HI... I recently bought a new PC, it seems to have been
set up with a old off-the-shelf HDD in the FAT32 format,
and for security I want to convert it to NTFS, I have
read http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-
us;307286 but it does not say if I can convert the main
system (boot) drive (I don't have a secondary HDD) to
NTFS without loosing any data, (it's OEM and I don't have
a windows back-up disk).. I'm worried that if I do
a "Convert C:/FS:NTFS" command as the help file
suggests... I'll loose all data and end up with an
expensive blank screen, without a disk to repair the
damage...

You should definetely have been provided with either a Windows CD or some
method of doing a system recovery-- otherwise whoever sold it to you has not
met their licensing obligations.

--

Anyway, converting the hard drive (even the main drive) should not cause any
data loss.


--
Colin Nash
Microsoft MVP
Windows Printing/Imaging/Hardware



"Styx" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:050c01c47a94$47b7e8c0$(E-Mail Removed)...
> HI... I recently bought a new PC, it seems to have been
> set up with a old off-the-shelf HDD in the FAT32 format,
> and for security I want to convert it to NTFS, I have
> read http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-
> us;307286 but it does not say if I can convert the main
> system (boot) drive (I don't have a secondary HDD) to
> NTFS without loosing any data, (it's OEM and I don't have
> a windows back-up disk).. I'm worried that if I do
> a "Convert C:/FS:NTFS" command as the help file
> suggests... I'll loose all data and end up with an
> expensive blank screen, without a disk to repair the
> damage...

Well... I was offered a <insert company name> certified
windows back up disk... but only with their service
package, costing £60 ($110) per year (on a 3 year
contract) so... to get the disk I would have to pay a
extra £180 / $330, but seen as you say there should be no
problems.. That's saved me $330... Thanks!!! Have a drink
on me )

Unfortunately, Colin, they're allowed to create a "recovery partition" on the hard disk. They no longer have to provide a CD.

--
Doug Knox, MS-MVP Windows Media Center\Windows Powered Smart Display
Win 95/98/Me/XP Tweaks and Fixes
http://www.dougknox.com
--------------------------------
Per user Group Policy Restrictions for XP Home and XP Pro
http://www.dougknox.com/xp/utils/xp_securityconsole.htm
--------------------------------
Please reply only to the newsgroup so all may benefit.
Unsolicited e-mail is not answered.

"Colin Nash [MVP]" <cnash x@x mvps.org> wrote in message news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> You should definetely have been provided with either a Windows CD or some
> method of doing a system recovery-- otherwise whoever sold it to you has not
> met their licensing obligations.
>
> --
>
> Anyway, converting the hard drive (even the main drive) should not cause any
> data loss.
>
>
> --
> Colin Nash
> Microsoft MVP
> Windows Printing/Imaging/Hardware
>
>
>
> "Styx" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:050c01c47a94$47b7e8c0$(E-Mail Removed)...
>> HI... I recently bought a new PC, it seems to have been
>> set up with a old off-the-shelf HDD in the FAT32 format,
>> and for security I want to convert it to NTFS, I have
>> read http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-
>> us;307286 but it does not say if I can convert the main
>> system (boot) drive (I don't have a secondary HDD) to
>> NTFS without loosing any data, (it's OEM and I don't have
>> a windows back-up disk).. I'm worried that if I do
>> a "Convert C:/FS:NTFS" command as the help file
>> suggests... I'll loose all data and end up with an
>> expensive blank screen, without a disk to repair the
>> damage...
>
>

Yes.. will this operation affect the hidden recovery
partition, (that i dont have acess to, (without paying
the $330) on the HDD)?

It really is unfortunate. How does that help you if you lose the drive?

"Doug Knox MS-MVP" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
Unfortunately, Colin, they're allowed to create a "recovery partition" on
the hard disk. They no longer have to provide a CD.

--
Doug Knox, MS-MVP Windows Media Center\Windows Powered Smart Display
Win 95/98/Me/XP Tweaks and Fixes
http://www.dougknox.com
--------------------------------
Per user Group Policy Restrictions for XP Home and XP Pro
http://www.dougknox.com/xp/utils/xp_securityconsole.htm
--------------------------------
Please reply only to the newsgroup so all may benefit.
Unsolicited e-mail is not answered.

