ntfs vs fat32

[herbzee]

I have 3 HDD, C: is NTFS, E: is FAT32, F: is NTFS.
The FAT32 (E is a holdover external from when I had a laptop running
Win 98. I mainly holds Data. Should it be converted to NTFS without
losing anything, and how to go about it?

 

[Don Schmidt]

In the Windows XP help files look for "convert".

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

I have 3 HDD, C: is NTFS, E: is FAT32, F: is NTFS.
The FAT32 (E is a holdover external from when I had a laptop running
Win 98. I mainly holds Data. Should it be converted to NTFS without
losing anything, and how to go about it?

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.

 

[Manny Borges]

At a command line type"convert e: /fs:ntfs"

Of course, back up the data and read the text that comes up.

You may need to set it to convert on next boot if the volume is in use in
any way. Nothing special to do, it will do it for you. Just answer yes when
it asks you.
--
Manny Borges
MCSE NT4-2003 (+ Security)
MCT, Certified Cheese Master

There are 10 kinds of people in the world. Those who do understand binary
and those who don't.

 

[Ron Martell]

At a command line type"convert e: /fs:ntfs"

Of course, back up the data and read the text that comes up.

You may need to set it to convert on next boot if the volume is in use in
any way. Nothing special to do, it will do it for you. Just answer yes when
it asks you.

That is not quite correct. There is a cluster size issue with the
converted drive unless the partition boundary is properly aligned for
NTFS prior to the conversion. See the article by the late Alex
Nichol MVP at http://www.aumha.org/win5/a/ntfscvt.htm

Ron Martell Duncan B.C. Canada
--
Microsoft MVP (1997 - 2006)
On-Line Help Computer Service
http://onlinehelp.bc.ca

"Anyone who thinks that they are too small to make a difference
has never been in bed with a mosquito."

 

[Manny Borges]

I honestly don't undestand what the practical issue is. I have run this
command many many times and never seen an issue in all kinds of scenarios.

What is the actual problem being stated in this article? It does not appear
that files or storage space is lost.

--
Manny Borges
MCSE NT4-2003 (+ Security)
MCT, Certified Cheese Master

There are 10 kinds of people in the world. Those who do understand binary
and those who don't.

 

[John John]

Excessive fragmentation and file system speed issues.

John

 

[Manny Borges]

ok... and a defrag doesn't fix that?

--
Manny Borges
MCSE NT4-2003 (+ Security)
MCT, Certified Cheese Master

There are 10 kinds of people in the world. Those who do understand binary
and those who don't.

 

[John John]

Put 200,000 files on a volume and work with it with each cluster size
then report your findings back to the group.

John

 

[David Candy]

Your cluster size becomes very small. Also for all conversions, unless the Fat drive was specially formatted by OEM tools, the conversion leaves the MFT in a less than optimal position.

 

[Ron Martell]

I honestly don't undestand what the practical issue is. I have run this
command many many times and never seen an issue in all kinds of scenarios.

What is the actual problem being stated in this article? It does not appear
that files or storage space is lost.

If the partition boundary is not properly aligned for NTFS then the
converted drive will have a 512 byte (1 sector) cluster size instead
of the normal 4K (8 sector) size. This increase in the number of
clusters can result in slower performance. Alex Nichol's article
explains it in detail.

Ron Martell Duncan B.C. Canada
--
Microsoft MVP (1997 - 2006)
On-Line Help Computer Service
http://onlinehelp.bc.ca

"Anyone who thinks that they are too small to make a difference
has never been in bed with a mosquito."

 

[Sharon F]

If the partition boundary is not properly aligned for NTFS then the
converted drive will have a 512 byte (1 sector) cluster size instead
of the normal 4K (8 sector) size. This increase in the number of
clusters can result in slower performance. Alex Nichol's article
explains it in detail.

Ron Martell Duncan B.C. Canada

I tried living with the 512 byte clusters once -after upgrading Win98 to XP
and then converting to NTFS. It was painful. Files fragment rapidly! Very
quickly switched to plan B and did a clean install and format to NTFS from
the get go.

 

[Greg Hayes/Raxco Software]

I've never seen a conversion from FAT32 to NTFS on Windows XP result in
anything other than a 4k cluster size.

- Greg/Raxco Software
Microsoft MVP - Windows File System

Want to email me? Delete ntloader.