Converting from FAT32 to NTFS

[JonB]

I have been running my laptop for about 3 months and just realised today that the HDD is still in FAT32 format, I want to change it to NTFS and I know how too, but I want to know if I will lose my files, will I need to make a backup?
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Be careful whose advice you buy, but, be patient with those who supply it. Advice is a form of nostalgia, dispensing it is a way of fishing the past from the disposal, wiping it off, painting over the ugly parts and recycling it for more than it?s worth.

[dainesefreak]

Everything can be a risk so it's always worthwhile doing backups. Saying that I've never had a conversion fail and lose any data.

[veeeffarr]

I very much doubt you'll lose your files... And if the conversion fails you're a bit fucked anyway.

I'd do it without backing up, shouldn't be a problem.

[T1z3R]

If you use something like partition magic then you can do it on the fly without losing anything.

if you use the built in windows converter then you will lose data.
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duck my sick!

[Skunkcap Freddie]

shouldn't need to backup. but do it anyway

[dainesefreak]

[veeeffarr]

Filesystem conversion will not delete your data.

Formatting with a new filesystem WILL delete your data.

Conflict resolved. etc.

[NSR Mick]

[RobB]

[NSR Mick]

Newer versions may be better but I have seen partition magic completely corrupt file allocation tables in the past.
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[dainesefreak]

I must agree I've had Partition Magic shaft stuff in the past, particularly partition resizing.

[T1z3R]

never had partition magic stuff anything up for me.

and i based that on using the option from a bootable XP CD to format a partition as NTFS.

TAKEN FROM M$ HELP & SUPPORT

To convert a volume to NTFS from the command prompt
Open the Command Prompt window.
In the command prompt window, type
convert drive_letter: /fs:ntfs

For example, typing convert D: /fs:ntfs would format drive D: with the ntfs format.

Notes

To open a command prompt, click Start, point to All Programs, point to Accessories, and then click Command Prompt.
You can convert FAT or FAT32 volumes to NTFS with this command.
Related Topics
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duck my sick!

[RobB]

I've not yet seen Partition Magic cause any problems (being careful what I say, as I need to resize a partition soon and don't want to jinx it). Have maybe done 20ish resizings, and a couple of NTFS conversions with Partition Magic in my time. Also worked with a PowerQuest team delivering build images for a while, so I trust PQ applications quite a lot.

Have seen 1000+ FAT32 to NTFS conversions done using windows as part of an automated build process, and never saw a problem that could be attributed to it.

Am disappointed that people have seen Partition Magic break things
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[JonB]

OK now discovering it is safe I tried to do it but got this message... what do I have to type in?
____________________
Be careful whose advice you buy, but, be patient with those who supply it. Advice is a form of nostalgia, dispensing it is a way of fishing the past from the disposal, wiping it off, painting over the ugly parts and recycling it for more than it?s worth.

[veeeffarr]

[JonB]

Thanks ever so much for the help, both HDD's in the laptop are now running in NTFS format.
____________________
Be careful whose advice you buy, but, be patient with those who supply it. Advice is a form of nostalgia, dispensing it is a way of fishing the past from the disposal, wiping it off, painting over the ugly parts and recycling it for more than it?s worth.

[veeeffarr]

Well done, enjoy playing with all the new features and benefits

[NSR Mick]

[iCraig]

I've never seen the fascination with NTFS?

Whats the deely between them anyway?

Anyway I am happily using HFS+ here.

[NSR Mick]

[JonB]

Defragmentation takes not as much time!

Took 5 hours to defrag the FAT file about 2 months ago, took 15 mins on NTFS.
____________________
Be careful whose advice you buy, but, be patient with those who supply it. Advice is a form of nostalgia, dispensing it is a way of fishing the past from the disposal, wiping it off, painting over the ugly parts and recycling it for more than it?s worth.

[veeeffarr]

[NSR Mick]