RE: Win XP File systems

From: Chuck Davis (ChuckDavis_at_discussions.microsoft.com)
Date: 12/05/04 

Date: Sun, 5 Dec 2004 15:19:04 -0800

"BlackMarket" wrote:

> Is it possible to convert Fat 32 file system to NFTS without loosing the data
> on the hard drive
> --
> Marchie Noir

You should lose no data. Windows XP Help returns this:
ConvertConverts FAT and FAT32 volumes to NTFS.

Syntax
convert [volume] /fs:ntfs [/v] [/cvtarea:FileName] [/nosecurity] [/x]

Parameters
volume
Specifies the drive letter (followed by a colon), mount point, or volume
name to convert to NTFS.
/fs:ntfs
Required. Converts the volume to NTFS.
/v
Specifies verbose mode, that is, all messages will be displayed during
conversion.
/cvtarea:FileName
For advanced users only. Specifies that the Master File Table (MFT) and
other NTFS metadata files are written to an existing, contiguous placeholder
file. This file must be in the root directory of the file system to be
converted. Use of the /CVTAREA parameter can result in a less fragmented file
system after conversion. For best results, the size of this file should be 1
KB multiplied by the number of files and directories in the file system,
however, the convert utility accepts files of any size.
For more information about using the /cvtarea parameter, see "File Systems"
at the Microsoft Windows XP Resource Kits Web site.(http://www.microsoft.com/)

 Important

You must create the placeholder file using the fsutil file createnew command
prior to running convert. Convert does not create this file for you. Convert
overwrites this file with NTFS metadata. After conversion, any unused space
in this file is freed. For more information about the fsutil file command,
see Related Topics.
/nosecurity
Specifies that the converted files and directory security settings are
accessible by everyone.
/x
Dismounts the volume, if necessary, before it is converted. Any open handles
to the volume will no longer be valid.
Remarks
You must specify that the drive should be converted when the computer is
restarted. Otherwise, you cannot convert the current drive.
If convert cannot lock the drive (for example, the system volume or the
current drive), it offers to convert the drive the next time the computer
restarts.
The location of the MFT is different on volumes that have been converted
from previous version of NTFS, so volume performance might not be as good on
volumes converted from Windows NT.
Volumes converted from FAT to NTFS lack some performance benefits compared
to volumes initially formatted with NTFS. On converted volumes, the MFT might
become fragmented. In addition, on converted boot volumes, NTFS permissions
are not applied after the volume is converted.
Examples
To convert the volume on drive E to NTFS and display all messages, type:

convert e: /fs:ntfs /v

Relevant Pages

  • Re: converting to NTFS
    ... You must open a command line window first. ... Converts FAT volumes to NTFS. ... /FS:NTFS Specifies that the volume is to be converted ... don't do the conversion when the power is flickering ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.setup_deployment)
  • Re: Windows XP file system convert utility
    ... This change ensures that converted NTFS volumes receive the same ... To prevent the MFT from becoming fragmented during the conversion to ... ensuring that the MFT occupies a contiguous space on the hard disk. ... There are several disadvantages of file system conversion. ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.security_admin)
  • Re: converting to NTFS
    ... >>I am keen to do this to my laptop, switch to NTFS. ... >>> Specifies the drive letter, ... >>> displayed during conversion. ... >>> the root directory of the file system to be converted. ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.setup_deployment)
  • Re: converting to NTFS
    ... >I am keen to do this to my laptop, switch to NTFS. ... >> /NoSecurity Specifies the converted files and directories ... don't do the conversion when the power is flickering ... >> the root directory of the file system to be converted. ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.setup_deployment)
  • Re: Reformatting a hard drive using convert.exe
    ... I should've changed it to NTFS as soon as I got it, ... outage right in the middle of the conversion? ... The key point here is to make sure you have a backup of all data on the ... steal another USB hard drive and backup to it; ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.general)
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