Changing Disk format from FAT31 to NTFS
TRCSr
connection) from a FAT32 to an NTFS type? I have tried to back up my main
disk using the WinXP backup function, but it bombs out because it says that
FAT32 does not support files larger than 4GB. I have Acronis Disk Director,
but cannot understand the Change Disk Type function instructions. I also
have an older version of Partition Magic, but do not have it installed at
this time; would that program have the necessary function built in to it?
Thanks for your inputs.
TRCSr
Ken Blake, MVP
wrote:
> Is there any way to change an external hard disk that I have (USB
> connection) from a FAT32 to an NTFS type?
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.
--
Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience
Please Reply to the Newsgroup
Xandros
box type:
CONVERT E: /FS:NTFS
That should convert it to NTFS non destructively.
--
Xandros
"TRCSr" <trc...@intrstar.net> wrote in message
news:ef6uniEI...@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
TRCSr
and it still showed up as a FAT32. Any ideas why??
Thanks.
"Xandros" <arron.neus*remove*@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:e9galuEI...@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
Xandros
Go to Start->Run and type CMD and click OK. That will open a separate
command window. then type CONVERT E: /FS:NTFS and press the Enter Key
This assumes your USB drive letter is E. Make sure you substitute the
correct drive letter if it is different. I have just tried this on a 40GB
USB drive that was formatted as FAT32 and it worked here.
--
Xandros
"TRCSr" <trc...@intrstar.net> wrote in message
news:eUNA6BFI...@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
philo
> I tried that and the disk is still shown as FAT32. I rebooted the computer
> and it still showed up as a FAT32. Any ideas why??
>
> Thanks.
>
> "Xandros" <arron.neus*remove*@gmail.com> wrote in message
> news:e9galuEI...@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
> > assuming the USB HDD was your E: drive. Go to Start and select Run. In
the
> > box type:
> >
> > CONVERT E: /FS:NTFS
> >
> > That should convert it to NTFS non destructively.
> >
> >
>
did you leave a space between E: and /FS:NTFS
you should see the conversion process taking place.
BTW: If there is ***no*** data on the drive, you can just use disk
management
to format the drive as NTFS
Ken Blake, MVP
<arron.neus*remove*@gmail.com> wrote:
> Maybe try opening a command window and then type the convert command
>
> Go to Start->Run and type CMD and click OK. That will open a separate
> command window. then type CONVERT E: /FS:NTFS and press the Enter Key
> This assumes your USB drive letter is E. Make sure you substitute the
> correct drive letter if it is different. I have just tried this on a 40GB
> USB drive that was formatted as FAT32 and it worked here.
Please note the reference I posted,
http://www.aumha.org/a/ntfscvt.htm. If you just use the convert
command, you will very likely end up with poor cluster size, which
will result in poor performance on the drive.
--
TRCSr
is because of errors from CHKDSK. Once those errors were cleared, the
conversion went fine.
Best regards to all,
TRCSr
"Xandros" <arron.neus*remove*@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:e9galuEI...@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...