Transferring and converting partitions to a new disk

[Michel S.]

Hello !

I bought a new 320Gb WD HDD to replace my existing 80Gb drive.

This drive currently contains 2 partitions, respectively 24Gb and 56Gb
in size. Both are FAT-32 partitions.

Of course, both will be larger on the new HDD, but I'd like to take
this opportunity to change the partition type from FAT-32 to NTFS.

For a reason obscure to me, I can't do this using Partition Magic 8.

First, the maximum *total* FAT-32 partition size it allows on the new
drive is around 190Gb.

Second, the menu item "Convert FAT-32 to NTFS" is grayed..

Any idea why ?

I looked at Acronis True Image, and while it allows to clone the disk
with correct partition sizes, I didn't found how it allow to change the
partition type.

Any suggestion on how to perform this drive transfer ?

Thanks..

 

[Arno Wagner]

Hello !

I bought a new 320Gb WD HDD to replace my existing 80Gb drive.

This drive currently contains 2 partitions, respectively 24Gb and 56Gb
in size. Both are FAT-32 partitions.

Of course, both will be larger on the new HDD, but I'd like to take
this opportunity to change the partition type from FAT-32 to NTFS.

For a reason obscure to me, I can't do this using Partition Magic 8.

First, the maximum *total* FAT-32 partition size it allows on the new
drive is around 190Gb.

Second, the menu item "Convert FAT-32 to NTFS" is grayed..

Any idea why ?

I looked at Acronis True Image, and while it allows to clone the disk
with correct partition sizes, I didn't found how it allow to change the
partition type.

Any suggestion on how to perform this drive transfer ?

Well, you can convert the source to NTFS first using windows and then
copy to new disk. However you need to be aware that this is a
high-risk operation. Especially PartitionMagic is known to destroy
partitions and disks contents frequently. I think that the
convert-to-NTFS operation of windows itself is relatively safe, but
you should do a complete backup nonetheless, just like you do your
ordinary regular backups. (You do have backups, don't you?)

Arno

 

[Folkert Rienstra]

Hello !

I bought a new 320Gb WD HDD to replace my existing 80Gb drive.

This drive currently contains 2 partitions, respectively 24Gb and 56Gb
in size. Both are FAT-32 partitions.

Of course, both will be larger on the new HDD, but I'd like to take
this opportunity to change the partition type from FAT-32 to NTFS.

For a reason obscure to me, I can't do this using Partition Magic 8.

First, the maximum *total* FAT-32 partition size it allows on the new
drive is around 190Gb.

Second, the menu item "Convert FAT-32 to NTFS" is grayed..

Any idea why ?

I looked at Acronis True Image, and while it allows to clone the disk
with correct partition sizes, I didn't found how it allow to change the
partition type.

Any suggestion on how to perform this drive transfer ?

Yes, use your brains? Why the irresistable desire to burn money.
Any good reason why you can't use your OS's Disk Management to parti-
tion and format to your needs and just copy your files over using Explorer.

 

[Frodo]

I believe the largest allowed (or recommend?) partition for FAT32 is 128GBs.
Are you using Win 98, Win Me, Win XP or Win Vista.
If you are using XP or Vista, you should use NTFS not FAT32.
Western Digital Lifeguard software will easily set up the NTFS partition(s).
(and copy over your files from the old drive to the new)
If Win 98 or Me, then make multiple partitions no bigger then 128GB.
Windows software and Lifeguard will not make a FAT32 partition larger then
32GBs.
So you need to use Partition Magic to make FAT32 partitions larger then
32GBs.

 

[Michel S.]

Thanks for your reply.

Of course I have backups ! ;-)

I'll probably convert from FAT-32 to NTFS as you suggest and then
clone/resize the partitions on the other disk using Acronis True Image.

I experienced problems with Partition Magic in the past, (most with
partition resizing) but never to the extent of a destroyed partition.

MS


Arno Wagner a formulé ce mardi :

 

[Michel S.]

Frodo a formulé la demande :

Are you using Win 98, Win Me, Win XP or Win Vista.
If you are using XP or Vista, you should use NTFS not FAT32.

It was a dual boot system (Win98se, WinXP) until now; I plan to drop
Win98se, hence the switch from FAT-32 to NTFS.

Western Digital Lifeguard software will easily set up the NTFS partition(s).
(and copy over your files from the old drive to the new)

I didn't knew about Lifeguard until I read your post. I bought the WD
drive OEM (no packaging) at my local reseller. I'll take a look at it

Thanks for your input.

 

[Michel S.]

Folkert Rienstra a utilisé son clavier pour écrire :

Yes, use your brains? Why the irresistable desire to burn money.

Since I already own these softwares for a couple of years now, cost or
money considerations are irrelevant here.

Any good reason why you can't use your OS's Disk Management to parti-
tion and format to your needs and just copy your files over using Explorer.

1) I like to use a tool which is independent of the OS to perform these
operations from a bootable CD; this way, I can learn & use a single
tool no matter which OS is on the disks I'm working on

2) Ever tried to clone the system partition your OS is on while this OS
is currently running ?

3) Ever succeeded to copy some OS write only or protected files with
Windows Explorer ?

4) Need more or your brain just shifted on first gear ? <grin>

 

[Joep]

Yes, use your brains? ..... etc.

Basically what Folkert wants to say: "I hate the world and everything on
it!"

 

[Frodo]

Link where you can download WD Lifeguard tools, I'm guessing you will get
"Data Lifeguard Tools 11.2 for windows"
http://support.wdc.com/download/index.asp?swid=1

 

[Yousuf Khan]

Hello !

I bought a new 320Gb WD HDD to replace my existing 80Gb drive.

This drive currently contains 2 partitions, respectively 24Gb and 56Gb
in size. Both are FAT-32 partitions.

Of course, both will be larger on the new HDD, but I'd like to take this
opportunity to change the partition type from FAT-32 to NTFS.

For a reason obscure to me, I can't do this using Partition Magic 8.

I've used BootItNG (BING) for a long time to copy partitions over from
one drive to new one. It's shareware, so the price is right.

I don't think BING can convert filesystem types. But Windows comes with
its own simple utility for doing this, which is Convert.exe.

How to Convert FAT Disks to NTFS
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/winxppro/maintain/convertfat.mspx

I'd suggest doing the filesystem conversion while the partition is still
small, rather than after you've expanded the filesystem. That way the
convert program has less work to do.

Also if you're going to be keeping two partitions instead of converting
them over to one single partition, then I'd suggest you follow the
following step for each partition:

(1) copy partition from old drive to new drive.
(2) convert partition to NTFS (thus bypassing all FAT32 size limitations
for later).
(3) expand new NTFS partition to desired size.
(4) repeat steps 1-3 for next partition.

First, the maximum *total* FAT-32 partition size it allows on the new
drive is around 190Gb.

Yeah, there are so many DOS/BIOS/Windows limits that have come and gone
over the years, it's hard to say which one you're running into here.

Second, the menu item "Convert FAT-32 to NTFS" is grayed..

Any idea why ?

Who cares? If Partition Magic can't do it for you, then Windows' own
Convert.exe can do it.

Yousuf Khan