I want to know how to downgrade my win2k to win nt workstation. From what i'm reading it sounds pretty complicated. Right now i have my hdd partitioned into 2 parts and i've formatted them using FAT32 and i've backed up all my files into that second part of the hdd. So i'm wondering what are the steps i need to do in order to downgrade. If i format my hdd will i loose my backup files? Do i need to create a bootdisk? Should i be running fdisk or something? Any help would be greatly appreciated! thanx

Obvious question: why go backwards to NT? But if you wish to… Your HD is now two FAT32 partitions. Problem: NT cannot see FAT32 - without use of a third-party util (after NT is installed correctly). So you will not be able to access data (Extended) partition without the util. (util is at: http://www.sysinternals.com) Probably the easiest route to go is to use PM6x to alter a few things around, which then allow you to install NT, and be able to access data. First copy your data back to the Primary partition; do 'not' touch/alter the Primary file format at this time. Reconfigure the Extended partition space to allow one or more FAT16 logical-drives. If you can store all data in one 2Gig area, then create only 'one' 2Gig/FAT16 logical-drive; you can recover any 'free-space' later when NT has been installed. You can do this Extended partition reconfig. either via W2K Disk Admin., or using PM6x; it's up to you. Once you have the FAT16 area(s) secure, copy data to it/them. At this point in the sequence have a read of the following link: http://www.budja.com/w2k/uninstall_w2k.html It covers removing/uninstalling W2K in a variety of situations - including W2K (as the only OS installed) in C: (FAT32) partition. Find that section; read it carefully; implement it. Sending you there saves time/space (not having to type it all out here); and you'll know where it is in the future… Be sure 'not' to touch the Extended (logical-drives) area…! Any doubts about the above routine for deleting W2K, don't do it… until you are really sure about it. Critical item is to 'leave the Extended partition alone/untouched/secure.' Once W2K has 'gone' install NT into the 'free space' left after W2K removed. At time of installation you are limited to a 4Gig max Primary partition (FAT16/NTFS); stay with FAT16 initially you can go to NTFS later). During the NT installation, your data will still be in the Extended partition area; so do 'not' go there for any reason, do 'not' overwrite/alter that partition. Once NT is installed, you will probably have some 'free/unused' space on the HD. You can use PM to merge all this space into the Extended partition. As a safeguard… first copy data from Extended partition to the Primary partition ('safe keeping'); verify it 'is' there and accessible…! Having done so, use PM to re-arrange the Extended partition space to make full use of it all available HD 'free space'; then create FAT16 or NTFS areas (logical-drives) accordingly... Alternatively (once NT is installed), after first copying data over to the Primary partition (safe-keeping), use Disk Admin (in NT) to re-arrange the Extended partition (and encompass all free-space'). Again, ideally, create at least two logical-drives, for data. They can be FAT16 or NTFS - your choice; personally I'd have them FAT16 so they can be accessed from a DOS or '98 boot-disk if need be… Copy data aback to the Extended area… If your HD is larger than 7.8/8Gig you will need to address this issue; http://www.windows2000faq.com/Articles/Index.cfm?ArticleID=13894 from John Savill's FAQ's at: http://www.windows2000faq.com part of: http://www.win2000mag.com It covers this in detail. One might ask: Why not convert data (Extended) partition to W2K NTFS (NTFS-5) as NT4 can 'see/access' NTFS-5 with SP4 or higher installed; and then remove W2K and install NT? I haven't tried it (reading a W2K/NTFS-5 area within an NT4 installation); wouldn't like to risk it without having a secure data backup somewhere safe… - just in case 'my' NT4 installation for some reason 'couldn't access NTFS-5… Which is why I haven't suggested that option… You should not need to use Fdisk. (Re)formatting a partition means all data etc. on the partition or logical-drive affected by the (re)format process is lost. SO do not reformat the Extended (D: ) drive on your system - whilst you have data stored there. 'If' data has been copied to the C: drive (safe-guarded/back-up), and you have verified it 'is there' and accessible, then you can reformat D: , and similarly if no data on C: (now safe on D: ) you can reformat C: ... Above all... verify that your data 'is' secure in a safe area/partition BEFORE deleting contents of, or (re)formatting the other partition. Hope this hasn't been to involved/complicated for you to follow…