>(1)Does this conversion utility that comes with Win98 mean that I
>won't have
>to reformat my hard drives?  I always thought that I would have to
>reformat
>to take advantage of FAT32.

No You don't have to reformat, the Actual conversion takes less than
5 minutes (depending on speed of computer and size of HD or partition
your converting) then spend an hour or more defraging the HD after
the  conversion.

Here is what the Windows98  Manual says about certain issues before
you even think about a conversion:
--cut here: page 86 Microsoft Windows 98 Manual---

You can use the FAT32 conversion tool to easily convert your hard disk to
the FAT32 file system.  However, before you convert file systems, you
should read the following information carefully:

--If you didn't make a Windows 98 Startup Disk, you should create one by
following the steps in the "Using the Startup Disk" section earlier in
this chapter before you convert to FAT32.

--You shouldn't covert any drives on which you also want to run an
operating system that doesn't support FAT32.  Also, if you're running
Windows 98 and another operating system in a dual-boot environment,
coverting your primary disk drive to FAT32 may cause the other operating
system is installed on a different drive.

--if anit-virus software is running, it may detect the request to update
the parition table an boot record an rompt you allow the updates.  If
this occurs, instruct the anti-virus software to allow the updates.

--Once you convert to FAT32, you can't compress stored information or
convert back to FAT 16 unless you use a third-part parition management
utility designed for tha purpose.

--If you have a removable disk that you use with another operating
system, don't convert to FAT32.

--Hibaernate features may not work on a FAT32 drive.  Hibernate features
are those that allow some computers to enter a suspend state, with all
power turned off.

--If you convert your hard drive to FAT32, you cannot uninstall Windows
98.

--Although most programs are not affected by the convertion from FAT16 to
FAT32, some older disk utilites that depend on FAT16 won't work with
fAT32 drives.  Contact your disk utility manufacturer to see if there is
an pdayed versiton that is compatible with
FAT32.

A FAT 32 drive can be shared across a netwrk by MS-DOS, Windows 3.1,
Windows 95, Wndows NT(R) Worstaion version 4.0, and Windows NT Server
version 4.0.  In addition,
MS-DOS verstion 7.1 (the version that ships with Windows 98) also
supports FAT32.

--- end of page--

When you go to convert Windows 98 searches for anti-virus programs or
disk utilites that are incompatible with FAT32.


>(2)Currently I am running Win95a (OSR1?) with two hard drives.  One
>drive is
>a single partition and the other has three partitions. Can Win98 "see"
>both
>hard drives and all partitions as one "drive" after running the
>conversion?

Nope, and even if you fdisked with a Windows 98 boot disk you still might
have to convert to FAT32, according to the Windows 98 manual it uses
FAT16 by  default.


--Patrick Black

_____________________________________________________________________
You don't need to buy Internet access to use free Internet e-mail.
Get completely free e-mail from Juno at http://www.juno.com
Or call Juno at (800) 654-JUNO [654-5866]