FAT32 to NTFS

P

Pete

x-no-archive: yes

I have an XP machine using FAT32.
Can I somehow convert to NTFS without wiping out my disk with a reformat?
-Pete
 
C

Carey Frisch [MVP]

CONVERTING FAT32 to NTFS in Windows XP
http://aumha.org/win5/a/ntfscvt.htm

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows - Shell/User
Microsoft Community Newsgroups
news://msnews.microsoft.com/

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

:

| I have an XP machine using FAT32.
| Can I somehow convert to NTFS without wiping out my disk with a reformat?
| -Pete
 
K

Ken Blake, MVP

Pete said:
I have an XP machine using FAT32.
Can I somehow convert to NTFS without wiping out my disk with a
reformat? -Pete
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 issue regarding
cluster size that isn't obvious.

Also 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.
 
R

RRS

From Windows XP Help:

To convert a volume to NTFS from the command prompt

1.. Open the Command Prompt window.
2.. In the command prompt window, type
convert drive_letter: /fs:ntfs

For example, typing convert D: /fs:ntfs would format drive D: with the
ntfs format.

Notes

a.. To open a command prompt, click Start, point to All Programs, point to
Accessories, and then click Command Prompt.
b.. You can convert FAT or FAT32 volumes to NTFS with this command.
 
P

philo

Pete wrote:





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.

Also 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.
Click to expand...



Good advice...
and it would be a very good idea to have the machine on a UPS...
a power failure during the conversion could be big trouble!
 
B

Bruce Chambers

Pete said:
x-no-archive: yes

I have an XP machine using FAT32.
Can I somehow convert to NTFS without wiping out my disk with a reformat?
-Pete
Click to expand...


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
 
G

Guest

X-No-Archive: yes

Carey Frisch said:
CONVERTING FAT32 to NTFS in Windows XP
http://aumha.org/win5/a/ntfscvt.htm

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows - Shell/User
Microsoft Community Newsgroups
news://msnews.microsoft.com/

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

:

| I have an XP machine using FAT32.
| Can I somehow convert to NTFS without wiping out my disk with a reformat?
| -Pete
Click to expand...
Way too complicated. Fat32 is good enough.
-Pete
 
K

Ken Blake, MVP

philo said:
Good advice...
and it would be a very good idea to have the machine on a UPS...
a power failure during the conversion could be big trouble!
Click to expand...


Yes, but I think it's always a good idea to have the machine on a UPS.
 
G

Guest

Pete said:
x-no-archive: yes

I have an XP machine using FAT32.
Can I somehow convert to NTFS without wiping out my disk with a reformat?
-Pete
Click to expand...

Yes there is one way to convert FAT32 to NTFS Simply follow the below steps
Click on:
Start - Run - type "cmd"- At the prompt type "CONVERT C:/FS:NTFS"

The PC will reboot and convert it to NTFS :)

CAUTION: Before you do this, one thing you have to remember once you have
converted to NTFS YOU CANNOT convert it back to FAT/FAT32.
The only ways to convert it back to FAT/FAT32, Is by reformatting you disk
and then reinstall XP :(
 
G

Guest

Pete said:
x-no-archive: yes

I have an XP machine using FAT32.
Can I somehow convert to NTFS without wiping out my disk with a reformat?
-Pete


Yes there is one way to convert FAT32 to NTFS eithout any disk. Simply follow steps below
Click to expand...

Click on:
Start - Run - type "cmd"- At the prompt type "CONVERT C:/FS:NTFS"



The PC will reboot and convert it to NTFS :)

CAUTION: Before you do this, one thing you have to remember once you have
converted to NTFS YOU CANNOT convert it back to FAT/FAT32.
The only ways to convert it back to FAT/FAT32, Is by reformatting you disk
and then reinstall XP :(
 
G

Guest

Pete said:
x-no-archive: yes

I have an XP machine using FAT32.
Can I somehow convert to NTFS without wiping out my disk with a reformat?
-Pete


Yes there is one way to convert FAT32 to NTFS without wiping out my disk with a reformat. Simply follow steps below
Click to expand...

Click on:
Start - Run - type "cmd"- At the prompt type "CONVERT C:/FS:NTFS"



The PC will reboot and convert it to NTFS :)

CAUTION: Before you do this, one thing you have to remember once you have
converted to NTFS YOU CANNOT convert it back to FAT/FAT32.
The only ways to convert it back to FAT/FAT32, Is by reformatting you disk
and then reinstall XP :(
 
G

Guest

Pete said:
x-no-archive: yes

I have an XP machine using FAT32.
Can I somehow convert to NTFS without wiping out my disk with a reformat?
-Pete


Yes there is one way to convert FAT32 to NTFS without wiping out my disk with a reformat. Simply follow steps below
Click to expand...

Click on:
Start - Run - type "cmd"- At the prompt type "CONVERT C:/FS:NTFS"



The PC will reboot and convert it to NTFS :)

CAUTION: Before you do this, one thing you have to remember once you have
converted to NTFS YOU CANNOT convert it back to FAT/FAT32.
The only ways to convert it back to FAT/FAT32, Is by reformatting you disk
and then reinstall XP :(
 
G

Guest

Pete said:
x-no-archive: yes

I have an XP machine using FAT32.
Can I somehow convert to NTFS without wiping out my disk with a reformat?
-Pete


Yes there is one way to convert FAT32 to NTFS without wiping out my disk with a reformat. Simply follow steps below
Click to expand...

Click on:
Start - Run - type "cmd"- At the prompt type "CONVERT C:/FS:NTFS"



The PC will reboot and convert it to NTFS :)

CAUTION: Before you do this, one thing you have to remember once you have
converted to NTFS YOU CANNOT convert it back to FAT/FAT32.
The only ways to convert it back to FAT/FAT32, Is by reformatting you disk
and then reinstall XP :(
 
T

Todd

The on-line web interface has a bug in it that tells the poster that his
post has failed when it has not. The poster then retries several times.
 
K

Ken Blake, MVP

Bored said:
Yes there is one way to convert FAT32 to NTFS Simply follow the below
steps Click on:
Start - Run - type "cmd"- At the prompt type "CONVERT C:/FS:NTFS"

The PC will reboot and convert it to NTFS :)
Click to expand...


No, simply doing that is generally not good enough. Before doing so, Pete
should first read http://www.aumha.org/a/ntfscvt.htm because there's an
issue regarding cluster size that isn't obvious.

Also 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.

CAUTION: Before you do this, one thing you have to remember once you
have converted to NTFS YOU CANNOT convert it back to FAT/FAT32.
The only ways to convert it back to FAT/FAT32, Is by reformatting you
disk and then reinstall XP :(
Click to expand...


Not true. Although Windows doesn't come with a way to convert from NTFS to
FAT32, there are third-party programs, such as Partition Magic, which
provide this capability.
 

Ask a Question

Want to reply to this thread or ask your own question?

You'll need to choose a username for the site, which only take a couple of moments. After that, you can post your question and our members will help you out.

Ask a Question

Similar Threads

Convert FAT32 to NTFS 18
ntfs v fat32 24
Converting from FAT32 to NTFS 3
Convert DVD Drive from FAT32 to NTFS 11
FAT32 to NTFS 6
XP Home SP3 -- FAT32 vs NTFS boot disk question 4
Your XP mybe a Fat32 13
Can XP be installed on a Fat32 partition? 5

Top