FAT32 to NTFS

  • Thread starter Thread starter ForestSpirit
  • Start date Start date
F

ForestSpirit

Windows 98 had the capability to convert FAT16 to FAT32 without reformatting
and reinstalling. Does XP have a similar capability to convert FAT32 to
NTFS? My friend did an upgrade install of Windows XP Pro SP1 from Windows
Me, so all his hard drives are FAT32. He'd like to make them all NTFS but he
cannot reformat and start over.
 
you will find if you look in the inbuilt help it will tell you exactly how to
achieve this
 
Hi,

convert C: /fs:ntfs

("C:" can be any drive letter that you want to convert)

The above is run from a command prompt (click start/run and type cmd). It is
then scheduled to occur when the system is rebooted. You should, however,
read this first:
http://aumha.org/win5/a/ntfscvt.htm

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Associate Expert - WindowsXP Expert Zone

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org
 
The other responses you received are correct. However, as a precaution,
back up your files! Also, make sure you have sufficient free space on the
hard drive, as the conversion creates temp files. It's also a good idea to
defragment the drive, prior to, and after, this conversion.

Bill Crocker
 
ForestSpirit said:
Windows 98 had the capability to convert FAT16 to FAT32 without
reformatting and reinstalling. Does XP have a similar capability to
convert FAT32 to NTFS? My friend did an upgrade install of Windows XP Pro
SP1 from Windows Me, so all his hard drives are FAT32. He'd like to make
them all NTFS but he cannot reformat and start over.
Click to expand...

Make sure you have a backup. Never attempt something that alters the file
structure without at least one verified backup. Murphy's law applies. As you
already have a backup it may be more efficient to reformat and then restore
your backup. When using the convert utility you will end up with 512 kb
clusters. This may not be the most efficient size. There are also other
considerations, a possibly fragmented MFT and permissions on a boot volume.
None of these will cause any operational problems. They are just not the
most efficient way to make use of your hard drive. Read the remarks at the
bottom of the following link.

http://www.microsoft.com/resources/documentation/windows/xp/all/proddocs/en-us/convert.mspx

Kerry
 
ForestSpirit said:
Windows 98 had the capability to convert FAT16 to FAT32 without reformatting
and reinstalling. Does XP have a similar capability to convert FAT32 to
NTFS? My friend did an upgrade install of Windows XP Pro SP1 from Windows
Me, so all his hard drives are FAT32. He'd like to make them all NTFS but he
cannot reformat and start over.
Click to expand...

Make sure you read Alex Nichol's article first.
http://www.aumha.org/win5/a/ntfscvt.htm

A conversion to NTFS without first aligning the partition(s) will
likely result in a 512 byte cluster size rather than 4K and this could
have a negative impact on performance.

Good luck


Ron Martell Duncan B.C. Canada
--
Microsoft MVP
On-Line Help Computer Service
http://onlinehelp.bc.ca

In memory of a dear friend Alex Nichol MVP
http://aumha.org/alex.htm
 
Back
Top