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File Systems
Tech:
File Systems - Part III - By Mohammad Yousef
Welcome to the last part of my trilogy. If you've read the first and second parts and you've decided NTFS is for you, I'm going to tell you all you need to know to carry out the conversion. Please note that this article applies only to Windows XP systems.
You've got two options: either format a drive with NTFS or use the 'convert' command. The first way is recommended because all data on the partition will be erased - consequently, you'll be starting with a 'clean' drive. Use this method only if you don't need to keep your files intact. But most of us would want to keep our files, and to do this you've got two options:
Back up all your data before formatting
So you want to start with a 'clean' drive but can't afford losing your precious files? Very simple. All you need to do is back up your files to an external hard-drive or a partition other than the one you want to convert or burn the data onto CDs. After you're done you can format a drive with NTFS.
Use the convert command from command prompt
This way, you don't need to back up. All files are preserved as they are. However, I recommend a backup. You don't know what might go wrong and besides what would you lose if you did back-up. When I converted to NTFS using convert.exe, everything went smooth. Chances are your conversion will be equally smooth.
IMPORTANT NOTE: This is a one-way conversion. Once you've converted to NTFS, you can't go back to FAT or FAT32 unless you format the drive.
Open Command Prompt
Start / All Programs / Accessories / Command Prompt
OR
Start / Run / type "cmd" without quotes / OK
In the window, type convert drive letter: /fs:ntfs and press Enter
e.g. Type "convert C: /fs:ntfs" without quotes if you want to convert drive C
If you're asked whether you want to dismount the drive, agree.
To find more information about convert.exe type "help convert" without quotes in Command Prompt and press Enter.
Tech:
From FAT32 to NTFS
Windows XP supports both FAT32 and NTFS. Since the NTFS file system has many more features and benefits than FAT32 - such as increased stability and a higher level of security - it makes much more sense to format your partitions with NTFS. When you installed the operating system, you may have opted to (or mistakenly) use FAT32. Not a huge problem, since there is a one-time conversion from FAT32 to NTFS. And you can do so without losing any of your data!
There are two ways you can convert a volume to NTFS. One method is to use the Computer Management console. Or, you can do so from the command prompt window using the convert command. For example, if you have a volume "d" on your computer and you want to convert it to NTFS, simply open the command prompt and type the following command:
Convert d: /fs:ntfs
After you press Enter, the process will start unless if your drive is currently in use (prime example: you are trying to convert your system volume), you can opt to have the conversion take place the next time the computer is restarted. Just to reiterate, this is a one time conversion which means there isn't any going back from NTFS to FAT32 unless you format the volume or find a third party utility that can perform this task.
bob3160:
Technical,
Once you hit enter to start the procedure you will be asked to reboot because the operation needs to have total access to all of the files on your drive and the actual procedure is done in basic after a restart.
Depending on the size of your drive, this might take some time.
So if your in a hurry, don't start this procedure because once started, it has to run till the conversion is made.
I just finished doing this to one of my hard drives..... ;D
I guess you also receive Lockergnome which by the way is an excelent
newsletter.
you can subscribe to it here:
http://sub.lockergnome.com/
Tech:
Thanks bob. I've changed (corrected) that post.
I really like Lockergnome. Sometimes, when the information could be useful, I posted it here. I tryed to be fare: I quoted the author ;D
bob3160:
Technical,
I know you did and it should be that way. But the nice thing is that the info was passed on to a lot of people not just those of us that receive lockergnome.
I like your new avatar...... ;D
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