Changing file sysytem from fat32 to nrfs

  • Thread starter Thread starter elgordo
  • Start date Start date
Can this be done without losing data?
Click to expand...

Yes Can be done without losing data.Converting volume file system is
an major change.So you shouldnt take any chances.Back up all important
data,then follow this document .

How to Use Convert.exe to Convert a Partition to the NTFS File System
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/314097

The Free Space That Is Required to Convert FAT to NTFS
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/314875

File security issues after converting FAT32 partitions to the NTFS
file system
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/810142
 
elgordo said:
Can this be done without losing data?
Click to expand...

Yes, this is what the Convert command is for. However, you should not ever
make filesystem changes without backing up first, unless the data is
worthless anyway.

HTH
-pk
 
Can this be done without losing data?
Click to expand...


To convert to NTFS, you use the CONVERT command. But first read
http://www.aumha.org/a/ntfscvt.htm because there's an important issue
regarding cluster size that isn't obvious.

Although you should not lose any data, you should note that conversion
is a big step, affecting everything on your drive. When you take such
a big step, no matter how unlikely, it is always possible that
something could go wrong. For that reason, it's prudent to make sure
you have a backup of anything you can't afford to lose before
beginning.
 
elgordo said:
Can this be done without losing data?
Click to expand...


In most cases, yes.

You can safely convert your current hard drive to NTFS whenever
desired, without having to format the partition and reinstall
everything. As always when performing any serious changes, back up any
important data before proceeding, just in case. A little advance
preparation is also strongly recommended, so you can avoid any
performance hits caused by the default cluster size:

Converting FAT32 to NTFS in Windows
http://www.aumha.org/a/ntfscvt.htm


--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:


http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/555375

They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. ~Benjamin Franklin

Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. ~Bertrand Russell

The philosopher has never killed any priests, whereas the priest has
killed a great many philosophers.
~ Denis Diderot
 
When I run the "convert" command, I get the line "The type of the file
system is FAT32." and then it crashes, bringing up the invitation to
send an error report to Microsoft. I can't find mention of this
problem on the net. Anybody got any ideas for a workaround?

I haven't tried re-installing convert.exe, or running it from a
virtual machine I have (not fully working yet).
 
Biz said:
When I run the "convert" command, I get the line "The type of the file
system is FAT32." and then it crashes, bringing up the invitation to
send an error report to Microsoft. I can't find mention of this
problem on the net. Anybody got any ideas for a workaround?
Click to expand...

"Workaround?" How, when the exact nature of the problem is unclear?
What, precisely, does the error message say? Have you used Chkdsk to
repair what may be a corrupted file system? Have you tried using the
hard drive manufacturer's Diagostic tool to ensure that there are no
physical defects?


--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:


http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/555375

They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. ~Benjamin Franklin

Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. ~Bertrand Russell

The philosopher has never killed any priests, whereas the priest has
killed a great many philosophers.
~ Denis Diderot
 
"Workaround?" How, when the exact nature of the problem is unclear?
What, precisely, does the error message say? Have you used Chkdsk to
repair what may be a corrupted file system? Have you tried using the
hard drive manufacturer's Diagostic tool to ensure that there are no
physical defects?
Click to expand...

I honestly have given you the exact nature of the problem - I don't
have any further information! The error message is the standard
error, inviting you to send an error report to Microsoft;

"File System Conversion Utility has encountered a ploblem and needs to
close. We are sorry for the inconvenience. If you were in the middle
of something, the information you were working on might be lost.
Please tell Microsoft about this problem. We have created an error
report that you can send to help us improve Filse System Conversion
Utility. We wil treat this report as confidential and anonymous. To
see what data this error report contains, click here."

By "workaround" I mean is there another utility out there that would
accomplish the same thing.

In the mean time, I'll try your suggestions - many thanks.

When I boot from a Knoppix CD, I can view and open the files, but my
version of Knoppix (3.2) is too old to write to an NTFS drive.
 
In the mean time, I'll try your suggestions - many thanks.

When I boot from a Knoppix CD, I can view and open the files, but my
version of Knoppix (3.2) is too old to write to an NTFS drive.
Click to expand...

OK, I've tried the Check Disk but it doesn't recognise the drive at
all. It knows it's there, and that it's FAT32, but I can't do
anything with it in Windows. I do have a diagnostics tool for it; the
whole problem started when Win98 failed to boot. I've now taken the
drive out of that machine and mounted it into an XP box as slave. So
one option could be to put it back in the old machine to try to run
the recovery CD. I did at one point get Knoppix to network the old
machine and was exporting some files across that way. It was
desperately slow though.

Another alternative could be to download 700Mb worth of Knoppix 5
which has Captive as standard. I've heard this is very slow though,
and I guess it won't help my problem anyway?

I've searched and searched for an alternative Linux or Windows utility
to convert.exe that will do what I want. Anybody got any suggestions?
 
Biz said:
OK, I've tried the Check Disk but it doesn't recognise the drive at
all. It knows it's there, and that it's FAT32, but I can't do
anything with it in Windows.
Click to expand...


Then you probably have a defective drive...
I do have a diagnostics tool for it;
Click to expand...


The HD manufacturer's Diagnostic? What does it report?

the
whole problem started when Win98 failed to boot. I've now taken the
drive out of that machine and mounted it into an XP box as slave. So
one option could be to put it back in the old machine to try to run
the recovery CD. I did at one point get Knoppix to network the old
machine and was exporting some files across that way. It was
desperately slow though.

Another alternative could be to download 700Mb worth of Knoppix 5
which has Captive as standard. I've heard this is very slow though,
and I guess it won't help my problem anyway?

I've searched and searched for an alternative Linux or Windows utility
to convert.exe that will do what I want. Anybody got any suggestions?
Click to expand...


Determine whether or not the drive is salvageable using the
manufacturer's diagnostic before wating time trying anything else.


--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:


http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/555375

They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. ~Benjamin Franklin

Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. ~Bertrand Russell

The philosopher has never killed any priests, whereas the priest has
killed a great many philosophers.
~ Denis Diderot
 
Then you probably have a defective drive...


The HD manufacturer's Diagnostic? What does it report?
Click to expand...

The machine manufacturer's recovery CD. It overwrites Windows CAB
files then tries to run ScanDisk. ScanDisk produces the error
"ScanDisk encountered a data error while reading the FAT on drive C.
This error prevents ScanDisk from fixing this drive." But if it's
writing to the drive ok, and Knoppix can see my files OK, should I be
able to just ignore part of the drive? I'm a bit out of my depth when
it comes to the physical drive structure.
 
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