FAT32 to NTFS - Re: Alex Nichol (MVP) paper

  • Thread starter Thread starter Rod Farmer
  • Start date Start date
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Rod Farmer

I want to convert one of my Primary Partitions from FAT32 to NTFS containing
WinXP Pro. I have read Alex Nichols document regarding the use of BOOTITNG
from BootitNG.com regarding cluster alignment.
I am planning to make a PQ Drive Image copy of the existing FAT 32 drive
before convertion to NTFS.
My question is, if having converted to NTFS and I subsequently decide to
revert back to FAT32, can I simply restore the FAT32 image file using PQDI
(replacing the NTFS partition) without reformatting the Primary partition.
 
Once converted to NTFS, you cannot revert back to FAT32
unless you reformat that drive or partition.

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows XP - Shell/User

Be Smart! Protect your PC!
http://www.microsoft.com/security/protect/

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


| I want to convert one of my Primary Partitions from FAT32 to NTFS containing
| WinXP Pro. I have read Alex Nichols document regarding the use of BOOTITNG
| from BootitNG.com regarding cluster alignment.
| I am planning to make a PQ Drive Image copy of the existing FAT 32 drive
| before convertion to NTFS.
| My question is, if having converted to NTFS and I subsequently decide to
| revert back to FAT32, can I simply restore the FAT32 image file using PQDI
| (replacing the NTFS partition) without reformatting the Primary partition.
|
 
Thanks for the reply Carey, but just to clarify -- you mean that the FAT32
image file can only be restored once the partition has been reformatted?
 
He can just restore the image made with Drive Image and does not need to
reformat the partition. Drive image will restore the files system that was
in use when the image was created. No reformatting required.
 
I have used Drive Image since version 2 and it has always worked that way.
Keep in mind that you don't even have to partition a disk drive to restore
an image, it recreates the exact partition, file system and all, just the
way it was when you imaged it. Hope you are using DI 2002 or DI 7 to
create the image.
 
On Sat, 10 Jan 2004 17:58:52 -0000, "Rod Farmer"

Rod:

As usual, Carey doesn't understand the question.......

If you make an image of your FAT-32 partition prior to converting to
NTFS, and later decide you don't like the conversion, you can restore
the image with DI and it will be like it was before = FAT-32. No need
to format or do any kind of partition creation. DI does it all
automatically anyway upon restoration of the image.

Wake up Carey!
 
Greetings --

If you restore the partition from the disk image created by PQ's
Drive Image, you will also restore the partition to the FAT32 file
system. Disk imaging applications, if they work properly, create
exact duplicates, cluster by cluster, of the source partition.

Bruce Chambers

--
Help us help you:



You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on
having both at once. -- RAH
 
Greetings --

Carey, you might want to reread this question. Restoring an image
of a FAT32 partition _would_ "overwrite" the NTFS file system.

Bruce Chambers

--
Help us help you:



You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on
having both at once. -- RAH
 
Mr. Bruce Chambers has provided the correct response to your
inquiry. Please disregard my responses as they are erroneous. I
sincerely apologize for any confusion!

You may wish to view the excellent Drive Image Instructional Videos:
http://www.powerquest.com/support/videos/driveimage7/

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows XP - Shell/User

Be Smart! Protect your PC!
http://www.microsoft.com/security/protect/

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


| I want to convert one of my Primary Partitions from FAT32 to NTFS containing
| WinXP Pro. I have read Alex Nichols document regarding the use of BOOTITNG
| from BootitNG.com regarding cluster alignment.
| I am planning to make a PQ Drive Image copy of the existing FAT 32 drive
| before convertion to NTFS.
| My question is, if having converted to NTFS and I subsequently decide to
| revert back to FAT32, can I simply restore the FAT32 image file using PQDI
| (replacing the NTFS partition) without reformatting the Primary partition.
|
 
Thank you all very much for the interest and advise - I think there is now
an agreement on the answer to my question.

Rod
 
Bruce said:
If you restore the partition from the disk image created by PQ's
Drive Image, you will also restore the partition to the FAT32 file
system. Disk imaging applications, if they work properly, create
exact duplicates, cluster by cluster, of the source partition.
Click to expand...

I'll just add in one point - if he has Partition Magic 8, as implied by
the question, then that is capable of doing the needed alignment of he
FAT 32 partition for conversion, without the need to bring BING into it
But it costs more, which is why it is not the tool I put forward
 
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