"Colin Nash [MVP]" <cnash x@x mvps.org> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> You should definetely have been provided with either a Windows CD or some
> method of doing a system recovery-- otherwise whoever sold it to you has
not
> met their licensing obligations.
>
> --
>
> Anyway, converting the hard drive (even the main drive) should not cause
any
> data loss.
>
>
> --
> Colin Nash
> Microsoft MVP
> Windows Printing/Imaging/Hardware
>
>
>
> "Styx" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:050c01c47a94$47b7e8c0$(E-Mail Removed)...
>> HI... I recently bought a new PC, it seems to have been
>> set up with a old off-the-shelf HDD in the FAT32 format,
>> and for security I want to convert it to NTFS, I have
>> read http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-
>> us;307286 but it does not say if I can convert the main
>> system (boot) drive (I don't have a secondary HDD) to
>> NTFS without loosing any data, (it's OEM and I don't have
>> a windows back-up disk).. I'm worried that if I do
>> a "Convert C:/FS:NTFS" command as the help file
>> suggests... I'll loose all data and end up with an
>> expensive blank screen, without a disk to repair the
>> damage...
>
>

In that case, you'd have to send the computer back to be re-imaged. Sometimes, you can purchase a recovery CD set from the manufacturer, but not always.

--
Doug Knox, MS-MVP Windows Media Center\Windows Powered Smart Display
Win 95/98/Me/XP Tweaks and Fixes
http://www.dougknox.com
--------------------------------
Per user Group Policy Restrictions for XP Home and XP Pro
http://www.dougknox.com/xp/utils/xp_securityconsole.htm
--------------------------------
Please reply only to the newsgroup so all may benefit.
Unsolicited e-mail is not answered.

"Fritz" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> It really is unfortunate. How does that help you if you lose the drive?
>
> "Doug Knox MS-MVP" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> Unfortunately, Colin, they're allowed to create a "recovery partition" on
> the hard disk. They no longer have to provide a CD.
>
> --
> Doug Knox, MS-MVP Windows Media Center\Windows Powered Smart Display
> Win 95/98/Me/XP Tweaks and Fixes
> http://www.dougknox.com
> --------------------------------
> Per user Group Policy Restrictions for XP Home and XP Pro
> http://www.dougknox.com/xp/utils/xp_securityconsole.htm
> --------------------------------
> Please reply only to the newsgroup so all may benefit.
> Unsolicited e-mail is not answered.
>
> "Colin Nash [MVP]" <cnash x@x mvps.org> wrote in message
> news:(E-Mail Removed)...
>> You should definetely have been provided with either a Windows CD or some
>> method of doing a system recovery-- otherwise whoever sold it to you has
> not
>> met their licensing obligations.
>>
>> --
>>
>> Anyway, converting the hard drive (even the main drive) should not cause
> any
>> data loss.
>>
>>
>> --
>> Colin Nash
>> Microsoft MVP
>> Windows Printing/Imaging/Hardware
>>
>>
>>
>> "Styx" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
>> news:050c01c47a94$47b7e8c0$(E-Mail Removed)...
>>> HI... I recently bought a new PC, it seems to have been
>>> set up with a old off-the-shelf HDD in the FAT32 format,
>>> and for security I want to convert it to NTFS, I have
>>> read http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-
>>> us;307286 but it does not say if I can convert the main
>>> system (boot) drive (I don't have a secondary HDD) to
>>> NTFS without loosing any data, (it's OEM and I don't have
>>> a windows back-up disk).. I'm worried that if I do
>>> a "Convert C:/FS:NTFS" command as the help file
>>> suggests... I'll loose all data and end up with an
>>> expensive blank screen, without a disk to repair the
>>> damage...
>>
>>
>
>

You'd have to check with your computer manufacturer to determine that. I have one Compaq system here, that has an NTFS partition on C: and the Recovery partition is on D: (FAT32). The BIOS can actually handle booting from the D: drive, so the C: drive being NTFS isn't an issue.

Also, check your Start Menu. Some vendors are including an application that will allow you to burn CD/DVD sets as a fall back.

