Converting from FAT to NTFS

[Xaos]

I just purchased a LaCie External 500GB drive and started putting movies
and MP3s on it and FORGOT to change it from FAT to NTFS. I am running
Windows Media Center 2003

Can I

1. Do the conversion with the files on the drive, or do I run a risk of
file curruption, or worse if I do that.

OR

2. Should I replace the files elsewhere and then do the conversion, and
then put them back?

Thanks in advance for your assistance!

Chaz

 

[Alias]

2. Should I replace the files elsewhere and then do the conversion, and
then put them back?
Bingo!


Thanks in advance for your assistance!

Chaz

You're welcome.

Alias

 

[Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]]

I just purchased a LaCie External 500GB drive and started putting
movies and MP3s on it and FORGOT to change it from FAT to NTFS. I am
running Windows Media Center 2003

Can I

1. Do the conversion with the files on the drive, or do I run a risk
of file curruption, or worse if I do that.

OR

2. Should I replace the files elsewhere and then do the conversion,
and then put them back?

Thanks in advance for your assistance!

Chaz

Conversion shouldn't delete files, but it's always wise to do a backup
first.

 

[John John]

It usually goes well and without hitches but *anything* is possible when
you do that kind of work and although small there is a risk of losing
your files. If you truly value your files you will not undertake a file
system conversion without a proper backup! Backup the files or move
them then you can format or convert the drive. If you decide to proceed
with a simple conversion read here:
http://www.aumha.org/win5/a/ntfscvt.htm There is also an issue with the
Master File Table not being placed at an optimal position on a converted
disk, it will end up in the middle of the disk somewhere instead of
nearer to the beginning of the disk.

John

 

[George]

Xaos,

I have been looking at this product and find it very interesting. Have you
had any problems with this backup device?

Thanks
George

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

I just purchased a LaCie External 500GB drive and started putting movies
and MP3s on it and FORGOT to change it from FAT to NTFS. I am running
Windows Media Center 2003

Can I

1. Do the conversion with the files on the drive,

Yes.


or do I run a risk of
file curruption, or worse if I do that.

Although there is no particular reason to expect a problem, there is
*always* a risk that something could go wrong when you take such a big
step. Worst case, you can lose *everything*

OR

2. Should I replace the files elsewhere and then do the conversion, and
then put them back?

If it were me, I would simply do my regular backup before starting the
conversion.

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

 

[Keith]

Although there is no particular reason to expect a problem, there is
*always* a risk that something could go wrong when you take such a big
step. Worst case, you can lose *everything*




If it were me, I would simply do my regular backup before starting the
conversion.

If it were me, I would start from scratch , reformat in NTFS. You could also
change partition layout if needed.

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

If it were me, I would start from scratch , reformat in NTFS. You could also
change partition layout if needed.

Complete overkill. There's absolutely no reason to do that.

 

[Rock]

I just purchased a LaCie External 500GB drive and started putting movies
and MP3s on it and FORGOT to change it from FAT to NTFS. I am running
Windows Media Center 2003

Can I

1. Do the conversion with the files on the drive, or do I run a risk of
file curruption, or worse if I do that.

OR

2. Should I replace the files elsewhere and then do the conversion, and
then put them back?

You do currently have a backup of those files, right? All files that one
cannot afford to loose need to be backed up. Given a full backup, then go
ahead and do the conversion to ntfs. Normally it goes fine, but just in
case you do have that backup. Here is a link with info on doing the
conversion.

http://aumha.org/win5/a/ntfscvt.htm

 

[Rock]

If it were me, I would start from scratch , reformat in NTFS. You could
also change partition layout if needed.

Why? Normally a conversion from FAT32 to NTFS goes fine, personally I've
never had a problem with it, and with an backup which should be always the
case, if something goes wrong you're the data is still protected.

 

[John]

I just purchased a LaCie External 500GB drive and started putting movies
and MP3s on it and FORGOT to change it from FAT to NTFS. I am running
Windows Media Center 2003

Can I

1. Do the conversion with the files on the drive, or do I run a risk of
file curruption, or worse if I do that.

OR

2. Should I replace the files elsewhere and then do the conversion, and
then put them back?

Thanks in advance for your assistance!

Chaz

The converversion process does require extra free space on the drive;
see http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=156560
Microsoft also has some info at http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307881
(for XP, but it should be close).
There is also some detail on the process at
http://www.aumha.org/win5/a/ntfscvt.php

I've used the CONVERT process several times, including a failed attempt
where there was not enough free space on the drive. The worst problem I
ever encountered was that the CONVERT utility indicated that there was
inadequate free space and quit without doing the conversion (far better
than just messing up)

 

[Plato]

1. Do the conversion with the files on the drive, or do I run a risk of
file curruption, or worse if I do that.

Yes, you can instantly lose every file you have doing a conversion, tho,
it rarely happens, very rarely.

Still. At least you have all your most important files on CD, correct?
In case you need them later?

 

[Sharkman]

Just curious... Do I have to do anything special if it's a new out of the
box hard drive and there is nothing on that I want to save?

 

[John John]

Instead of converting it just format it NTFS and that is it. If you
want to do partitioning work on it use the Disk Management tool:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/309000

John

 

[Sharkman]

thanks... I wonder why the new drive comes as FAT... makes little sense to
me..

 

[John John]

Most of those external hard drives ship formated FAT32. The logic
probably is that FAT32 is the most compatible format for most operating
systems. Windows 98/ME users as well as Windows 2000/XP/Vista users can
use the drive out of the box. If the drives were to ship NTFS the W9x
crowd would not be able to use it out of the box. At least that is what
sounds plausible to me...

John

 

[Sharkman]

good explanation.. thanks.

 

[John John]

Your welcome. I should also have said in my other post that while the
various flavours of NT can all read NTFS all have a different version of
NTFS and that while the operating systems can all read NTFS* the slight
differences in the NTFS versions can make a difference as to how ACL &
security permissions and other things behave. It may or may not cause
problems but it is generally best to format your NTFS disks with the
Windows versions on which they will be used.

*NT4 needs later Service Pack to properly read newer NTFS versions.

John