Convert from Fat32 to NTFS

[Robert Hahn]

I recently upgraded my wife's Win ME computer to XP. Had no problems with
the installation and it has been running flawlessly for a couple of weeks
now (maybe I was just lucky). I would like to convert the file system from
Fat32 to NTFS but don't want to screw it up since it's working so well. How
dangerous is it to do the conversion? Also, she has a lot of files backed up
on CD's and even some 3.5 floppies. The computer is used with a high tech
sewing machine and it would be disasterous if anything was lost or
corrupted. Do the CD's and floppies have to be converted too? Is the
conversion pretty fail safe or should I just leave well-enough alone? Any
advice would be appreciated.
Thanks!

 

[GreenieLeBrun]

I recently upgraded my wife's Win ME computer to XP. Had no problems with
the installation and it has been running flawlessly for a couple of weeks
now (maybe I was just lucky). I would like to convert the file system from
Fat32 to NTFS but don't want to screw it up since it's working so well. How
dangerous is it to do the conversion? Also, she has a lot of files backed up
on CD's and even some 3.5 floppies. The computer is used with a high tech
sewing machine and it would be disasterous if anything was lost or
corrupted. Do the CD's and floppies have to be converted too? Is the
conversion pretty fail safe or should I just leave well-enough alone? Any
advice would be appreciated.
Thanks!

If it ain't broke don't fix it, that being said the conversion usually
works fine BUT, as with any disk manipulation there is always the risk
of it going wrong.

Why do you want to convert the disk to NTFS any way? If you do convert
to NTFS then you cannot go back to FAT32 with out a full reformat.

The floppies and the CD do not need conversion and any way I don't
think it is possible to format them in NTFS format anyway.

 

[Galen]

In GreenieLeBrun had this to say:

The floppies and the CD do not need conversion and any way I don't
think it is possible to format them in NTFS format anyway.

Nope... CDFS and (I think that's even the same format CD Audio uses - it is
just interpreted by the CD players in vehicles or the likes differently)
FAT... So you got it right.

--
Galen - MS MVP - Windows (Shell/User & IE)
http://dts-l.org/ http://kgiii.info/

"Chance has put in our way a most singular and whimsical problem, and
its solution is its own reward." - Sherlock Holmes

 

[Robert Hahn]

Thanks for the advice. Kinda reinforces what I thought was the smart thing
to do----leave it alone.

 

[Dave B.]

Just out of curiosity, if the data on this drive is so important don't you
have a backup of it? You asked what would happen if the NTFS conversion
failed, what would happen to your data if the drive itself failed?

 

[Ted Zieglar]

NTFS is more secure and more robust than FAT32. You can read all about
the advantages of NTFS on the web.

The only reason for retaining FAT32 is if you will still use ME (or
earlier), which can't read NTFS. And that's only for the data partition
and the partition containing ME (or earlier.)

If the FAT32 disk is free of errors, the conversion to NTFS is quick and
easy.

 

[Robert Hahn]

Yes, we have back-ups on CD's of her important files. I just didn't know
that in case something went wrong during the conversion and the files on the
C: drive could not be accessed, if the back-ups could then be installed and
would work. They would have been saved to the CD's under the Fat32 system.
Maybe I'm making this more complicated than need be.
Thanks.

 

[Ted Zieglar]

"Maybe I'm making this more complicated than need be."

Much more complicated. If the disk is free of errors (run the
manufacturer's diagnostic tests if you really want to be sure) and you
have a UPS (to guard against power sags and boosts), there's nothing to
it and it's all done in minutes.

The recommendation to backup is the standard recommendation whenever you
make changes to your system.

 

[Bullwinkle]

Hi Ted,

Backup even when you don't make changes. Do it on a regular basis. I use a
group of CD's so that I have backups going back a month or so.

Regards,

 

[Robert Hahn]

Just to let everyone know, I did the conversion yesterday with absolutely no
problems. It couldn't have been easier and didn't take more than 20 min.
Thanks to all of you for the interest and replies.

 

[Dr Teeth]

I was just thinking how wonderful life was, when Ted Zieglar

If the FAT32 disk is free of errors, the conversion to NTFS is quick and
easy.

The disk won't be if the OP gets stuck with 512B clusters; it'll run
like molasses.

--
Cheers,

Guy

** Stress - the condition brought about by having to
** resist the temptation to beat the living daylights
** out of someone who richly deserves it.

 

[Ted Zieglar]

Glad it worked for you. I'm also glad you spent the time to do some
research beforehand. That's often what makes the difference between
success and failure.

Thanks for reporting your results.