I do other folks computers setting up their security after they have gotten infected with malware, mostly hijackers in the last few months.  I also do the malware removals.  But this just stumped me.  I have gotten used to XP and forgottem most of my Win 98SE stuff.  Once I have an image and resolved the File allocation table situation, I'll just leave 98SE on that one and get a WiFi adapter and put it on my network for downloads etc.  The manufacturer says that XP does not play nice with my hardware, so I think you guys got me where I need to be.  I was just worried about the drivers for the newer computers that 98SE doesn't have a clue about.  If it fails, I'll buy PM.

Thanks again
RV

Looks Like I'll try it when I mount the drive in one of the two later machines and load Win 98 on it.  Maybe it'll see it too for formatting when it is back in the enclosure.  XP does do some things that seem to be eerily almost like A.I.!   Maybe it is the latest update set?

Thanks again all, I'll post back when I have it running nd making images for all of them, I hope!