File Systems

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Your ability to access your NTFS volumes when you use a multiple-boot process to start up Windows NT and Windows 2000 depends on which version of Windows NT you are using. Redirected clients using NTFS volumes on file and print servers are not affected. If you are running Windows NT 4.0 Service Pack 4 or later, you can read basic volumes formatted with the new version of NTFS.

When a Windows 2000 volume is mounted on a computer running Windows NT 4.0 Service Pack 4 or later, most of the new NTFS features are not available. However, most read and write operations are permitted if they do not make use of any new NTFS features. Features affected by this configuration include the following:

  • Reparse points. Windows NT cannot perform any operations that makes use of reparse points.

  • Disk quotas. When running Windows NT on a multiple-boot computer that also runs Windows 2000, disk quotas implemented by Windows 2000 are ignored, allowing you to consume more disk space than is allowed by your quota.

  • Encryption. Windows NT cannot perform any operations on files encrypted by Windows 2000.

  • Sparse files. Windows NT cannot perform any operations on sparse files.

  • Change journal. Windows NT ignores the change journal. No entries are logged when files are accessed.

You can only access files on NTFS volumes from Windows NT or Windows 2000. If other operating systems are installed, you must use another file system for the system and boot volumes.

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Important

Because NTFS data structures are not the same for Windows NT 4.0 and Windows 2000, Windows NT 4.0 disk tools such as Chkdsk and Autochk do not work on NTFS volumes formatted or upgraded by Windows 2000. These tools check the version stamp of NTFS. After installing Windows 2000, users must run the updated version of these disk tools on their NTFS volumes.

Because of these compatibility issues, using a multiple-boot process between Windows NT 4.0 and Windows 2000 is not recommended. The Windows NT 4.0 Service Pack 4 or later NTFS driver is provided only to assist in evaluating and migrating to Windows 2000.