hard disk

Clarifications

See,
IF you want to dualboot your operating system then you can use FAT. If not then you can use NTFS.

FAT is supported by all the versions of MIcrosoft Operating System but NTFS Came in to picture from NT 3.1. NTFS stands for New Technology File System. FAT can be used for Formating your floppy disk as NTFS doesnt support you to format the floppy.

Let me talk in terms of security.

If you are using FAT then File and folder permission set by you will be applicable only when you tri to access it through Network. But when some buddy logging in to your system then that permission will not be effective on the system where you have set the permission. On the other hand NTFS Provides both the side security. Local & Network.

At the time of installing the Server Operating System you go for FAT because you have an option to convert your FAT to NTFS but there is no option for you to convert NTFS to FAT for doing so you have to take the backup of your system and then format the Server with FAT or NTFS and restore it.

If you have formatted your system with FAT partition and you are trying to make your stand alone server as Domain by running DCPROMO at the Run Command the you will not be able to do so. For that you have to convert your FAT to NTFS. There are two ways to convert your FAT to NTFS. One is GUI and the second one is Command. For Converting through GUI in case of 2000,XP,2003 by that time you can go to My Computer---> Manage--->Click on Disk Management---->Right Click on that particular Driver say C: for example. Click on Convert option it will give you an option for that Convert FAT to NTFS. In case if you want to convert FAT to NTFS then you should go to Start--->Run---->CMD press enter then you have to type the following
convert drive_letter: /fs:ntfs and press enter.

for example: convert c: /fs:ntfs and press enter.

Remember one thing if some buddy asks you "Can you install ADS in FAT Partition then your answer should be no. You should have atleast NTFS Partition. Then one more question then may ask you. "Can you install RISETUp in A Domain Contoller with FAT Partition. Then your answer should be no. If they ask why? then you should say that for making RISETUP you should have a Domain Controller with ADS. But you can not install ADS on FAT Partition 101% confidently you should say.

In case of any technical queries you are pleased to send your technical problems on ganesh.jaratarghar@hotmail.com or ganesh.winnotes@yahoo.co.in

I was there in Hyderaad for 1 and half year. Please mail me your questions to my personal ID so that I can answer your questions and grow my technical knowledge. I will answer your questions within 1 or 2 hours and not more than that.

Take Care.

Ganesh