--
Doug Knox, MS-MVP Windows Media Center\Windows Powered Smart Display
Win 95/98/Me/XP Tweaks and Fixes
http://www.dougknox.com
--------------------------------
Per user Group Policy Restrictions for XP Home and XP Pro
http://www.dougknox.com/xp/utils/xp_securityconsole.htm
--------------------------------
Please reply only to the newsgroup so all may benefit.
Unsolicited e-mail is not answered.

"Styx" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message news:053e01c47aa9$ff688c80$(E-Mail Removed)...
> Yes.. will this operation affect the hidden recovery
> partition, (that i dont have acess to, (without paying
> the $330) on the HDD)?

YES!! IT WORKS!! .. i finally got round to converting..
my son started snooping via his log in, into other log-
ins.. (thats FAT32 for ya) .. so i converted, after a
heart stopping second (where i thought all might be
formatted lol) it converted the whole drive in about 3
mins.. no problem.. so thanks Doug for ya advice.. much
appreciated, and much more secure )
Styx )


>-----Original Message-----
>You'd have to check with your computer manufacturer to
determine that. I have one Compaq system here, that has
an NTFS partition on C: and the Recovery partition is on
D: (FAT32). The BIOS can actually handle booting from
the D: drive, so the C: drive being NTFS isn't an issue.
>
>Also, check your Start Menu. Some vendors are including
an application that will allow you to burn CD/DVD sets as
a fall back.
>
>--
>Doug Knox, MS-MVP Windows Media Center\Windows Powered
Smart Display
>Win 95/98/Me/XP Tweaks and Fixes
>http://www.dougknox.com
>--------------------------------
>Per user Group Policy Restrictions for XP Home and XP Pro
>http://www.dougknox.com/xp/utils/xp_securityconsole.htm
>--------------------------------
>Please reply only to the newsgroup so all may benefit.
>Unsolicited e-mail is not answered.
>
>"Styx" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in
message news:053e01c47aa9$ff688c80$(E-Mail Removed)...
>> Yes.. will this operation affect the hidden recovery
>> partition, (that i dont have acess to, (without paying
>> the $330) on the HDD)?
>.
>

You're welcome

--
Doug Knox, MS-MVP Windows Media Center\Windows Powered Smart Display
Win 95/98/Me/XP Tweaks and Fixes
http://www.dougknox.com
--------------------------------
Per user Group Policy Restrictions for XP Home and XP Pro
http://www.dougknox.com/xp/utils/xp_securityconsole.htm
--------------------------------
Please reply only to the newsgroup so all may benefit.
Unsolicited e-mail is not answered.

"Styx" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message news:a91101c487e6$da20b160$(E-Mail Removed)...
> YES!! IT WORKS!! .. i finally got round to converting..
> my son started snooping via his log in, into other log-
> ins.. (thats FAT32 for ya) .. so i converted, after a
> heart stopping second (where i thought all might be
> formatted lol) it converted the whole drive in about 3
> mins.. no problem.. so thanks Doug for ya advice.. much
> appreciated, and much more secure )
> Styx )
>
>
>>-----Original Message-----
>>You'd have to check with your computer manufacturer to
> determine that. I have one Compaq system here, that has
> an NTFS partition on C: and the Recovery partition is on
> D: (FAT32). The BIOS can actually handle booting from
> the D: drive, so the C: drive being NTFS isn't an issue.
>>
>>Also, check your Start Menu. Some vendors are including
> an application that will allow you to burn CD/DVD sets as
> a fall back.
>>
>>--
>>Doug Knox, MS-MVP Windows Media Center\Windows Powered
> Smart Display
>>Win 95/98/Me/XP Tweaks and Fixes
>>http://www.dougknox.com
>>--------------------------------
>>Per user Group Policy Restrictions for XP Home and XP Pro
>>http://www.dougknox.com/xp/utils/xp_securityconsole.htm
>>--------------------------------
>>Please reply only to the newsgroup so all may benefit.
>>Unsolicited e-mail is not answered.
>>
>>"Styx" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in
> message news:053e01c47aa9$ff688c80$(E-Mail Removed)...
>>> Yes.. will this operation affect the hidden recovery
>>> partition, (that i dont have acess to, (without paying
>>> the $330) on the HDD)?
>>.
>>