FAT32 >>> NTFS

J

josh

I was wondering if I convert the file system to NTFS from FAT32, Will
I lose data? or does it only change the file system?
 
K

Ken Blake, MVP

I was wondering if I convert the file system to NTFS from FAT32, Will
I lose data? or does it only change the file system?



Windows XP has no native ability to go from NTFS to FAT32. You need a
third-party utility to do that. Why do you want to do this?

Assuming that you use a third-party utility, it only changes the file
system. But there are no guarantees. 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.
 
J

josh

Windows XP has no native ability to go from NTFS to FAT32. You need a
third-party utility to do that. Why do you want to do this?

Assuming that you use a third-party utility, it only changes the file
system. But there are no guarantees. 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.

No, reread it i want to go to NTFS from FAT32
 
T

Tom [Pepper] Willett

Ken: He said convert *to* NTFS *from* FAT 32..

Tom
: On Thu, 20 Dec 2007 13:42:35 -0800 (PST), josh <[email protected]>
: wrote:
:
: > I was wondering if I convert the file system to NTFS from FAT32, Will
: > I lose data? or does it only change the file system?
:
:
:
: Windows XP has no native ability to go from NTFS to FAT32. You need a
: third-party utility to do that. Why do you want to do this?
:
: Assuming that you use a third-party utility, it only changes the file
: system. But there are no guarantees. 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.
:
:
: --
: Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP Windows - Shell/User
: Please Reply to the Newsgroup
 
J

josh

how to convert fat or fat32 volumes to NTFShttp://support.microsoft.com/kb/307881
i did this on one of my computers and it worked fine

Thank you all for your replies I will try this thanks Crazy
 
P

philo

josh said:
Thank you all for your replies I will try this thanks Crazy


Before you convert...I'd backup your important data first...(just in case of
problems)
and also be sure to have the machine on a UPS!

The UPS is important because a power failure during the conversion could
lead to trouble.

That said...converting Fat32 to NTFS is generally a pretty safe procedure
 
B

Bruce Chambers

josh said:
I was wondering if I convert the file system to NTFS from FAT32, Will
I lose data? or does it only change the file system?


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:


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
 
L

Lil' Dave

josh said:
I was wondering if I convert the file system to NTFS from FAT32, Will
I lose data? or does it only change the file system?

Its possible that you may lose files.

Irregardless, the file system is changed in the process.
Dave
 
W

windmap

josh said:
I was wondering if I convert the file system to NTFS from FAT32, Will
I lose data? or does it only change the file system?
Coverting from Fat32 to NTFS is simple and easy and you will not lose
any data.
Here how to do it
Click start - run - Type CMD and click OK - In Command prompt

To convert the volume on drive E to NTFS and display all messages, type:

convert e: /fs:ntfs /v
 
J

josh

Thanks everyone for the help!!! I know how to do the conversion I just
wanted to make sure this person wouldn't lose any data. Conversion
went well btw.
 
K

Ken Blake, MVP

No, reread it i want to go to NTFS from FAT32



Sorry. I *did* read it backwards.


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.

Same point, though. No data should be lost, but there are no
guarantees. Back up first.
 

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