Please help with formatting of PC which is turned to NTFS?

Question

My disc ie Vol1 has suddenly changed to NTFS. I want to get rid of this and make it as fat32 as it was before. My computer operetor suggested me to fotmat it but formatting will erase all the data on it and I dont want this to happen. Please can you suggest some remedy to change my disc from NTFS to Fat32 and without loosing any data from it and without wasting a lot of time.

Answer 1

Dear,

Formatting is the only solution possible.

But why should u go back to FAT32?

The problem with FAT 32 File system is pc errors will be more.But in NTFS File system pc errors will be less. So better keep NTFS instead of FAT 32. So u can escape from allmost all error happenings.


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Answer 2

It is unlikely that the partition suddenly changed all by itself. There is a program included with XP which when run will do this, but it is a one way operation. The following two paragraphs are lifted from a web page, see the link below for the full text

"This is an oft-asked question, and unfortunately, there is no clean or easy way of doing this. Some might ask why, and the answer to that is rather simple: FAT32 is an older file system, and Microsoft wants to move people away from it. NTFS is superior to FAT32 in almost every way, and there is no compelling reason for users to use it anymore. Converting NTFS back to FAT32 should be considered a last resort in all cases.

Essentially, your options boil down to doing one of two things: reformatting the drive or partition (which results in the data being destroyed) or shelling out for a third-party program. Unfortunately, Windows does not have a built-in tool to convert backwards, like one can to convert from FAT/FAT32 to NTFS. Enter Partition Magic. Partition Magic allows you to convert an NTFS partition back to FAT32, but there is a reason that Partition Magic is not so lovingly referred to as "Partition Tragic". Often conversions simply fail, or worse, destroy data."

I think that unless you have some very specialised programs which demand FAT32 or a very small disk (40mb or below) it is not worth the effort - and even if you do change, you are unlikely to see any performance advantages - the reverse in fact.

Answer 3

Use partition magic. This can change from NTFS to Fat32 without any problems. Not sure why you would want to use Fat32 but there you go.

Answer 4

I can't understand why you want to go back to FAT32, NTFS is more secure and stable.
I've converted FAT32 to NTFS and I dont think its reversable.
Partition Magic may be able to do it see the link below

Answer 5

You can change it to fat32 when you reformat it. Just back up the programs and files you need on a dvd-rom or buy a backup hard drive and copy everything on your c drive onto it, then reformat the c drive as fat32. You cannot run Windows XP or Windows 2000 on a fat32 though. You will need an old Windows or Linux.

Answer 6

this is a pain of a job to do as you will have to re-install your operating system,if it were the other way round and you wanted to change from fat32 to ntfs then it would just be a case of entering a command prompt dialogue and thats it
however you will have to use a bootdisk and using the fdisk command in dos,
first thing go to http://www.bootdisk.com/bootdisk.htm.and download a windows 98 bootdisk and once downloaded run it and insert a flopy disc to create your boot disc
the reason for a 98 bootdisk is that you can use the fdisk command with it,so once the bootdisk has booted up(you will need to go into set up (press delete at start) and then bios settings and set your 1st boot device to floppy,and when you have finished with fdisk return it to cd-rom as first
when you come to the command prompt with the a flashing you must enter fdisk as a command then you will get a options screen
then 1st you need to delete non-dos partition,you will be asked some questions just press enter or yes,then you need to set partition active but i leave this and do it while i am in windows xp set up
after this return to bios and set 1st boot device to cd-rom and then insert your xp disc,
during set up you will be given a option to install your xp with ntfs or fat32,it will ask you this as you have not made any partitions active,thats why i said to leave it as windows will give you this prompt
when asked enter fat32(quick) and then enter,and then its just a case of installing xp as you normally would
the good thing about installing xp in fat32 file system is that you dont need to go through all this again if you want to change it back to ntfs
if you do want to go back to ntfs go to start>programs>accesories>command prompt and type convert (drive letter) /fs/:ntfs and then enter
i hope this will help you
good luck

Answer 7

you can try using Partition Magic this lets you partition the drive or alter the sizes and formats

PowerQuest Corporation
Software that lets you shrink, expand, move and convert FAT and HPFS partitions "on the fly." Includes info on PartitionMagic, utility used to reclaim wasted hard disk space.
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http://www.softpedia.com/get/System/Hard-Disk-Utils/Partition-Magic.shtml

Answer 8

No, you need to reformat to make that change. Unfortunately. And, why would you be going back to FAT 32?