Re: Converting from Fat32 to NTFS

anonymous_at_discussions.microsoft.com
Date: 08/29/04 

Date: Sun, 29 Aug 2004 15:17:36 -0700

Mark thanks for the advice.
I read that if you use the convert command that it may
make the clusters 512bytes instead of the the normal 4kb
in NTFS. It suggested that the partition should be
realigned using a programme called BootIT and the drive
defragged before using convert command. They also said
that a conversion is not as good as a clean reinstall.
What do you think and did you have any problems?
Dave
>-----Original Message-----
>this is a actually quite easy...
>
>i had to do this just the other week...just use the
convert command (see
>below)...
>
>hope this helps...
>
>cheers,
>me.
>
>from the xp help :
>Choosing between NTFS, FAT, and FAT32
>You can choose between three file systems for disk
partitions on a computer
>running Windows XP: NTFS, FAT, and FAT32. Use the
information below to
>compare the file systems.
>
>NTFS is the recommended file system for the following
reasons:
>
> a.. NTFS is more powerful than FAT or FAT32, and
includes features
>required for hosting Active Directory as well as other
important security
>features. You can use features such as Active Directory
and domain-based
>security only by choosing NTFS as your file system.
> b.. It is easy to convert partitions to NTFS. The
Setup program makes
>conversion easy, whether your partitions used FAT,
FAT32, or the older
>version of NTFS. This kind of conversion keeps your
files intact (unlike
>formatting a partition). If you do not need to keep your
files intact and
>you have a FAT or FAT32 partition, it is recommended
that you format the
>partition with NTFS rather than convert from FAT or
FAT32. Formatting a
>partition erases all data on the partition and allows
you to start with a
>clean drive.
> Whether a partition is formatted with NTFS or
converted using the convert
>command, NTFS is the better choice of file system. For
more information
>about Convert.exe, after completing Setup, click Start,
click Run, type cmd,
>and then press ENTER. In the command window, type help
convert and then
>press ENTER.
>
> c.. In order to maintain access control on files and
folders and support
>limited accounts, you must use NTFS. If you use FAT32,
all users will have
>access to all files on your hard drive, regardless of
their account type
>(administrator, limited, or standard.)
> d.. NTFS is the file system that works best with large
disks. (The next
>best file system for large disks is FAT32.)
>There is one situation in which you might want to choose
FAT or FAT32 as
>your file system. If it is necessary to have a computer
that will sometimes
>run an earlier version of Windows and other times run
Windows XP, you will
>need to have a FAT or FAT32 partition as the primary (or
startup) partition
>on the hard disk. Most earlier versions of Windows
cannot access a partition
>if it uses the latest version of NTFS. The two
exceptions are Windows 2000
>and Windows NT 4.0 with Service Pack 4 or later. Windows
NT 4.0 with Service
>Pack 4 or later has access to partitions with the latest
version of NTFS,
>but with some limitations: It cannot access files that
have been stored
>using NTFS features that did not exist when Windows NT
4.0 was released.
>
>For anything other than a situation with multiple
operating systems,
>however, the recommended file system is NTFS.
>
> Important
>
> a.. Once you convert a drive or partition to NTFS, you
cannot simply
>convert it back to FAT or FAT32. You will need to
reformat the drive or
>partition which will erase all data including programs
and personal files on
>the partition.
>The following table describes the compatibility of each
file system with
>various operating systems.
>
> NTFS FAT FAT32
> A computer running Windows XP or Windows 2000 can
access files on an
>NTFS partition. A computer running Windows NT 4.0 with
Service Pack 4 or
>later might be able to access some files. Other
operating systems allow no
>access. Access is available through MS-DOS, all versions
of Windows, Windows
>NT, Windows 2000, Windows XP, and OS/2. Access is
available only through
>Windows 95 OSR2, Windows 98, Windows Millennium Edition,
Windows 2000, and
>Windows XP.
>
>
>The following table compares disk and file sizes
possible with each file
>system.
>
> NTFS FAT FAT32
> Recommended minimum volume size is approximately
10 megabytes (MB).
> Volumes much larger than 2 terabytes (TB) are
possible.
>
> Cannot be used on floppy disks.
> Volumes from floppy disk size up to 4 gigabytes
(GB).
> Does not support domains.
> Volumes from 512 MB to 2 TB.
> In Windows XP, you can format a FAT32 volume up to
32 GB only.
>
> Does not support domains.
>
> File size limited only by size of volume. Maximum
file size is 2 GB.
>Maximum file size is 4 GB.
>
> Note
>
> a.. Some older programs may not run on an NTFS volume,
so you should
>research the current requirements for your software
before converting
><anonymous@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
>news:25f101c48e12$8703b860$a301280a@phx.gbl...
>> I am using Windows XP Home Edition and my comp HD is
>> formatted using Fat32. The comp HD is 40GB and is in
two
>> partitions. I have recently purchased a 60GB external
>> drive which I wish to use for backup. This drive has
been
>> formatted using NTFS. I wish to convert my comp HD to
>> NTFS. Can anyone please advise what is the best way to
do
>> this without losing all my files. I was thinking of
>> using "backup" to copy all my files to the external
drive
>> then formatting my computer HD and reinstalling Windows
>> using NTFS. Then reinstalling backup to my comp HD.
>> Is this feasable? I am not very computer literate so I
>> would appreciate if you could keep it as simple as
>> possible.
>>
>> Dave
>
>
>

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