Converting from FAT to NTFS

[Paul]

I am having problems converting my C; drive from FAT to
NTFS with the CONVERT command-line utility. When I
execute the command, the system notifies me that it does
not have exclusive rights to lock the system and asks if
the conversion should take place on system restart. Even
though I answer"Y" (for Yes), when the system restarts the
drive is still a FAT volume. (Note: my C; drive (disk 0)
is a 1.2 GB drive that is almost full (4MB free space)and
I suspect that is the reason the conversion is not working.
I have backed up my C drive to another physical drive
(disk 1) that is attached. I'm thinking that I can
reformat the C: drive (which would erase all of its data)
to NTFS and then restore its contents using the backup
file. My question is: If this is possible, what is the
best way to do it? Do I format, then reinstall Windows
2000 prof and then restore to the backup W2K CD, or can I
format from a boot disk and restore from the same boot
disk without reinstalling WK2? Are there any pitfalls I
should be aware of before I take this course of action?

Thanks

 

[Danny Sanders]

If I recall right Windows needs about 7 or 8 megs to perform the convert
process. You might try setting your pagefile to your second disk then try
the convert process.

hth
DDS W 2k MVP MCSE

 

[R. C. White]

Hi, Paul.

Do I format, then reinstall Windows
2000 prof and then restore to the backup W2K CD,

I'm not sure what this would do to your Registry files. The backup and then
restore to a new Win2K might scramble them somewhat.

or can I
format from a boot disk and restore from the same boot
disk without reinstalling WK2?

This ought to work - except that you will probably need to then boot from
the Win2K CD-ROM and run the Repair procedure to let it rewrite your boot
sector and maybe freshen your other system files. Most backup/restore
programs deal only with files - and the boot sector is not a file.

(In my opinion, 1.2 GB is not nearly big enough for Win2K's boot volume.
You might consider repartitioning C: larger as long as you are going through
the backup/restore process anyhow.)

To do the format, you can't fall back onto the old faithful MS-DOS boot disk
and Format.exe, though, because they know nothing of NTFS. But you can boot
from the Win2K CD-ROM and let it do the job. In fact, this MIGHT write the
new boot sector at the same time and you may not have to run the Repair
procedure later, after all. Hmmm...

Let us know how you handle the problem and how things work out for you. In
a newsgroup, we all learn from each other.

RC

 

[Paul Miles]

Thanks RC,

I will try your suggestion (i.e., boot from the CD, then
format C drive using NTFS, then restore from the other
disk) immediately. I hope it works

Thanks again,

Paul