Converting from FAT32 to NTFS on external USB drive ?

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From: Peter (Peter_at_discussions.microsoft.com)
Date: 10/04/04 

Date: Mon, 4 Oct 2004 02:03:03 -0700

Hi,

I want to convert a partition on an external USB2 drive from FAT32 to NTFS.
Problem is that my laptop is old and the motherboard does not have USB
support so the drive only works under Windows. I am running Windows 2000 Pro.

Previously I have not been able to make some diskoperations with Partition
Magic 8 for instance since it in some cases needs to reboot before making
changes and thus after reboot attempts to carry out diskoperations before
loading Windows, but this then fails since the drive is not recognized unless
the Windows USB2 support is loaded.

1-If I try to use the 'CONVERT' (command prompt) command, will I run into
this problem?

2-I will back up my data first, but shall I be prepared that some of my data
will be lost in the conversion process?

3-There are 2 other FAT32 partitions on the same drive. After conversion
will these 2 coexist happily with the new NTFS?

Thanks!

/P

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Converting system partition to NTFS
    ... For some reason the Acer laptop I bought around 18 months ago came with FAT32 and not NTFS as expected, and I have been thinking of converting it to NTFS for some time. ... "...so that you can repair or troubleshoot via command line because your GUI won't boot up" is not a very compelling reason to install Windows XP on FAT32, this is a notion perpetuated by well meaning Windows 9x users who think that FAT32 is better because it allows you to boot to DOS and access your disk if you run into problems. ... But my system partition is running out of space. ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.help_and_support)
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    ... aware that NTFS partitions will not display as such when using FDisk. ... All partitions you create will be FAT or FAT32 ... and XP will install on such a partition. ... running Windows XP: NTFS, FAT, and FAT32. ...
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    ... Choosing between NTFS, FAT, and FAT32 ... running Windows XP: NTFS, FAT, and FAT32. ... NTFS is the recommended file system for the following reasons: ... you have a FAT or FAT32 partition, it is recommended that you format the ...
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  • Re: Cant boot XP NTFS HDD cloned from FAT32 HDD
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  • Re: Converting from Fat32 to NTFS
    ... It suggested that the partition should be ... >>Choosing between NTFS, FAT, and FAT32 ... >>security only by choosing NTFS as your file system. ... >>run an earlier version of Windows and other times run ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.general)